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[Saengerfest,
n. [G. sängerfest.] A festival of singers; a German
singing festival
Saengerfest
1859
-- -- GAEBLER ORGANIZING HELPED SAENGERFEST EFFORT
A
sketch of the Concordia Musical Society,
one of the city’s most famous musical organizations of generations ago, is
contained in a reprint from the October 6, 1890, issue of “Der Seebote,” a Milwaukee
publication. The article was written by
the late Emil E. Gaebler
and was part of his memoirs which the paper printed.
Part
of the article is being reprinted here.
It follows:
At the
time Emil C. Gaebler came to Watertown, in 1859,
there was an established musical society here, called the Music and Singing
Society and when Gaebler organized a new society,
called Philharmonic, there was an effort to combine the two. The two finally joined but the passive
members tried to run it and after six months the active members seceded and formed their own society in July, 1862,
called the Concordia.
Emil Gaebler had organized a musical society
in 1852 at Danbury, Conn., and was familiar with the management of the
Northeastern Singers league of New York.
He, therefore, organized the Northwest league shortly after he came to
Wisconsin and to this league the Concordia gave its support, so actively, that
at the first saengerfest
held in La Crosse in 1866 Watertown won the first prize, a silver loving cup,
now on display in the historical museum in Madison.
Thereafter
the following saengerfests (conventions or music
festivals) were held: Watertown, 1867; Milwaukee, 1868; Madison, 1869; La Crosse, 1871; Dubuque,
1873; Watertown, 1875; Freeport,
1877; Milwaukee, 1879; Madison, 1881; La Crosse; 1883; Watertown, 1885; Freeport, 1887; Minneapolis,
1889; Milwaukee 1891; Dubuque, 1896.
There was also a band convention in Watertown in 1879.
A
large collection of manuscript music, opera scores, and instrumental numbers
are to this day reposing in one of our local stores waiting for the day when
Watertown will again take an interest in local amateur musical activities. WDT 05 20 1935
1875
Saengerfest
was a gathering of German singing societies, and our community went all out,
including the construction of that arch at the entrance to downtown and also decorations throughout the city.
We
found a report on the 1875 Saengerfest
in the June 26 issue of the Watertown
Republican. We're going to include
that report in our column today to give you a "flavor" of what
Saengerfest was all about. It was for these celebrations that the arch was
constructed.
1875 1875 SAENGERFEST
Watertown
Republican of June 26, 1875:
|
"With the exception of that
portion of the programme allotted to Bach's
musicians, the concert was composed of home talent, and right well was the
reputation of Watertown sustained by all who participated. The singing of the
Quartette Club, led by Prof. Hoeper,
was a marked feature of the evening's entertainment, and called forth the hearty
plaudits of the entire audience. The chorus and solos by the Watertown
Musical Society, Concordia, under the direction of Prof. E. C. Gaebler, were finely rendered and won warm
testimonials of approval from all present. Mr. H.N. Hutchins of Bach's band,
gave some specimens of cornet playing, which for beauty of execution and
sweetness of sound, was seldom if ever before listened to by our citizens.
Mr. Hutchins is certainly one of the foremost cornet players of this or any
other country. The hospitalities of the city were extended to our guests
through the President of the council, J.T. Moak,
Esq., who delivered an address highly appropriate to the occasion, which
was followed by words of welcome from Philip Schmidt, Esq., in behalf of the Watertown Musical Society, Concordia. Trains Friday night and Saturday morning from all
directions brought in full quotas of singers and visitors until our streets
were literally overrun with people, and our city presented a scene of
activity and bustle never before seen. The musical
exercises on Saturday were opened with a grand musical matinee at Turner Hall
in the afternoon, which was largely attended. The programme
included fine selections from some of the most eminent composers and all were
rendered with grand effect. In the evening the concert embraced the prize
singing among the several societies competing for prizes. The Saturday
evening entertainment was, perhaps, the most interesting of the series, and
called out a larger audience than the previous evening, the ball being
crowded to excess. The contest among the societies was the means of bringing
out the fine singing from the members and a deep interest was manifested over
the result. The audience was treated to some magnificent choruses, such as
comes within the province of but few to hear. The building fairly shook with
the applause that was given as each society withdrew after competing for the
prize. Everything, however, passed off harmoniously, and at the close the
best of feeling prevailed among the vocalists. After the concert, the hall
was given over to conviviality and enjoyment, and a happier or more sociable,
and, withal, a more-decorous crowd of people could not very well be imagined.
Even in the noise and confusion there was politeness and good feeling
everywhere apparent. "Sunday morning excursion
trains brought additional hundreds to the masses already assembled and
enjoying themselves within the city.
Sunday afternoon the great projective point for the singers and
visitors was the Pic-nic and Concert of all the
societies and orchestra, on Concordia Island. It is estimated that eight thousand people
visited the park during the afternoon, and the festivities on the Island only
closed as the shades of evening drew near.
In the evening a grand ball took place at Turner Hall, the Turner Park being beautifully illuminated. Sunday night and
early Monday morning witnessed the departure of vast numbers from the scene
of their enjoyment and pleasure, but still a large portion lingered to
participate in the closing exercises on Monday morning, consisting of the
distribution of prizes, congratulations and
farewells. The La Crosse society had
the honor of carrying away the first prize.
The second was bestowed upon the Freien Germeinde, of Milwaukee.
The Freeport, Illinois, society was awarded the third, and the
Janesville society received the fourth.
Some of the societies, and among them the Watertown, Concordia, did
not compete for prizes. "The following Societies
were represented at the Saengerfest: Milwaukee Maennerchor.
|
1883
06 20 LA CROSSE SAENGERFEST
The Saengerfest. The
members of the Concordia Society who were in attendance at
the Saengerfest at La Crosse returned Monday night, and all are loud in praise
of the delightful time they spent. Our
delegation upon their arrival at La Crosse Thursday evening, received a
splendid reception from their brethren and were welcomed in a fine speech by
Dr. X Otilie, which was happily responded to by
Constance Wiggenhorn. At the concert in
the Germania Hall Friday evening the Watertown delegation presented the former
director of the Concordia Society, Prof. E. G. Gaebler,
now residing at La Crosse, with a beautiful lyre composed of the choicest and
most delicate flowers, which was a complete as well as a happy surprise to the
recipient. J. B. May performed the task
presenting the testimonial in a graceful manner. The Saengerfest is pronounced a fine success and all came home highly pleased with La Crosse and
her hospitable people. WR
1885 SAENGERFEST
1896
06 20 OFF TO
THE SAENGERFEST (Dubuque, IA)
The Musical Society Concordia leaves tomorrow morning
about 10:30 on a special train over the St. Paul Road for Dubuque, la., to
attend the biennial Saengerfest of the Northwestern Saengerfest, in session
from the 23d to the 26th, inclusive. The
train will also carry the Milwaukee, Waukesha and
Oconomowoc societies. The route is via
Madison and Prairie du Chien.
A fine appearance will be presented by the Concordias, in their natty suits of blue sack coats, gray
trousers and linen tourist hats, and that they will acquit themselves
creditably in the concerts is assured by the careful and rigid training they
have undergone.
The society, as it will appear at the Saengerfest, is
made up as follows:
First tenors—Edw. L. Schempf, Alfred Baumann, Fred W.
Lehmann, Jacob Weber and Gus Buchheit.
Second tenors —Fred Vullmahn,
Carl Manz, Wm. Sproesser,
Adolph Hilgendorf and Max Wegemann.
First basses —Gus Exner, Fred G. Keck, C. R.
Blumenfeld, Oscar E. Meyer, Eugene Wiggenhorn and Arthur Wiggenhorn.
Second basses —M. H. Gaebler,
C. J. Wenck, Oscar Wertheimer, C. H. Jacobi, J. W.
Wiggenhorn, Henry Daub, Wm. T. Dervin, Frank Petro,
Otto Waltz and Edward Jantzen.
Director —William Forane.
Librarian —Carl Schwendke. Watertown
Republican, July 22, 1896
c.1885
Watertown
has had the distinguished honor of having been the place of meeting for the
Seventh Biennial Saenger-Fest of the German Singing
Societies of the Northwest, on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday, June 18,
19, 20 and 21. A gathering so much
importance to the musical-loving portion of our German fellow-citizens must, of
course, be accompanied by more than usual interest to this class of our
population, and this feeling was well shown in the extensive preparations made
for the reception and entertainment of the societies and their friends. Our streets gave evidence of a grand festive
occasion, with their decorations, devices and
emblematic trimming, presenting to the eye a beautiful and enchanting picture.
The
arch stood at the west end of
the Main Street bridge and was constructed as part of the Saengerfest
celebrations which were held here three times in the latter 1800s.
These celebrations were hosted by Watertown in 1867, 1875 and in 1885 ["The German Speaking 48ers, Builders of
Watertown, Wisconsin," Chuck Wallman]
Image
WHS_008_387 c.1885
What
we don't have the answer to is how long the arch remained. It almost sounds as if the arch was
dismantled after every Saengerfest, and then either brought out again or a new
one constructed at each event. But, the photo published above sure looks like more of a
"permanent" structure in downtown Watertown.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin