Manning Monitor Article
August 20, 1931 The Manning Liederkranz Celebrates Fortieth Anniversary
On December 27, 1891, a number of young men gathered at Reimers & Miller Hardware store and organized a Singing Society under the name of "The Manning Liederkranz".
The charter members of this organization are: H.D. Radeleff, Henry Vogt, H.C. Claussen, Joe Feldmann, Fred Feldmann, William Shoop, Henry Schrum, Martin Becker, Julius Brunnier, Martin Brunnier, Gus Franke, J.J. Kruse, William Wunrath, August Reimer, Fred Miller and Mathias Jones.
The first President was William Shoop; H.C. Claussen, Secretary; D. Radeleff, Treasurer, Henry Schrum, Librarian.
The purpose of this organization was to cultivate and cherish companionship and sociability among its members and families. It was decided that once a week singing rehearsals should be held under efficient and trained directors. The first director was Louie Greiner who had charge of the organization for two years. A similar organization existed at that time in Denison, Ia., under the direction of J.F. Harthun, editor and publisher of the "Denison Zeitung". After Mr. Greiner left Manning, a contract was closed with Mr. Harthun of Denison that he should come to Manning and instruct the Manning Liederkranz, which he did for four consecutive years. The trip from Denison to Manning had to be made by train with a change of cars at Carroll, it was always a two day job for Mr. Harthun with a night stay-over in Manning. In 1897, Mr. Lange, father of Mrs. Bert Kraus, came to Manning, who was a very able and efficient music director. Seeing their good chance the singers engaged him as their director and faithfully rehearsed under him for six years, until age began to interfere with Mr. Lange’s activities and he was compelled to retire.
In the year of 1907, Mr. D.F. Gifford, then quite a young man but very ambitious and musically talented came to Manning to give piano and violin instructions. The Liederkranz engaged him and he directed the singers for about six years, that is, until 1915, the year when Mr. Gifford left for Audubon where he directed the band.
The next move of the singers was to locate a very talented and efficient musician who came here with a show troup, playing during the acts, a man by the name of Hans Engel, now living in Chicago, engaged in church music. Mr. Engel while here (just to introduce him) married Miss Clark Puck, and proved to be the most efficient director up to that time the singers ever had. The organization still has music of Mr. Engels composition on hand which are numbered among the best in their possession. His musical training in Germany was beyond reproach: the largest pipe organs or any difficult instrument was the liking of Mr. Engels. In brief: He was a musician through and through.
Under his directions, the "Choral Society" was organized: which concerts given by them are still in minds of many o four music lovers. Teachers of the Manning schools enjoyed the rehearsals and assisted in giving these concerts. German songs composed by the best musicians in Germany were translated by efficient members of the organization an sung in English at the concerts. We wish to state that the Liederkranz was on the peak of its glory during Mr. Engels administration. Manning was too small for Mr. Engel and he moved back to Chicago where he resides today and has a good position in his vocation of which his many friends in Manning are glad to hear.
Then came a time that the mood of most of the people of Manning was dampened to an extent that it was more crying than singing;, the world war; and things rested for several years.
After the Armistice was signed and life reverted into a regular course, things began to look brighter for social organizations and so Christian Hoischen, noted musician from Germany, who had lost his position, belongings, etc., in Germany during the war, came to America to make a living the best he could. He served on musical conservatories in Cologne, Berlin and Heidelberg, Germany, as instructor, well capable of serving on the highest institutions any place, but to do most anything to make both ends meet he came to Manning and accepted the position as director of the Manning Liederkranz and established a music school, teaching piano, etc.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoischen made many friends here in Manning during their short stay of about three years, after which they returned to Germany where he has at present a splendid position in a conservatory near Cologne. Soon after Mr. and Mrs. Hoischen left, Mr. R. Essbach accepted the position and has charge of the Liederkranz today. He is known to be a very efficient musical instructor and enjoys the best of patronage in his vocation. We hope that Mr. Essbach will be with us for a long time to come. He is well beloved and is very accommodating in furnishing his support in the line of song and music for all occasions.
Credit is due the Liederkranz of Manning for furnishing and supporting efficient directors and instructors of music for the town ever since the organization of that body.
The sociality of the organization always has been the entertainment of audiences at social or civic functionings where music and song was required. The social part for the members comes in spending their vacations at the national concerts arranged by larger cities. The Manning Liederkranz is a member of the Nordwestlicher Saengerbund of the U.S.A. covering territory from Chicago to San Francisco and from the Canadian line to the Gulf of Mexico. The local singers have attended concerts held in Omaha (twice); Lincoln, Nebr., Davenport, Ia., Peoria, Ill., Chicago, Ill., (twice); St. Paul, Minn., Milwaukee, Wis., and other places. The Singers have now on file an invitation from St. Paul, where the National Concert will be held next year in June, for which extensive preparations have been made. 1000 business men of the twin cities have been placed on different committees in the towns, and 500 hundred in outside towns. About two thousand active Singers will participate, which will be directed by Professor Otto Singenberges of Milwaukee.
It is the duty of the committee to have everything in readiness for the Singers when they arrive, that is lodging in the different hotels, receptions and social entertainments for the ladies as well as for their husbands. In fact the members and families are looked for after and taken care of in the most accommodating manner, and everybody is looking delightfully to the days when the singerfests are in the city, it is the most pleasant way to spend week’s vacation that anybody can think of. They have a joyful time by being given everything possible through the courtesies of the entertainers.
What Are The Duties of the Singers?
After the first reception night when all singers are entertained by the singers and organizations of the city where the concert takes place, they must appear strictly at 9:00 a.m. for the general rehearsals the next day with the director of the big concert, where they rehearse the songs for the evening concert and get accustomed to the directing of the new man. This is an every morning duty for several days. These rehearsals last for about two hours. Then dinner hour. Delegates meet in convention in the afternoon to dispose of such business that may be submitted in the meeting. The next ' meeting place and the best for the organization are discussed. Those that are not delegates attend picnics or other amusements that are, arranged. In the evening everybody attends, the concert which is a real treat to the audience. The symphony, orchestras and soloists, men or women, are engaged to entertain the crowd with the worlds' greatest masterpieces in song and music.
For the parting. last day, picnics in all parks are arranged for. the singers and their families, and such days are long remembered' by those who have had the pleasure of participating
What Is The Effect of A Concert?
Are They Appreciated?
The writer has had the pleasure of attending several of these concerts, including all activities and meetings of delegates. And in such gatherings one gets in touch with people from the western hemisphere of the States. In the concert of Omaha in 1919, a friend gave his expression in the following manner: "My wife end I attended the concert last night and in watching the people we just carelessly watched the two thousand sturdy men finding their places (in quartett) on the large stage built over the ordinary state for that purpose. Of course you soon make friends with those in adjoining seats. My wife talking to a lady friend next to her, was astonished when the director gave his starting sign She asked how it was possible that they got up from their seats without anyone noticing it. I told her to watch. She missed it again when the next song started. Angry at herself she crossed her arms and waited.
In starting the large chorus the director taps his baton on the music stand. raises his hands and the two thousand people stand on their feet without a noise. Watching that moment of one second brought cheers from those who watched closely. These exercises were a part of the morning rehearsals. In the first rehearsal one jumped up here and the other, there but they were soon told how it should be done and if any one felt. that it was too strenuous, he was courteously invited to go and have his seats reserved and taken in the concert that way. Obedience and manners first.
Then, he continued, about the fourth song rendered by the mass chorus was "'The Double Eagle" and I and many others were standing up, instead of sitting in our seats when the song was over. How and why we got up nobody knows. Such and other remarks were made about the effect of the concerts.
How Are These Concerts Financed.
The executive committee of the National: organization calls for a small membership fee annually. This money is placed to the disposal of, the entertaining city. Business men and music lovers make large donations for these concerts, and when the group of singers arrive in the place of festivities it is the secretary's duty of each unit to regulate the financial question. If there is a surplus it is held over for the next concert. The active singers are treated as guests, enjoying free lodging, etc. All in all these concerts do not cost the individual active singer very, much and are greatly enjoyed.
Under the directions of Mr. Lange, the ladies organized a singing society, "The Damenchor Harfonia" in a certain sense of the word" An Auxiliary to the Liederkranz". Members of this organization were: Leona Dethlefs-Fick; Mrs. Peter Claussen, Mrs. Gustav Franke, Mrs, Julius Brunnier, Katie Brunnier-Wiese; Lent Koepke, Adelia Sievers, Mrs. A. K. Resner, Bertha Wohlers-Behn; Mrs. M. Brunnier, Catherine Brunnier, Mrs. Claus Reinholdt, Mrs. Joe Feldmann, Emma Hinz-Koepke; Mrs. Henry Mueller, Anna Rahdemann-Ohde; Minnie Reimer-Frahm; Clara Hoffmann-Wheeler, and Mrs, Reinhardt Stumpe. Regular rehearsals were held with Mr. Lange as director and concerts were given, by the "Damenchor" and they also participated in the concerts with the Liederkranz. Four of the active singers in the Damenchor still belong to that organization and long may they live and keep up the good work.