The Washington herald., 1908-06-17

part In the good cheer OF the occasion.
The New York Symphony Orchestra. with
its 100 highly trained male voices, is the
nucleus around which the vast volume Of
harmony made by thousands of voices
will gather. In addition, there will be
singers Of international reputation, such
exercises. which will last for several
days.
Some 5000 singers are expected to con-
Btitute tie grand choruses. and there will
also be a chorus Of some 5000 school
children from the public schools of In
dianapolis. who were divided into fifteen
sections, and specially trained for the
work by competent instructors. The main
exercises will be held In the big Coli
suem which has a seating capacity Of
about 1000 over and above the singers
themselves. Walter Damrosch Will be
the conductor Of the Indianapolis fest.
1t was his father. Dr. Leopold Damrosch,
who organized the New York Symphony
Club and made It one of the most IA
nous musical organizations In the
country. other prominent conductors Of
orchestral music will also be on hand to
assist him in leading the great multitude
OF voices.
million dollars for three days Of
music might be the title OF this story.
for that is what It will cost, II not more
Estimating the average expenses OF each
visitor at S20-and this Is an underesti-
mate-it means that it will cost them
Sl,000.000 10 be there. Ii the average dis
tance Travelled Is 100 miles. it will mean that
5000 900 miles have been gone over by the
Saengerfest visitors. One OF the most in
teresting features Of the fest Will be the
forest festival to be held in Germania
Park at the close Of the meeting. Here
thousands upon thousands of people, all
loyal American citizens, yet tracing a
common heritage back TO the father
land, viii meet together, and German
dishes will be eaten, healths will be
pledged in German drinks, German songs
viii be sung, and German tales will be
told. Here one will witneFs what no
other country can see-50000 people gath
cred together, each loving his native
land and his own people. but all true
and loyal citizens OF an adopted country.
In fact, these saengerfests are tributes
10 the Fatherland. Wherever there are
Germans-and there are some 100000 of
US who are Of German birth or German
descent-they love the songs OF the land
from whence they came. No other na-
tion. unless It be Italy. has as much
music TO the square inch In its makeup
as Germany. And when the immigrant
transplants himself upon the American
shore. he never forgets the songs he
used to sing. They are kept alive in his
heart and IN his memory, and are handed
down 20 his children and 90 HIS children 5
oh -. 10,
finds himself in a class all by himself
in the perpetuation OF the songs Of the
land whence he sprung. There are
probably ten German musical clubs In
the United States where there Is one OF
any other recruiting ground Of the ma
ton. Whether they be turnverelns.
saengerbunds maennerchors, or by what
ever name they are called, they all rep
resent the same devotion TO the songs OF
the fatherland. and the same determina-
tion 10 keep them green IN their memo
ries. and to hand them down 20 their
pcsterity.
The first saengerfest ever held was that
at Wurzburg. Bavaria in 1915. Singers
from all parts OF tho German empire
gathered there. and patriotism ran high
and overhowed. So successful was the
event that others were held, and in 1888
American Germans followed suit. with
their first fest al Cincinnati There were
five cities represented and some fifteen
choruses. 1t was not as large an affair
by any means as the ones Of the present
day, but il was voted a great success.
and since then there have been thirty
tests, sometimes occurring annually and
sometimes skipping several years. The
last meeting of the North American Saen.
gerbund was held in ST. Louis in 1903. II
was intended to hold II during the World s
Fair. but the fair was postponed a year
In order 10 have 1t completed on opening
day. so that the fest was held a year
before the exposition.
on that occasion there were some 5000,
people In attendance. and about 800.
grown-up singers and 4.000 school children
took part One OF the features Of the
occasion was the trip through a famous
81, Louis brewery. Realizing that most
Of the bunders are fond OF good beer, the
brewer set them down 70 a brew that Is
said 10 have eclipsed anything that they
had ever tasted even In the fatherland
One OF the sights Of the fest was the
Mark Hanna Growler, brought there by
an Ohio contingent. 1t was beer pitcher
maze 10 resemble lne nedQ or the late
Senator from Ohio. The likeness OF the
thing was almost llfelike, and as it was
carried In the parade It was recognized
by every one who had ever seen Senator
Hanna. Louisville was on hand on this
occasion with some Of that pleasant stuff
labeled Made in Old Kentucky" and no
thorough-going bunder was allowed To
get away without an opportunity to sam
pie IL. That city is also expected to turn
out strong force Of singers this week.
and TO send along a sample OF the Gun
that cheers.
IL Is estimated that the German nuslca!
organizations Of one kind and another in
the United States have a membership of q
quarter Of a million Most OF them are
men. In addition to those organizations
represented IN the North American Saen-
gerbund, there are many which give alle-
glance to the Northeastern Saengerbund.
One Of the prizes Of this organization Is q
$4,000 statue Of a minnesinger. presented
by the Emperor OF Germany. At the last
meeting Of the Northeastern Saengerbund
hello IN Baltimore, President Roosevelt
and Baron Speck Won Sternburg the Ger
man Ambassador. went over TO Baltimore
TO greet and to hear the singers. This is
believed to have been the only occasion
in the history Of either organization that
the President OF the United States AT.
tended one Of their tests. Recently when
the children were being brought together
TO be trained for the fest the managers