~ founded 1851 ~
the oldest German singing society in the Washington area
2434 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20007
website: www.saengerbund.org -- phone hotline: 202-310-4691
Aus Deutschen Kreisen
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click on image for larger picture |
The group formed and elected its first president, Julius Viedt. Following an invitation from the members of the new singing club, Mr. Charles Walter of Baltimore accepted the musical directorship and set the date for the first rehearsal for April 12, 1851 at the German Hall on 11th Street, NW between F & G Sts in Washington, DC. But, as it turned out, in those days travel was not that easy and Mr. Walter was unable to attend due to inclement weather. In a letter he explained; "I am sorry for not appearing last night. But I thought I better stay home since I didn't think a rehearsal would get together in this kind of weather. I am happy about your intentions and I will become a member, if chosen as the new director or not. Please go ahead and schedule another rehearsal next Wednesday, April 20,1851 at 8:30 in the evening at the German Hall." This date marks the first rehearsal of record of the Washington Sängerbund.
The Sängerbund never went to the Song Festival in Baltimore in 1851 because the director felt that the group was not ready. In the following years, however, they began participating in those Song Festivals of the Northeastern Sängerbund and brought home prizes and awards on several occasions. Its first success in the then popular singing competitions came in July of 1869 in Baltimore when it won the first prize, a grand piano which it triumphantly brought home to Washington.
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By 1901, at its 50th Anniversary, the Sängerbund had a total of 3,179 members, including 398 active singers, 2,754 passive members and 27 honorary members. By 1929 bad economic conditions and the prohibition caused the Washington Sängerbund to cease operations. It even lost its Sängerbund Hall at 314 C St., NW which it had built, and moved into on December 19, 1893. But in 1934 a new singing organization by the name of the Männergesangverein Washington was founded. After three years the Männergesangverein realized that the original charter was still on record, changed its name and the Washington Sängerbund was reborn. While the Sängerbund had always been a men's chorus, the ladies in 1936 decided to form their own singing society which was to exist for almost 30 years as the Washington Sängerbund Ladies Chorus. In 1967 they eventually decided to join the men to become a mixed chorus.
In 1981 the Washington Sängerbund published a 200-page hard-cover book describing its first 125 years. Frank H. Pierce III and his wife Nancy, both members of the Washington Sängerbund, did extensive research to cover many details of the Sängerbund's role in our nation's capital of Washington DC, reaching back to the days before the Civil War. The book is still available for purchase.
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at the National Building Museum |
On May 22-24, 2009 the Nordöstlicher Sängerbund gathered for the 50th time to hold its Sängerfest and
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Today the Washington Sängerbund continues its long tradition of preserving German music and German Culture in the Washington Metropolitan area with numerous concerts and musical performances during the year, often in conjunction with other groups. Its repertoire consists of music in the German language and rehearsals are held weekly on Friday evening. In addition the Sängerbund sponsors other social activities such as an annual "German Fasching - Costume Ball", brings authentic German flavor to several local Oktoberfests, or plays host to visiting choruses from Germany.
Al Wenzel provided the history above, based primarily on“THE WASHINGTON SÄNGERBUND - A History of German Song and German Culture in the Nation’s Capital” by Frank H. Pierce III, published in hard cover. Library of Congress No. ML200.8.W32S345.
The book is available at $25.00 incl. shipping.
If you like to purchase a copy, please send an email to wenzelaj@yahoo.com
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