New-Yorker Staats-Zeitung, March 17, 1895 

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German Liederkranz of New York.  The History of the Society reflects 100 years of German life. – From the founding in a restaurant to a singer palace. – Names of men whose accomplishments cannot be separated from the flowering of the Liederkranz.

The history of the German Liederkranz can in many respects also be called a history of the German-ism of New York because from the moment when this large and highly respected society was founded there were only a relatively small number of Germans in this city and with the rise in immigration following the Sturm and Drang years in Germany, the society’s life also encountered a larger upswing. But how different the conditions are now from those with which the founders of the Liederkranz had to struggle! As pioneers with the love for singing they first had to create an understanding for its beauty. But despite all opposition and persecution they had preserved the delightful treasure of the old homeland, “the song that mother once sang.”  They nurtured this new plant, often in danger of wilting, with such love and sacrificial willingness that it grew into a proud tree, a strong German oak, defying all weather conditions. How true the words spoken at the 25th anniversary in 1872 have become: “Already now the society is – and will be more so in the future – a living tree, a richly flowing well, from which one can continually take if one understands how to enjoy friends and relaxation offered in the artistic performances and the social setting. And even if surrounded by Americans all day – the evening here doesn’t let one forget the homeland but brings it closer.”
        
[picture of the Liederkranz Hall]

This is how the Liederkanz has pursued its goal during its soon to be 50-year existence. It has created a beautiful caring home for art and science, German “Geselligkeit” and with its singing always remembering what a poet once wrote:

“Where there is music, there is flowering
And a glow all around
Like violet scent and rose blossoms
It settles in the deepest corners of the heart;
What was broken and lost long ago,
Gone since our youth,
Is woven anew in dreams,
When surrounded by a German Lied." 

[picture of President William Vigelius]

There is not enough space here to detail its creation and the struggles and storms encountered as chronicled in its annals, however resulting in the flourishing and growth of the society. But of special interest are the happenings during the first ten years as described, which the German clubs and societies encountered at that time. Few people today can understand the difficulties of those times.
        
[picture of 1st Vice-Presient F. A Ringler]

In the fall of 1846 an announcement signed by several Germans appeared in the newspapers inviting to the formation of a singing society. The following Sunday about 150 Germans of all ages and from all walks of life assembled at the Shakespeare Hotel on William Street. The suggestion was made that everyone who wanted to become a member would pay 25 cents. This accounted for 25 who remained and the rest departed. After several meetings this group constituted itself on January 9, 1847 in Ehrmann’s Restaurant, corner of Beekman and Cliff St. (now 109 Beekman St.) under the name “German Liederkranz.” Dr. Ludwig was elected President, Pauly as Secretary and Einhaus as Treasurer. Mr. Krauskopf took on the musical leadership. Rehearsals were held at different restaurants, finally regularly at the Shakespeare Hotel. The first song to be studied was “Guttenberg”, a composition by conductor Krauskopf.        

[picture of 2nd Vice-President G. A. Euring]

The first singer excursion was to the May Festival at the Thorns [Dornen] located today in the middle of Hudson City. In October of that year the society appeared in public for the first time in a concert at the Apollo Rooms, Broadway between Walker and Canal St. where the songs “Winzerchor” [vintner chorus] by Panny and “Sonntagslied” [Sunday song] by Krauskopf enjoyed great applause. Soon thereafter Krauskopf left the Liederkranz to form the Concordia singing society to which several members followed him, weakening the young society. Mr. Hecht took over as conductor. 

[picture of Treasurer J. Carlsen]

In 1848 Dr. Ludwig was again President and thanks to his endless efforts and the enduring loyalty of a few members the society did not succumb to the difficulties it encountered. On June 8 of that year a concert of “all German singing societies”, about 50 to 60, was announced. In 1849 the difficulties of selecting a conductor led to more members defecting to the New Yorker Sängerrunde. The society was in danger of collapsing and it is said, that a required quorum of at least 12 members for a meeting necessitated getting one who was sick out of bed. By the end of the year however, membership stood at 80, with 30 active members.  On March 19, 1850 the membership voted to participate in the first United States Sängerfest to be held in Philadelphia June 17-19, but discord led to the resignation of conductor Weisheit. With just a few weeks until the Fest a young man, a very recent member, volunteered for the job. He conducted almost daily rehearsals, had the singers join a philharmonic concert on May 25 and was named official conductor on June 11. Within four weeks he had managed to raise the 38 singers to such a level that the Liederkranz took first place at the Philadelphia festival. This young man was Agriol Paur who remained the Liederkranz musical director for 32 years and today is still the honorary conductor. The society owes him for all the triumphs he achieved and the enviable reputation the Liederkranz enjoys here and abroad.

[picture of Liederkranz Hall Ladies' Parlor]

The financial situation is illustrated in one of its earliest protocols is written: “In September the society was forced to change its location once again, having already moved from the Shakespeare Hotel to Hartung’s Restaurant and take up temporary residence at the German Casino near City Hall. Hartung’s was owed the unconscionably high sum of ten dollars at the time of which half was covered through donations and the other half advanced by a generous member.” At the general meeting in 1851 the Secretary reported a cash reserve of seventy-two cents – but no debts!! On July 30 of the same year it was decided to purchase a piano for two hundred dollars and to issue five dollar notes for that purpose. At that time the society engaged in an unheard of enterprise, namely the performance of the opera Zar and Zimmermann, which was performed on December 6 at the Astor Place Hotel and on December 17 at Niblo’s Garden. Both performances were rewarded with great applause from its large audience and yet the society’s treasury was in debt for two hundred and seventy dollars, which again was covered through five dollar notes.

[picture of Liederkranz Old German Wine Room]

As a result of the 1852 Sängerfest the society was burdened with an eighteen hundred dollar debt. This was to be a burden for many years. During the same year the society found a permanent home in the Phythagoras Hall at 136 Canal St., where it remained for eleven years. The membership also increased and by 1853 there were 348 members, of which 90 were active but many of them left within a year to found the Arion Singing Society. Since then the growth of the society was not endangered by further secessions.

[picture of Protocol Secretary H. Galoupeau]

The minutes of the following years show little of importance but at the same time indicate that the Liederkranz had made huge progress especially in its singing thanks to its enthusiastic conductors already presenting classical compositions and larger musical works. Upon the death of its long-time president Dr. Ludwig in 1857 Jacob Windmüller was elected to this office, followed by W. Jellinghuas in 1859 and Oswald Ottendorfer in 1860.

[picture of Finance Committee Chairman William Steinway]

1860 was also the year of the legal incorporation; membership stood at 547, with 90 active singers. As with all societies the Civil War had its effect on the Liederkranz which had more than 100 members in Union Army ranks. But this did not prevent the brave singers to fulfill a long desire of building its own home at 31 and 33 East 4th Street, which was solemnly dedicated on December 26, 1863.
After the end of the war the Liederkranz once again engaged in communicating with outside societies and the Sängerfest postponed in 1861 was now to take place from July 15th to 20th, 1865 in New York. It generated a large participation. During the 10th Sängerfest in July 1867 the judges unanimously granted the society the first place prize for its presentation of Wie kam die Liebe [How love arrived]. By 1869 the membership had increased to 1,012 so that the society purchased another piece of land on 4th Street, which greatly increased the Liederkranz property.

[picture of Corresponding Secretary G. Julius Hauser]

In this year the singers also earned the first prize at the Baltimore Sängerfest, receiving a valuable grand piano. The main activities of the following years were: Participation in the large peace parade in 1871, the fabulous celebration of its 25th Anniversary in 1872;  a reception for composer Franz Abt; a serenade for singer Pauline Lucca and the 25th anniversary celebration for conductor Agriol Paur in 1875.

[picture of Honorary Conductor Agriol Paur]

The important decision to build the current marvelous singer palace was agreed to at the general meeting on March 23, 1881 and the groundbreaking already celebrated with a grand Kommers on October 1 with architects Wm. Kuhles and H. J. Schwarzmann contracted as builders. On October 17, 1882 the membership met for the last time in the old building for a fare-well Kommers and on November 26 the new hall was inaugurated with appropriate festivities. In October of 1882 a bazaar was held to cover the costs for the elegant interior decorations, which netted a surplus of $25,272. During the same year the society presented for the first time the 3rd Act of Richard Wagner’s opera Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, which was an honorable success. Another leaf in the rich laurel wreath of success is the Western concert tournament by the Liederkranz singers and members in 1893.

After 34 years of strenuous work, however accompanied by magnificent success, the society unanimously voted Agriol Paur its honorary conductor which granted him well-deserved rest and relaxation. The musical leadership was taken up by: Theodor Thomas with Ed. Heimendahl as assistant conductor until 1885; Reinhold Hermann until 1890 who the current conductor Heinrich Zöllner succeeded.

[picture of Conductor Heinrich Zöllner]

Since its inception the following persons were Presidents of the society bringing business knowledge with them: 1846 to 1856 Dr. Ludwig; 1857 to 1858  Jacob Windmüller; 1860 and 1863 W. Jellinghaus; 1860, 1862, 1864, 1866 and 1871 Oswald Ottendorfer; 1861 Friedrich Kapp; 1865 Dr. Lellmann; 1867, 1869,1873, 1877, 1879, 1881, 1887 William Steinway; 1868 Louis Burger; 1870 O. Sackersdorff; 1872, 1875, 1882 Louis Kaemmerer; 1874, 1876 C. G Günther; 1878, 1885, 1890 Julius Hoffmann; 1880 Henry Havemeyer; 1884, 1887, 1894 Richard H. Adams; 1889 Henry Clausen; 1891 William Vigelius; 1892 Hubert Cillis.

This year the Executive Committee consists of W. Vigelius, President; F. A Ringler, 1st Vice-President; G. A. Euring, 2nd Vice-President; G. J. Hauser Corresponding Secretary; H. Galoupeau, Protocol Secretary; J. Carlsen, Treasurer; Th. Voigt has been the loyal bookkeeper for the past ten years.

And so the German Liederkranz is and will remain the most elegant place for the cultivation of music and art, German “Geselligkeit”, German character. If the society takes on the richly deserved golden laurel wreath and travels to Germany and Italy in the next two years it will herald the omnipotence of the German Lied through its mighty sounds and will have fulfilled its mission in its new fatherland honorably, loyally and without fear.

[hhv]