Silver Saengerfest

On the stage of San Francisco's huge Civic Exposition Auditorium, whence announcement went in 1920 that James Middleton Cox was the Democracy's choice for President, electricians last week put finishing touches to a hook-up of microphones. In an auditorium at Cologne, Germany, was similar activity. Three thousand German-American members of Saengerbunds (singing societies) in 34 U. S. cities, summoned by President William Esser of the Greater Pacific Saengerbund, were about to descend upon Civic Auditorium to celebrate in six concerts and competitions the silver jubilee of the Pacific organization. Meantime 5,000 members of the Rhenish Singers' Union were converging on Cologne. The plan was to attempt something new in radio singing--an interchange of broad- casts, "round'' harmony on a transoceanic scale. San Francisco was to sing a number, Cologne was to listen, then bellow a reply.

Conductors in San Francisco were to be Arthur Luis, famed in the West for his work with many a German song society, and Fest Director General Frederick Schiller. Principal soloist was Metropolitan's big-bosomed Soprano Margarete Matzanauer.

First U. S. Saengerbund was organized in 1835 at Philadelphia, first Saengerfest held in 1849 at Cincinnati. Thereafter all over the country the German music germ spread. In the West during the woolly days of the Gold Rush, a Dr. Maleck, stout fellow of the rough frontier, led miners, gamblers, traders, hangers-on in rollicking Teutonic song. For the rest of the century, German societies sprang up, lived a short time, died. It was not until 1905 that the present Pacific Saengerbund was born. Robert Lorentz was its organizer, G. G. Reigger its leader. In 1910 the first Pacific fest was held. How Saengerbunds and Saengerfests have succeeded was shown by the huge attendance at Chicago's fest in 1927 when 100 choruses sent 5,000 singers to participate. i:.: the U. S. today there are four main Saengerbund divisions--the Greater Pacific, North Pacific, Northeastern and North American (Midwest). The last-named held its fest in Detroit in June. The Northeastern group will convene at Atlantic City in the autumn of next year.

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