Omaha daily bee., 1903-06-15
BIG SAENCERFEST OPENS
Musical Festival Starts with Welcoming
Concert at Baltimore.
FIVE THOUSAND VOICES JOIN IN SINGING
President, German Ambassador and
PrusHian Minister of Finance Are
to Attend Performance Dur
ing COminE Week.

ing of the twentieth ~triennial saengerfest
of the Northeastern Saengerbund of Amer
lea took place this afternoon with a recep-
ton concert in the Fifth Armory hall.
The seating capacity of the auditorium
Is 5000 and the entire space was occu-
pied, there being 5000 singers on the stage
and 5000 persons seated on the floor. The
hall had been deliberately decorated for the
occasion and presented a scene of dazzling
brilliancy and artistic beauty. Upon the
walls and pendant from the ceilings OF the
arched roof there was a lavish display of
American and German national flags, gay
bunting and streamers and a profusion of
evergreens, smilax, palms and ported
plants met the eye in every direction.
Guests Welcomed with Song.
This afternoons concert was mainly de-
signed as a welcome to the singing guests
from other cities. Singing was participated
in by $500 Baltimore singers and $500 school
/ children and the. numbers were arranged
especially in honor of the flag, this being
the 129th anniversary Of the adoption of
the Stars and Stripes by the American con-
gress. Prof. Melamet led the orchestra of
135 pieces, the largest ever heard in Bal
timore.
The following was the pregnant:
1. Prelude to "Meistersinger," Wagner,
Orchestra.
2. God Greet Thee" Muecke's United
Singers of Baltimore.
8. 1.-THE Heavens Are Telling" Beetho-
ven; Children's chorus and orchestra,
Address of welcome.
4. Choral Fantasia, Beethoven, piano
solo, chorus and orchestra; piano, Mrs. D.
Melamet.
5. woodland Harps," spicker. Har-
monies OF Baltimore.
@ Finale from "Walpurgis Night" Men
delssohn; baritone solo, chorus and orches-
ira.
Solo, Stephan SteinmulIer.
Z. 'Old Folks at Home arranged for
solo and male chorus by Melamet; solo by
children's chorus.
8. "Hallelujah" chorus from 1.-THE Mes
siah," Handel; chorus and orchestra.
9s(a) American Fantasia" Herbert,
orchestra; o. Star Spangled Banner" ma
tional anthem, sung by the entire audience
standing.
A number of singing societies from other
cities arrived today to participate in the
grand prize concerts of tomorrow ana
Tuesday and the festivities of Wednesday.
Thousands are already here and 1t is es-
timated that there will be an average
of 10000 here during the saengerfest. En-
tertainment has been arranged for the va
rious visitors at the hotels and boarding
houses, while thousands will be guests at
private residences.
Among the distinguished guests will be
President Roosevelt, who will make an adj
dress. Baron Spec Won Sternburg and
suite: the Prussian minister of finance,
Baron Rheinbaben, and suite of four; Gov
ernor John Walter Smith and stan. Ad-
miral H. c.. Taylor, Herr Won Hersen, as
s,stant consul general at Berlin; Mayor
Robert M. McLane, officers at Fort Nc
Henry, officers of the United States ships
which will be present during the saenger-
fest; officers of the German gunboat Pan
Their.
At the meeting Of the directors of the
Northeastern bund today Karl kuhl OF
PHILADELPHIA, chairman of the music COM
mittee, announced that DR.. Hans Harlan
of Munich, one of the members OF the col
lege OF judges. had not arrived. The music
committee was instructed to fill the va
cancy. so that a complete membership OF
hve may Judge the prize songs,
IN effort was made to strike the socie-
ties of Albany, Troy, N. Y, and Trenton,
N. J., from membership in the bund, but
president Carl Lentz Of Newark, N. ].
ruled the motion out of order.
II was decided to change the manner OF
B selecting the prize songs for the next fest
3 and an advisory committee Of three direct
ors was appointed to confer with the music
committee as to the best method of select
i>g the songs.
A proposition to change the bylaws SC
that the fest should be held quadrennially
instead of triennially was voted down.
l At the conclusion Of the meeting dinner
was served at Harmonic hall.
Rehearse at St. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, June 1.-THE reception chorui
of the st. Louis saengerfest, consisting o.
$500 picked voices among st. Louis Choir
Z listers, had it's Anal rehearsal enmasse II
the liberal arts hall, Worlds Fair grounds
this afternoon. Festival Director Richard
Stempf had charge. The test Of the biz
! hall, already furnished with 1900 choice
seats, proved most satisfactory,
A committee was sent to Alton to receiv'
the European trio, Nine. Fleischer-Ede
Herr Will Birrenkoven and Herr MAJ
, Lohhng, who complete the quartet and soil
contingent. The advance sale of seats 4
Q heavy and the flood troubles win no longe
: keep out the visiting contingent of singers
/ OF whom 5000 are expected before Wednes
y day.