Humboldt Memorial and Statue Unveiling Festivities

Enormous review of the festivities. “…About two P. M. the whole enclosure around the monument to be unveiled was filled. The members of the several singing societies were in the places assigned them, the orchestra occupied seats immediately in front of the two platforms, and Professor Carl Anschutz, director of the musical performance, instrumental as well as vocal, as ready, baton in hand, to give the sign to commence…. [Following an oration in German], [t]he moment having arrived, Professor Anschuetz [sic] swung his baton and the orchestra began the overture to C. M. Weber’s beautiful fairy opera, ‘Oberon.’
“The strains of this enchanting work of musical art were eagerly listened to, and hardly had the last note died away when the attention of the people was called to the platform… When Mr. Detmold had concluded he gave the nod, in obedience to which Mr. A. Kuehne, on the right, and Mr. William Ausermann, on the left of the monument, drew the cords; the flags of the two countries mentioned, which had covered it, parted over the head of Humboldt and glided down swiftly on either side, exposing the colossal statue to the view of all. Cheer after cheer went up from the lips of all assembled, even the ladies present joining heartily in the chorus, and the orchestra struck up, bearing the cheers with increased volume to the furthest confines of the immense assemblage…

“Cheers upon cheers by the people express their satisfaction with the remarks of Mr. Green, when again the waving baton by Professor Anschutz commanded silence, and the members of the Allgemeine Saengerbund, of New York and vicinity, about 800 voices, rose and sang that beautiful chorus, ‘O Iris and Osiris,’ [sic], from Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute,’ and were loudly applauded for their masterly rendition of a master’s composition…

“Warm applause followed Professor Leiber’s oration in German, after which the Northeastern Saengerbund, as strong in vocal performance as the other, gave the grand chorus by Mohr, ‘Jauchzend Erhebt sich die Schoepfung’ (Jubilant rises Creation), in a perfect manner…

“After the oration of Professor Doremus, the practical allusions of which were fully understood and warmly appreciated, the orchestra performed the introduction to ‘Lohengrin,’ by Richard Wagner, the father of the music of the future, after which came the grand hymn, ‘Dies is der Tag des Hernn’—‘This is the Lord’s Own Day’—which was sung by the united societies, over 1,500 voices, with orchestral accompaniment. The effect was indeed grand, and it appeared as if all those present felt the inspiring force of the human voice.”

“There were ten bands of music in the line [the procession to the park], and hundreds of elegant banners. The men marched four abreast…” Outlines the festivities much as the account in the New York Herald.

Extremely long review of the day’s events.