The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-06-25
PAID SINGERS MAY
HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED
Brooklyn Societies Point to
Junger MaennerchOr.
KAISER PRIZE THE GOAL
New Workers Insist an Effort at Certain
Reforms Will Be Made at the
Next Meeting.

BALTIMORE. June PA special dis
patch from New York says:
While the BROOKLYN and New York
singers do rot intend to make any pro-
test against the award of the Kaiser
prize at the Baltimore saengerfest and
have no criticism to make OF the award
so far as the work OF the judges or the
officials of the saengerfest are con-
cerned. they arc sore over the alleged
fact that some of the societies hired
professional singers. and are determined
that STEPS shall be taken 10 stop this
practice in future contests OF the North
eastern Saengerbund
"A. H. Tiemann. president of the
Brooklyn United Singers. and member OF
the music committee of the federation
said in regard to the matter;
wrangle Over Prize.
" The wrangle over the Kaiser prize is
due in some degree, but not entirely, 20
the fact that extraordinary efforts were
made this year to win. The engagement
o. good singers outside of the societies.
as was disclosed last week at Baltimore
has been startling. and amateur singers,
proud of their societies and anxious 70
improve in vocal culture. found their ef-
forts generally of little avail.
Musical amateurs were distinctly
not in It" at the principal contests.
when the choral efforts of some of the
leading societies sounded like a collec-
tion of solos by superb voices-each
easily traceable by a trained musical
car.
Something must be done to stop
this engaging of professionals for sing
ing competitions among saengerbund So
cieties. We have a rule against it, but
there is no way of enforcing it
IS. X. Saenger. honorary president
and director Of the Brooklyn singers.
who was festival president at the Brook
lyn saengerfest in 1900. "a discussing the
matter said;
Rule ST Nc Avail.
The rule preventing singers from
competing in more than one class has
been of no avail. and I have been in
formed By the musical director OF one
of the Philadelphia societies that, In or
der 10 keep his singers in rank and 10
prevent any more of his best tenors from
being hired by another singing soci sty.
he was compelled to enter bis society for
the Kaiser prize contest. although know
ing that his chances OF winning were
only very slight.
The same conductor vouched for the
that won the Kaiser prize had only six
ty singers at the rehearsals last year.
and that in order TO win in he contest
more than fifty professionals were add
ed during the last four months. From
$50 TO SIS was paid, as l have been
told. 10 sixteen first bassos, nine second
bassos. fifteen first tenors and twelve
second tenors, and even DR.. Bernhard
Guenther, a member OF the Brooklyn
Arion, had been approached by the
emissaries OF the Junger Maennerchor
of Philadelphia
Paid Singers Must Go.
DR.. Guenther was offered 800 and
his expenses. When he refused that
offer $3.50 was promised il he would
leave the Arionites and join the ranks
OF the Philadelphians. DR.. Guenther.
however. was loyal to his society and
refused even that amount.
90 The matter OF excluding profes-
sional or paid singers from amateur
Will come up at the next
meeting Of the directors and a rule will
be framed that must effectually prevent
at Newark, three years hence, the re-
lineup of well-known profess
SIGNALS seen in the prize competitions
last week.
One way 10 stop II may be 10 have all
societies publish in advance the names
q ali who are to sing in competition.
with declaration, sworn 20, that these
persons are not professional singers.
The amateur singing societies cannot
stand the strain much longer. As f. is
now. a long purse is the first requisite
1f prize winning.
" A reform viii also be made in the
selection OF the judges, and it is sug-
gested 10 have the musical critics of
the leading papers perform that duty !
Some minor changes will be made in re-
gard to the selection Of songs"