Reading the old news paper clipping was a challenge. I used a magnifying glass and retyped the whole program to the best of my ability. The date of the news paper and the name of the paper were cut off.
I compared this story to other stories regarding Saengerfests (singing events) and know now that the story is about the Saengerfest which took place September 1 – 4, 1910.
The Pacific Saengerbund (Singing Society) was founded in 1905 and in 1910 the first Saengerfest was celebrated in great style as we can read in the following article.
The story allows us an inside look into the musical activities of the German communities in the San Francisco Bay Area almost 100 years ago.
Retyped: Saturday, January 8, 2005.
Maria Brand
FAMOUS SINGERS TO AID LOCAL SOCIETIES
Six Days’ Music Promised by Chorus of 1,000 Voices and
Big Orchestra
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Concerts and Contests Will Be Held in Auditorium and Greek Theater
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Singers and singing societies all over the United States are making preparations for the Pacific states Saengerbund, the great musical festival which will be held in the Auditorium in this city and at Piedmont park September 1 to 6. The program for the carnival promises practically six days of continuous music, with singers of international fame and great chorus and orchestral work under well known leaders.
It has been estimated that the festival will bring more than 10,000 persons to the city. German singing societies from the largest cities of the country and from nearly every state will be represented. Many of the singers who have never been in the west before will bring their families with them. Such a flood of visitors is expected that special arrangements have been made with the railroads in all parts of the country.
PRIZES FOR SINGING CONTESTS
Prize singing contests between the various societies will be features of the festival. The chorus of more than a 1,000 voices will be under the leadership of Arthur Classen of New York, assisted by Joseph R. Riegger of San Francisco. The orchestra of 100 pieces will be directed by Paul Steindorff. (Riegger is sometimes spelled with one g. M.B.)
Sunday, September 4, will be Oakland day, and it will be marked by the greatest contest of voices of the entire fest at Piedmont Park for the handsome cup donated by Emperor Franz Joseph, Austria. Prizes competed for during the festival will be distributed Monday, September 5th in the Greek Theater at Berkeley.
Chief among the star soloists who will participate in the concerts are Mme. Marie Rappold, soprano; Miss Margaret Keyes, contralto; Daniel Beddoe, tenor, and Allen Hinckley, basso.
PARTICIPANTS IN CARNIVAL
The local societies that will take part are:
Verein Arion,
Alpenroesli,
Harmonie,
Teutonia Gesangsektion,
Gruetli Verein,
Hessen Gesangverein,
San Francisco Maennerchor,
Freundschaft Saengerbund
Walhalla Gesangverein,
St. Antonius Maennerchor,
Bayernbund Gesangsektion,
Eintracht Gesangsektion,
San Francisco Turnverein
Gesangsektion,
The Societies of other cities that will take part in the festival are:
Sacramento - Turner, Harmonie; Stockton – Stockton Turnverein, Gesangsektion;
Los Angelas - Arion Gesang Verein; Germania Turnverein Gesangsektion and Fedelia Maennerchor. Bakersfield - Germania Saengerbund; Oakland – Oakland Maennerchor, Oakland Turnverein, Gesangsektion; Vallejo – Lodge Hermann Sons’ Gesangsektion; Chehalis, Wash.–Chehalis Liederkranz; Tacoma, Wash.- Tacoma Saengerbund; Walla Walla, Wash.- Walla Walla Maennerchor; Portland,Ore. - Portland Arion singing society; Portland Social Turn Verein Gesangsektion; Everett , Wash.- Everett Liederkanz; Bellingham - Bellingham Concordia; Spokane, Wash. - Harmonie singing society; Seattle, Wash. - Seattle Liederkranz; Lewiston, Idaho -Lewiston Liederkranz;
Societies in the East that will be presented are:
Washington, D.C. – Washington Saengerbund; St. Louis, Mo. Liederkranz Club; New York City- Deutscher Liederkranz; Brooklyn, N.Y. Arion Singing Society; San Antonio, Texas, Beethoven Maennerchor;
.
Program of Music
The program as far as arranged follows:
Reception Concert:
Soloists- Mme. Marie Rappold and Miss Margarete Keyes, United singers of San Francisco in chorus, San Francisco symphony orchestra, Arthur Classen, Joseph R. Rieger, Paul Steindorff, directors.
The program as far as arranged follows
Reception Concert:
Soloists- Mme. Marie Rappold and Miss Margarete Keyes, United singers of San Francisco in chorus, San Francisco symphony orchestra, Arthur Classen, Joseph R. Rieger, Paul Steindorff, directors.
Fest Overture: …………………………………………………………………………E.Lassen
Orchestra:
Hymnus: “An die Tonkunst” Joseph Rhineberger, Entire chorus and orchestra
Soprano solo: “Dieu Theure Halle” ( Tannhaeuser, ………………………………………Wagner)
Mme. Marie Rappold
Rapsodie;……………………………………………………………………………………..List
Orchestra
Contralto solo: “O don fatale” Miss Margaret Keyes…………………………………………
“Soldatenbraut”…………………………………………………………………………..W. Speeder
“Magdalena”……………………………………………………………………….. .Arthur Classen
United Singers of San Francisco
Duet, Stabat Mater………………………………………………………………………...…..Rossini
Mme. Rappold
Miss Margareta Keyes
“Einzug der Gaeste”(Tannhauser)……………………………………………………...…….Wagner
Mixed chorus and orchestra
Friday Afternoon, September 2
Soloist –Mme Marie Rappold, Margarete Keyes, Daniel Beddoe, Allen Hinckley, director Arthur Classen, Joseph R. Rieger, Paul Steindroff directors.
“Ruy Blass”…………………………………………………………………..…………Mendelssohn
Contralto solo, “Hellstrahlender Tag” (“Odysseus”)………………………………..………Mr. Bush
Miss Margarete Keyes
Tenor solo: “ Preislied aus Die Meistersaenger”……………………………………………...Wagner
Daniel Beddoe
Sopran solo, “ Elsas Traum” (Lohengrin)…………………………………………………….Wagner
Mme. Marie Rappold
Basso solo “ Wotans Abschied” (Die Walkuere) ………………………………………….....Wagner
Allen Hinckley
“Traum Musik” Haensel und Gretel…………………………………………………….Humperdinck
Orchestra
Quintette”Die Meistersinger”…………………………………………………………………Wagner
All Soloists
“Slavischer Tanz”………………………………………………… ………………….Tschaikowsky
Orchestra
Quintette “Rigoletto”………………………………………………………………………...…..Verdi
Mme. Marie Rappold , Miss Margarete Keyes, Daniel Beddoe, Allen Hinckley,
Friday, September 2, 8 P.M.
First Grand Festival Concert
Soloists Margaret Keyes, contralto; Daniel Beddoes, tenor; Allen Hinckley ; bass. San Francisco symphony orchestra; Musical directors- Arthur Classen, Paul Steindorff and J.R. Rieger.
PROGRAM
Overture, “Der Freischuetz” …………………………………………………………...………Weber
Orchestra
“Consecration of Song” ………………………………………………………………...…Baldamus
Massed chorus of Pacific Saengerbund, Orchestra, contralto, Margarete Keyes
Address of Pogner “Die Meistersaenger” ……………………………………………….……Wagner
Allen Hinckley
Introduction to “Perseus” ……………………………………………………..………Theodore Vogt
Directed by the composer
Massed Chorus of Pacific Saengerbund
Polonaise ………………………………………………………………………………………….List
Orchestra
Aria from “Der Freischuetz”(Through the Forest”)……………………………………..……..Weber
Daniel Boddoe
Massed chorus of Pacific Saengerbund
Duet from “Troubador”………………………………………………………………….………Verdi
Margarete Keyes and Daniel Beddoe
“Frederic Barbarossa”……………………………………………………………………..Podbertsky
Massed chorus of Pacific Saengerbund and orchestra
Saturday Afternoon, September 3,
Prize singing, commencing at 2 p.m by 18 societies in Groups of three
Group A ( 12 to 20 singers) will render Van der Stuecken’s “Uebers Jahr mein Schatz.”
San Francisco Maennerchor, Director Johannes C. Raith.
Seattle Liederkranz: Director: Alfred Lueben,
Walhalla, San Francisco, Director: Ph. Friedrichs,
Tacoma saengerbund, director Fred Hermann,
Gruetli Verein, San Francisco, Director
Joseph C. Raith,
Santa Cruz Turn Verein, Director Ernst Wenzel,
Bayern Bund, San Francisco, Director Joseph R. Riegger,
Group B (21 to 31 singers) will render Attenhofers “ Abendfeier”
Freundschaft Saengerbund, San Francisco, Director J. R. Rieger,
Oakland Turnverein, Director G. Albrecht,
Maennerchor Fidelia, Los Angeles, Director Siegfried Hagen,
Alpenroesli, San Francisco, Director J.R. Riegger,
Sacramento, Turnerharmonie, Director A. Banz,
Teutonia, San Francisco, Director, J.R. Riegger,
Group C (35 singers) will render Hegar’s “ Fruehling im Walde”.
San Francisco Turnverein, Director J. Albrecht,
Germania Turnverein, Los Angeles, Director Ludwig Thomas,
Oakland Maennerchor, Director J. K. Belling
First prize contest competition, “ Neue Heimat,” A. Buechse, sung by the ”Arion,” under the leadership of Frederick Zech,
Second prize contest compositon, “ Wo das deutsche Lied erklingt”.Teodore Vogt,
sung by -----------( Part of paper clipping is lost)
Continue with:
Saturday Evening, September 3.
“Die Meistersaenger"………………………………………………………………………Wagner
Orchestra
“Allmacht” …………………………………………………………………………………Schuster
Grand chorus, Pacific Saengerbund
Tenor Solo, “Liebeslied” From “Die Walkuere” …………………………………………..Wagner
Daniel Beddoe
Grand chorus,”Spinn, Spin”…………………………………………………. Arranged by van Feyhl
“Heideroeslein” …………………………………………………………………………...…..Werner
Grand Chorus, Pacific Saengerbund
Soprano solo, “Nie nahte mir,”from “Der Freischuetz”………………………………………..Weber
Mme. Marie Rappold
Overture, ”Leonore Nr. 3”……………………………………………………………..…..Beethoven
Orchestra
“Der Lindenbaum”…………………………………………………………………..……….Schubert
Grand chorus, Pacific Saengerbund
“Terzett” (“Faust”) ……………………………………………………………………...……Gounod
Mme. Rappold, Daniel Beddoe, Allen Hinckley.
“Weib, Wein und Gesang”……………………………………………………………..……….Srauss
Orchestra
“Star Spangled Banner”
Soloist, Pacific Saengerbund and Orchestra
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