New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-08
MUSIC.
VIENNA MAENNERGESANGVEREIN

Among the institutions, half social. half artistic.
which the German contingent of our population
has maintained in America for three-quarters of
century the mems singing society has always
been prominent II Is, in fact almost as old In this
country as in its antive land, and has in a way
exercised a large influence in the development OF
choral music The first SAngerfest in America was
heid as long 1Si9, and already then Western,
not Eastern, communities were its promoters 1t
Is possible to trace most of the choral festivals
which are held every year in more than a
score of towns and cities that meeting but II
IS also possible to how their greatest artistic
good came from wise modification of their char
acter. The cultivation of part songs for mems
voices Is now very general in this country, and Is
by no means confined citizens of German birth.
In fact il is found in it's best in strictly
American organizations but these. as a rule give
no public performances. but follow the example
set by the concert institutions of Europe
more than a century in displaying their skill
for the edificaton of their supporting associates
only. The public occasionally hears the concerts
OF haf a dozen German singing societies in the
city o. New York but II does not hear the con-
certs Of organizations OF such fine texture as the
Mendelssohn Glee Club. of this borough the Apollo.
of Brooklyn. and others which. from an artistic
point OF view. are Of vastly greater consequence.
Among the Germans here and in their native land
the social element which had much to do with the
creation OF the art form less than three genera
lions stlll plays important role and to a
large extent hides the shortcomings which are
herent in the form ttself-its monotony OF subject
and color particularly. 1t is Of dividing
ones admiration between VEIN Webb ind Ge-
sang" as the old adage attributed TO Martin
Luther. has It.
That admiration is invited in a largo measure
by the visit of the Vienna MAnnergesa gveren.
which. after receiving much social and official at
tention. gave its first public concert in Carnegie
Hall last night. making slight use OF an
orchestra Of the Philharmonic Society. The
concert like all those given by the society
on its famous peregrinations into foreign parts
which are OF almost annual occurrence, was given
for charitable object, and for that reason IN ad-
dition TO others, II pleasant to Carnegie
Hall packed to the walls and learn that tho do
mand for tickets for this concert as well as an
other to be given tomorrow evening. far in
excess Of the supply. As TO how the society sings
a correct and comprehensive idea can best be con-
veyed to the knowing by the remark that its music
Is like that OF the Mendelssohn Glee Club multi
piled IN volume by, let us say. FIVE Perfect bal-
ance OF tone there is not for the reason that de-
sire for finish In quality keeps the first tenors TO
an almost constant OF half-vocs or faisetto
which does not assert Itself with as much virli,v
as one might desire against the fine sorority
euphony and volume of the second tenors and
BASES. But sensuous beauty. splendid precision
distinct enuncaton and delightfully."- graduated
nuances mark every utterance OF the choir and
there could be more perfect exhibition OF tts
trueness and integrity OF ntonation than was given
IN the chorus of younger pilgrims from Wagner's
"Tannhauser" which formed one of the artistic
cimaxes last night When II entered the DEPART
ment OF folksong ii came nearest to the popular
heart and justified the wisdom OF the German En-
peror when he advised the singing societies OF his
country to cultivate the songs OF the people more
assduously than artistic songs: and when at the
end, II gave Strauss waltz with the orchestra in
the manner native to Vienna, 20 the composer and
10 the society II provided a sensation altogether
unique and delightful 1t is scarcely necessary to
add that the music sung. which was alternately
conducted by Eduard Kremser and Richard Heu-
berger, both well known wherever the German
part-song is cultivated, practically all rede-
manded and that the enthusiasm of the audience
was frenetic. II T. X