Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
TO SING FOR THE PRESIDENT
Plans for the Entertainment of the
Visitors.
HISTORY OF THE ORGANIZATION
Made Up Of the Most Famous Vocal
lists Of Austria-Recordo OF
Success.

body of foreigners to visit washington
thus far is the Wiener Maennergesang
Verein of Vienna, Austria, considered the
finest singing society in the world Inc
members are scheduled to arrive here next
Monday. They will be received by the
President at the White House, and Will
sing in the hearing OF the President and
the members of his family, members OF
the cabinet, the diplomatic corps and
few invited guests.
Capt. William F. Meyers of this city, who
is a members of the local committee ar
ranging the plans for the visit. announced
today that, following the Presidents recep-
ton, the visitors will be shown some of
the most interesting sights of the city,
and in the evening will be the guests of the
local German societies at banquet at the
New Willard. Nearly 1900 persons are
expected to be present. Following the BAN
quet the Viennese will board their spe-
cial train.
Numerically Large Party.
1t is expected that 45O members of the
society will comprise the party, which will
include a number of ladies. The visitors
are expected to arrive in New York Sat
urday night When they proceed to Wash
ington Monday morning they will be joined
by three or four hundred officials and
ladies of the New York Liederkranz and the
New York Arion Society.
The Wiener Maennergesang Verein is an
old society and is made up of the most
famous singers of Austria and some of the
most prominent officials and professional
men of that country. The society has an
endowment fund.- and the receipts from
their entertainments are devoted to charity.
Although the society has travelled in many
foreign countries this is its first visit to
America
Founded in 1643.
Following the invitation of DR.. August
Schmidt, who was known to- wide circles
as a musical critic and editor of the
Wiener allgemeine Musikzeitung" thirty
men belonging to Viennese musical society
met on the 9th of October, 1913. and
founded the Vienna Male Choir. From such
modest beginnings, the Vienna Male Choir,
under the direction of its founder, soon ac-
quired a high standing In the artistic cir
cles in Vienna, and today, in spite of the
high qualifications required from appli-
cants 1t has over $50 active members, be-
longing to the best circles of Viennese So
ciety. Among them are civil servants. we'll
Known artists university professors and
high school teachers. inanciers, lawyers,
advocates, doctors of medicine and Of law,
merchants, teachers, heads of institutions,
state officials, etc. The most essential
conditions for admission are a fine voice
and musical ability, of which candidates
must give proof in a searching examina
ton before they are admitted to the poll.
Every candidate must be introduced by
two members of the society who vouch for
his social standing.
Every year the Vienna Male Choir gives
a vocal concert and concert with orches-
ira. a festival in memory of its foundation
and a summer concert In one Of the Vi
ennese parks. Besides these performances
stipulated by the statutes the society gives
one popular concert and also keeps up the
study of church music. The first concert
given by the society during it's stay In Lon
don this year will be the T75th public per-
Torrance Of the Vienna Male Choir.
Artistic Importance of Choir.
The artistic Importance of the Vienna
Male Choir has induced numerous distin-
guished composers to prove their interest
in the choir by dedicating their works to 1t:
this has been done by Schumann. Meyer
beer, Mendelssohn, Liszt Richard wag-
ner Bruckner. Johann Strauss, ETC. The
five last-named composers were. like
Brahms. honorary members of the Vienna
Male Choir.
Ever since its foundation the Vienna
all charitable objects. The total re-
ceipts of all concerts which 1t has given
during Its numerous tours, as well as
of all concerts In Vienna. have been de-
voted to charitable purposes. The sums
devoted to such purposes exceed kr.
100000. The Vienna Male Choir has
made journeys abroad, including trips
to Venice uS74). the large towns of Ger
many, Brussels 1SS0). where the choir
gave a serenade to the fiancee of the
then Crown Prince of Austria; Constan-
tinople and Athens Gs9D, Paris $4,000
on the occasion of the universal exhibi-
ton, and Egypt (19O5).
Has Erected a Monument
The Vienna Male Choir has erected a
monument to a famous son of Vienna,
Franz Schubert This magnificent mar
BILE monument was unveiled in 1872 in
the 'stadpark' of Vienna. To comment
crate this event the Vienna Male Choir
founded the Schubert medal. which is
given in some cases to persons and cor
porations who have specially distin-
guished themselves in furthering male
choral music.
ence seven presidents and eight con-
ductors have been at the head of the
male choir. Among the presidents. if
we except Its founder, DR.. August
Schmidt the following have rendered ex-
ceptional services to the choir: Franz
Schierer. who was distinguished for his
administrative talents; his excellency
Nikolous Dumba. who. after having been
appointed a privy councillor by his mai
esty. remained faithful member of the
society until his death. in 1909 The
present leader of the Vienna Male Choir
is Franz Schneiderhan.
Among the Musical Directors.
Among the musical directors of the
Vienna Male Choir mention Is made of
A. NJ. Storch writer of works for male
choirs: Johann Ritter Won Herbeck con-
ductor who communicated his enthusiasm
not only to his singers but also to his
audiences; he acquired such a reputation
that he was appointed director at the
Imperial Opera in Vienna, and subse-
Quently leader of the Court Orchestra
Since 1860 Eduard kremser, musician
and well known as the composer of numer.
Gus works for orchestra and male choir,
has placed his high abilities as a conductor
and all his artistic powers in the service
of the choir and maintains Ii on its high
artistic level. On the occasion of the thir-
tieth anniversary of his distinguished
career I'm connection with the choir Eduard
Kremser was appointed honorary choirmas-
ter of the Vienna Male Choir.
For the last four years he has had the as
sstance OF Richard Heuberger, professor
of the Conservative of Vienna. well known
as a writer on music as well as composer.
Humanitarian Work.
Through Its artistic and humanitarian
work the Vienna Male Choir has won a
permanent leading position in the artistic
life of Vienna. well as the sympathy of the
population OF Vienna. and the cordial friend