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8 • The German Citizen •March - April 2024
ver the years I have when the Orpheus Singing Society Greg Witul coming North
amassed quite the col‐ hosted the Vienna Men's Singing American Saenger‐
Olection of musical pro‐ Association in 1907. Opa’s Attic bund. The singers
grams from Buffalo related organi‐ The Wiener Mannergesang- accepted the invita‐
zations. This should really be of no Verein was formed in Vienna, Aus‐ tion but, when the
surprise considering my uncle Ed‐ tria, by August Schmidt on Oct. 6, event was resched‐
ward was the one time musical di‐ 1843. Schmidt, a music writer and uled, the members of
rector of the Bavarian Singers. I just journalist, had helped organize the the Mannergesang
finished a book on the Chopin Vienna Philharmonic and was now decided to come
Singing Society, and I love all the old keen in creating an outlet for the December and within two years anyway and for their
ads found in the back of the amateur male singers of the city. Af‐ were touring Europe. own American tour.
ephemera. But, of all the ones I’ve ter a few months of practice the men The true highlight in the Man‐ The locations chosen
collected one of the most colorful performed their first concert that nergesang’s first half century is their included some of
and informational is this one from debut of “The Blue Danube” in German-Americas
1867. Commissioned by choirmas‐ most influential and
ter Johann Herbeck, with music by densely populated
Johann Strauss II, and words by the cities, New York,
Verein’s own Joseph Weyl, the work Philadelphia, Balti‐
failed to connect with the audience more, Boston,
at its first performance on Feb. 15, Chicago, Washing‐
1867. Knowing he had something ton, and Buffalo.
special, Strauss removed the univer‐ Arriving in New
sally distained lyrics, reworked the York on May 4, 1907
piece for orchestra, and performed the singers boarded a
it at the 1867 Paris World's Fair. This special train and
new version of “Danube” received headed to Washing‐
rave reviews and acclaim and be‐ ton after a day of rest. By arrange‐ sang and much of the audience at‐
came the timeless classic that is ment of the Austrian Ambassador, tended a banquet at the Orpheus’s
known today. the Mannergesangs received a for‐ clubrooms where the music of the
In 1906 the mayor of Indianapo‐ mal welcome from the Washington exhibition hall was traded for that of
lis, Indiana invited the Wiener Man‐ Saengerbund and representatives of the music hall, with drinking songs,
nergesang-Verein for the city’s up‐ the Austrian Embassy. The 450 impromptu ballads, feasting, and
members of the Vienna Society then the warm sense of gemutlichkeit.
toured the capital by carriage until The next day the 300 members
arriving at the White House for a of the Mannergesang took an op‐
concert in the East Room. portunity they couldn’t pass up,
Accompanied by Admiral touring the wonder of Niagara Falls
William S. Cowles, and his wife and the attractions of the Cataract
Bamie Roosevelt-Cowles, President City. After arriving at the Falls Street
Teddy Roosevelt and his wife Edith station, decked out in the colors of
enjoyed a selection of works per‐ Austria and America, Mayor Dou‐
formed by the singers. True to his glass formally welcomed the digni‐
personality President Roosevelt taries and began the day’s adven‐
rushed up to the conductor after ture. They first visited the Niagara
three songs, exclaiming, “Never, has gorge by road car then lunched at
anything like it been heard in Amer‐ the Natural Food Company where
ica” with great enthusiasm. After a they were joined by three members
brief back and forth, the president of the Ojibwe who explained the
returned to his seat delighted that traditions of their tribe and ended
he was able to elicit an unscheduled the day at the Nikola Tesla designed
encore from his special guests. power plant.
The Society would leave Wash‐ With the Wiener Mannerge‐
ington the next day for their tour sang-Verein returning to Europe the
and would arrive in Buffalo on May receipts from the Buffalo show were
13. Hosted by the Queen City’s Or‐ finally counted and the profits far
pheus Singing Society the Viennese exceeded the expenses, to the tune
singers took the stage of Convention of $2,550. The Vienna committee of
Hall that evening. Sitting before the Buffalo Orpheus chose 16 chari‐
them were over 1,000 Buffalonians ties to benefit from the surplus
and scores of out of town attendees which included the Lutheran Home
who paid between $1 and $2.50 to for the Aged and Infirmed, the Ger‐
hear the singers whose concerts man Roman Catholic Orphan Asy‐
made headlines across the nation. lum, the Federated Jewish Charities,
At 8:30 p.m. sharp the program and the German Hospital.
began with “Psalm 23” by Schubert Today the Wiener Mannerge‐
in both German and English. This sang-Verein WMGV still exists and
was followed by Richard performs across Europe. Their 2024
Heuberger's "Der Spielmann," schedule includes appearances at
Kremser’s “In Winter,” and Schu‐ the Anton Bruckner Festival in May
bert’s “An die Nachtigall.” In total as well as their own spring, autumn,
the singers would perform 14 pieces and Christmas concerts happening
to an absolutely enthralled crowd. in and around Vienna.
Following the show the Mannerge‐