Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-28
"A SCRAP OF HISTORY"
A MALE-vOICE SINGING SOCIETY
IN WASHINGTON.
The First Choral Society" Organized
Here and How It Won in
Saengerfest.

The present condition of the Choral So
ciety has been a source of uneasiness - its
friends and well-wislers, for 1t is their
hope that 1t shall not pass out of existence
after such q long and honorable career.
The first Choral Society of this city was
ma!e-voice singing society, and its spIen-
did work was brought forcibly to the mem
DRY of those who were members of it anC
who are still living by the recent visit to
Washington of the famous Choral Society
of Vienna. In one of the local papers there
was an article expressive of the present
condition of male voices singing in the Ma
tional capita, and the query was put, Sup
pose that the principal Washington soloists
were invited to join chorus and sing IN
der the direction of local conductor
could they be induced to do sou The an
swer given was Probably not" and for
the reason that each of the singers would
prefer the personal qualification of being
assigned an obhgato part rather than con-
tribute small portion toward the general
ensemble"
In my opinion the answer should have
been positively. the spirit of commercial
ism SO thoroughly imbues the present gem
Grafton of singers that the love of the art
fs-wholly lost in the greed of gain"
The First Choral Society.
There was a choral society in this city
many years ago (male voices on.y) which
was not only honor to the city, but was
known throughout the entire country and
whose praise was the theme of the greatest
among the German composers of song In
the fatherand
that society because the writer was among
those who furnished the inspiration which
was the germ" OF the Choral Society of
Washington.
In ISIS at Arltnpton Va ,,non tho mr.
casion of the decoration of the graves of
the Union dead, there were eight men who
furnished the vocal music for the ceremo-
MES. The name by which these singers
were known unsteady was THE Beethoven
Octette Club" From frequent rehearsas
and meetings for mutual pleasure in sing
ing sprang the desire to extend the privi-
lege to larger number of the gentleman
singers in the city not connected with the
German societies male voices.
Inc hrst meeting looking to such a con-
summation was held September 49, 1869,
at Metzerott Hall. This meeting was pre-
sided over by Samuel r. Bond. we'll known
and yet living among us. After discussion
an adjournment had to the following
week, when temporary organization was
effected at the kirkwood House where
now stands the Raleigh. corner 18th and
pennsylvania avenue. The society elected
officers October 5, 1869
The name chosen was short-Choral So
clety-and 1t was made famous The soct-
etys hrst and only conductor was the in
comparable musician, the magnetic Harry
Z sherman. better leader no society
ever had, although he was at first very
doubtful as to his ability to direct such a
society or band of singers. His support
was unanimous. hearty and loyal, and he
soon found that he was in the 'arns of his
friends" ~
The music for male voices obtainahle
was nearly all German. OF course we did
not intend to sing the German language. SO
we obtained the cheerful services of capa-
PIE trahsiaters and poets. Among them
were Iheo. PoesChe. Gen. w H. Browne
and Henry Ames Blood. German song was
poured into our possession from New York
ana Philadelphia dealers. and we had the
nest from which to make selections, and
that was the cheerful duty of our capable
conductor, Sherman.
Contended in saengerfests.
This was an american" male voice So
ciety, and yet We stepped out to the front
TO take part In the prize contest Of the
twelfth national saengerfest held in New
York city June "a to 80. 1871.
AS the only American" society to take
part, We We're given the privilege Of sing
Ing the song OF the class to which we were
assigned, the second. on account Of our
numbers forty-six, either in English or
German. We unanimously decided to use
the language Of the fest" and this we did
successfully
The prize singing took place in Steinway
Hall, Monday, June %, 1871. The judges
We're George Matzka assistant leader Of
1homas Orchestra), Won Bruening, F. l..
Ritter. S. 2. Warren American) and H. c.
I1mmo. The requirements demanded by
the Judges Were. % pure information. (2)
correct rhythm, 90 fine conception, "a dis
tinct enunciation.
The echoes of the New York press the
next morning were as follows: THE sec
ond prize will undoubtedly be given-or
should be-to the Washington Choral So
ciety. an organization entirely American
and consisting of gentlemen not usually
classed with German singers on account Of
their total unacquaintance with the Ger
man language, that is, outside Of the words
they sing"
The society that pleased the audience
the most during the entire concert and re-
ceived the greatest applause was the
Washington Choral Society. The most sig
nal triumph of the day was their magnih-
cent singing of Reuters 'Waldegnuber' the
prize song of their class"
The prize song for second class was an
admirable study In harmony and full Of
difficulties that tested thoroughly the ac-
quirements of the chorus 1t Is of course
gratifying that the first appearance Of an
American society, led by an American con-
ductor. in one OF these concerts which the
Germans have made SO particularly their
own, should be rewarded with such distiu-
guished success as fell to the lot of the
Washington Choral Society"
The Tribune's Praise.
The New York Tribune. in a leading edi-
torial. presented an excellent summing up
of the week Of song as follows:
Popular festivals like this are among
the pleasant characteristics of German life
which the Americans have long been urged
10 initiate. For the first time our native
born citizens have taken part in a 'saen-
gerfest.' The extraordinary success Of the
Washington Choral Society, led by an
American musician, and composed OF sing
ers who, with one or two exceptions are
Americans, not only by birth but by par
entage. has been a notable incident Of the
week, and a surprise to almost everybody.
II has not escaped attention, moreover that
the Americans excelled In quality of voice
quite as much as in excellence OF culture.
we are now learning that there is nothing
rlcher and more grateful 10 the ear than
good American male chorus"
ne Chorals, upon their return home
were greeted with warmest congratulations
upon their success by many Of the leading
citizens or Washington, who requested n
rendition of the Prize Song to be given
here. This courteous and hearty cali was
signed by Gov. Henry D. Cooke 4 r
shepherd Cater governor of the Distric+ oF