New Yorker Allgemeinen Sängerbund Festival
Event Information
Venue(s):
Jones's Wood
Conductor(s):
John [conductor] Rückner
Event Type:
Band, Choral, Orchestral
Record Information
Status:
Published
Last Updated:
14 July 2016
Performance Date(s) and Time(s)
23 May 1864, 8:30 AMProgram Details
Festival: 8:30 a.m.; Concert: 2 p.m.
The festival was originally scheduled for May 16, 1864 but was postponed because of inclement weather.
The festival was originally scheduled for May 16, 1864 but was postponed because of inclement weather.
Performers and/or Works Performed
1)
Participants: Frohsinn Gesangverein; Beethoven Männerchor; Concordia Gesangverein; Melomanen und Social Gesangsverein; Harmonia Gesangverein; New York Turnverein; Steuben Veteranan Verein; Rubel's Band; Flora Gesangverein; Harugari Männerchor; Sängerrunde Gesangverein; Fidelia Gesangverein; Lyra; Uhlandbund Gesangverein
6)
aka Norwegian sailors' chorus;
Chor der norwegischen Matrosen
Composer(s): Wagner
Participants: New Yorker Sängerbund
Citations
1)
Full listing of participants, including several regiments and their captains. Mentions Joseph Hildebrandt as the director of the whole festival. Indicates that Mayor Gunther will also be in attendance. Includes other festival events. Some of the festival will be held on two boats: the “Chase” and the “May Flower.”
3)
“POSTPONEMENT OF THE GERMAN FESTIVAL.—One of the important annual festivals of the Germans, called by them Pfingst Montag, which was to have been celebrated yesterday by the New-York Allgemeinen Sängerbund, by a pic-nic at Jones’s Woods, was postponed until next Monday, on account of the inclemency of the weather.”
5)
“The Germans of this City celebrated, yesterday, in Jones’ Woods, one of those pleasant national festivals which we thank them for transplanting into their adopted country. The delightful grove, beautiful in the freshness of its early verdure, was alive with thousands of people, mostly from among the working classes, drawn there, as one of their orators justly remarked, ‘not merely to drink ‘lager’ and have a grand spree, but to enjoy the highest music of the best composers.’ Not that ‘lager’ was wanting—by no means! It was drank [sic] in huge quantities out of big horns and glasses; but that the humanizing influence of the music of Mozart, and other great masters, was deeply felt and appreciated, was evinced by the quiet order and genial humor of the whole assembly. The festival was, in every point of view, pleasant and a success.”
6)
Very well attended: 10,000 to 15,000 people. These outdoor festivals are not intended to display the quality of performance but are meant to gather all active and passive members for a joyful celebration. We do have to recognize, however, the diligence and enthusiasm of the performers and their conductor, Mr. Rückner. The “Matrosen Chor,” from Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, does not seem suitable for a chorus as large as the Sängerbund. The peculiar, fast rhythm of the piece is quite difficult to perform with a big choir.