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Subject: [IASCOTT] 1910 In The Music World
Date: Wed, 18 Dec 2002 08:53:23 EST

IN THE MUSICAL WORLD

The Germans of Scott county have been eminent in many fields, and especially
have the German women done great service in the elevation of the plane of
social life.  Large German festivities and social occasions have reached
triumphant conclusion through the ennobling efforts of German women.  In the
musical world also, especially in the realm of vocal music, our German ladies
have been especially prominent on innumerable occasions.  To record all the
names of those eminent in music would be utterly impossible and should the
attempt be made, it would be easy to accuse incompleteness and even
favoritism.

In instrumental music also Davenport has achieved brilliant results.  More
than nine-tenths of the professional musicians here have at all times been
Germans.  This proportion holds when a tri-city musical organization if
formed, as of the 170 members of the Tri-City Musical Society, 150 are
Germans.  Among the directors of recent times who have won especial
prominence are Ernst Otto and Albert Petersen.  These came to the front after
the already mentioned pioneer leader of instrumental music, Jacob Strasser
had retired on account of advanced age.  Among the most noted instrumental
soloists have been Hugo Toll, Henry Sonntag, William Paarmann, Oswald Stark,
William Barthel and many others.  In former years such musical artists as
Charles Beiderbecke, Gustav Schlegel, Theodore Cramer and Hugo Braeunlich
took first rank.  In this connection we must also name Messrs. Bahns, Haas,
Toenniges, Restorff, Wernentin, and Lepper.  Until very recently the most
widely known Davenport director was Theo. Rud. Reese, who a short time ago
removed to Omaha for residence, where he is working in the interest of the
approaching great fest of the Sawngerbund des Nordwestens.  Besides this
there must be mentioned the Davenport Zither club which under the direction
of Albert K. Fahrner has given us  many excellent concerts.

Two of the leading lady vocalists of present-day Davenport are Mrs. Hilda
Matthey, and Mrs. Lilli Stibolt-Hanssen.  Among the solo-pianists of note are
Mrs. Bruning-Starbuck, Miss Olga Schmidt, Miss Meta Lerch, etc. Among the
noted portrait artists are Karl Schmalhaus, Miss Carrie Decker and others.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
Among the German chorus societies of the city the oldest is the Davenport
Maennerchor.  This organization was founded in 1851, and celebrated its
golden anniversary May 26, 1901, at Schuetzen Park most successfully, the
attendance being about 5,000 and a delightful program of vocal and
instrumental music rendered.  Other musical organizations in Davenport are
the Gesang Section of the Davenport Turngemeinde, the Northwest Davenport
Liedertafel, the Germania Saengerchor, etc.  From these societies a mass
chorus of from 100 to 200 voices had been formed to take part in the great
saengerfest in Omaha.  Much good work has also been done by the Arbeiter
Gesangverein, Vorwaerts, under whose auspices the Bundes Arbeiter Saengerfest
was held in Davenport in June, 1907.  Mention has also been made of the
extraordinarily successful saengerfest of the "Bund des Nordwestens," that
was held in Davenport the latter part of July, 1898.  On this occasion it was
an American, and more still, a Davenport girl, who achieved the highest
triumph by her solo work-Miss Poddie Ross.  Splendid success was also scored
at that saengerfest by miss Bertha Sonntag and Miss Pauline Woltmann, the
former of Davenport, and the latter of our sister city, Rock Island.  The
united male choruses of this fest sang with magnificent effect.  Davenport
musicians also won great honor.

*    *    *    *    *    *    *    *
The dedication of the music pavilion in the Schuetzen park brought together a
larger number of people than had ever before assembled on a similar occasion
in the history of Davenport.  On that day, June 9, 1895, this naturally
beautiful scenic park was visited by 10,000 people.  The next largest
assembly of the people that Davenport can boast was at the Bundes-Kriegerfest
in the '80s.  This was also held at Schuetzen park.


Debbie Clough G-erischer
Iowa Gen Web, Assistant CC, Scott County
<A HREF="http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/">http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/</A>;
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http://iagenweb.org/history/
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