Madison County, Illinois - Chapter 41: Music in Madison County, 1912

Early Musical Centers - Monticello Seminary - Alton Musicians - Bands and So¬ cieties Schools of Music - Other Bands, Organists, etc. - Music in Highland.

The early history of Art in Madison county, particularly in Music, reveals some very in¬ teresting facts which are worthy of record, for the reason that were it not for the in¬ fluence of religion, literature and music, this part of the middle west would not have devel¬ oped towards civilization and Christianity, and the people would not have enjoyed those blessings of home life, safety and the pursuit of happiness had not the itinerant preacher, teacher and singing master made their regu¬ lar visits, bringing with them the news and happenings of the more advanced east.

The country school house and church were the regular meeting places of the pioneer sing¬ ers. There were no pianos or organs in those days, so in the church some one would be called on "to raise the tune." In the singing classes the tuning fork, or the violin, was used to give the pitch, and, in some instances, an English accordeon. One early settler, George Parker, played on the flute, and he was in great demand wherever there was singing. The music teacher would come to a village or settlement, often being heralded for some months in advance, and give a course of les¬ sons which would usually conclude with a grand concert or some sacred cantata. All the people, both old and young, for miles around, would attend these sessions, wore particularly the beaux and belles, and not a few country gallants selected their future companions at the old singing school. A fam¬ ily by the name of Peters moved from the south into the northern part of the county. They had some knowledge of the old "buck¬ wheat" notes, and could sing correctly from them. Different members of this family gave instruction from time to time and were, prob¬ ably, the first teachers. Later, or when Mon¬ ticello Seminary was built, Mr. B. B. Munson was engaged as musical director of the school. He immediately organized a singing class in the old Godfrey school house, using Lowell Mason's collection of songs as his text book. Mr. Munson was an enthusiast in his line and not only gave his attention to the Seminary, but in the church and Sunday school.

From this source emanated the musical life of the county. The preachers would carry the new songs to the different churches in tffeir circuits, and the moving about of the people, scattered the love for the study and apprecia¬ tion of music into nearly every adjacent lo¬ cality. With the founding of more schools and colleges came a wider field of activity, until, within a period of one hundred years, we have come to be a musical people, capable of understanding and interpreting the best there is in the noble art.

As has already been alluded to, Monticello Seminary, in Godfrey, always had a depart¬ ment of music, and some unusually good teachers have been in the faculty of late years. Miss K. L. Armstrong, Miss Eliza¬ beth Rowe, Miss M. S. Stackus, Miss Agnes Troy and others have been connected with the school. The strong point at Monticello has been the attention given to music, nearly all of the great artists have appeared there, also such famous organizations as the Mendelssohn Club, The Speiring Quartette and The Steindell Trio. The churches in Godfrey have vol¬ unteer choirs with the following organists now in service: Mrs. G. Hoots, Methodist; Miss Hattie Turner, Congregational; Miss H. Ma¬ son, Bethany Church.

In Alton among the first persons who made a special business of teaching music was Jo¬ seph Floss, who came there in 1865. Mr. Floss educated some of the best musicians of today and the impress of his labors still lives. He was not a great composer but a most suc¬ cessful teacher, giving lessons on the piano, organ and stringed instruments. He also was organist at the Catholic cathedral for some years. The Walter family were quite musical. Valentine had a music store at the corner of Third and Piasa streets. His brother, Bene¬ dict, was an expert theoretical musician and taught both harmony and composition. Mr. Joseph Gratian established an organ factory in the early sixties and built up a large busi¬ ness. He was an organist of ability, giving most of his time to the Episcopal church where he had a good choir. His son, William J. Gratian, succeeded him and has erected some fine instruments. He is also an expert organ¬ ist. Mr. B. H. Wortmann was for years or¬ ganist at the Catholic Cathedral and did much towards furthering the interest of music in Alton. He directed the Amphion Club of male voices, the Alton Opera Company, the Sym¬ phonic Orchestra and many other local organi¬ zations. Mr. Wortmann was a good violinist and devoted much of his time to teaching. He now resides in Chicago where he has charge of the music in one of the large Catholic churches. Mr. Emil Trenchery came to Alton in 1836. He opened the first music store and was or¬ ganist at the Cathedral. He was a piano tuner and also gave lessons. He was a familiar char¬ acter on the streets for many years, being led by a boy, owing to a sad affliction - blindness. Mr. Trenchery lived to a good old age and was highly respected. His children were all ex¬ cellent musicians and, with one exception, still live in Alton. His daughter, Miss Wilhelmina was not only an accomplished musician, but a successful teacher.

A brass band was formed in 1865 by Mr. William A. Murphy, called the Silver Cornet Band. In 1871 Mr. Reinhold Gossrau organ¬ ized a band bearing his name, and many of the members of the Cornet band joined his newly-formed organization. Mr. Gossrau was a born band leader, and also gave lessons on the violin. The following citizens were the or¬ iginal players in his band: Christian Wuerker, A. Maerdian, W. Fries, G. Mold, H. Wutzler, H. Winter, J. B. House, Fred W. Hoppe, H. O. Tonsor, A. Brueggemann, A. Tuemler, W. Oltman, Levi D. Yager, Joseph Holl, Eugene Lavenue and John Elbe.

The Emerald Band, under the leadership of J. B. House, existed but a short time. A Ju¬ venile Band, got together by J. B. Hoge, gave promise of being permanent, but, with the or¬ ganization of the White Hussar Band, most of its talent came over to it.

The White Hussar Band has made itself famous throughout the state. They have played at all the important functions and are always in demand. Mr. Edward Kleipeter is the present director and there are some thirty members. The German Maennerchor, founded in 1867, still holds its regular meet¬ ings. Mr. Joseph Floss, the first director, con¬ ductor, was succeeded by Mr. R. Gossrau, who is the present incumbent.

Various male quartettes have existed in Al¬ ton, among them the Apollo, Messrs. E. C. Smith, Ernest Schweppe, Louis Betz and F. H. Rabe. The Mozart, Messrs. A. C. Topping, C. 'Huskinson, L. E. Weston, W. D. Arm¬ strong. The Arion, T. Pepler, A. L. Daniels, R. A. Haight and John M. Logan. The Amphion, C. D. Haagen, F. C. Pickard, H. Rumsey, and E. Jngham.

The Dominant Ninth Choral Society has been in existence for about twenty years, and has performed many excellent works, among them Haydn's Creation, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Ros¬ sini's Stabat Mater, Liszt's St. Elizabeth and many others. Mrs. C. B. Rohland is the con¬ ductor, and is considered to be one of the bestposted musicians in America. Mrs. Rohland does some teaching ; she, however, devotes most of her time to conducting and lecturing on music. There are about one hundred and fifty members besides a long list of patrons who support the Dominant Ninth Society.

Mr. W. D. Armstrong was born in Alton and is one of its native musicians. He has made a reputation as composer, teacher and organist. He established the school of music which bears his name in 1906, which has met with much success. Associated with Mr. Arm¬ strong are Mrs. C. B. Rohland, Mrs. G. G. Craig, Mr. E. R. Kroeger, Mr. W. E. Yates, Mr. D. E. Stoekel, and Mr. Paul E. Harney.

The Alton Conservatory of Music was in ex¬ istence for some five years with Miss Ruth Mills as director. Miss K. V. Dickinson has charge of the Studio School of Music, which has connected with it the Camerata Chorus of Women's Voices. This organization gives con¬ certs yearly.

In the churches the choirs are mostly vol¬ unteers. The organists are Mr. W. J. Gratian, St. Paul's Episcopal; Miss Elizabeth Boyle, First Presbyterian; Mr. B. C. Richardson, Methodist; Mr. W. Montgomery, Twelfth Street Presbyterian; Miss May Wheelock, Church of the Redeemer, Congregational ; Miss Emma Joesting, German Evangelical; Miss May Foreman, First Baptist; Mr. W. C. Weyrich, Catholic Cathedral; Miss M. Jehle, St. Mary's Catholic ; Miss W. Pauline Guy is a successful teacher of today.

Upper Alton, now included in Alton proper, has the Shurtleff Conservatory of Music, in connection with the College. Miss Adelia Randall is the Director. There is also a chorus of fifty which gives a yearly recital.

The organists in the various churches are Mrs. Elsie Leverett-Owen, First Baptist ; Miss Eva Deem, Methodist; Mrs. G. Worden, Pres¬ byterian.

At the Western Military Academy a good brass band is maintained under the leadership of Capt. W. E. Yates. This school encourages the study of music, and all its branches are taught. In the public schools vocal music is re¬ quired and credit is given for work done in vocal and harmony. Miss A. Jones is the pres¬ ent supervisor of music.

Bethalto has for years had a brass band which was organized in 1879 and called the Bethalto Cornet Band. Among its first mem¬ bers were: Irby Williams, E. H. Youngworth, J. G. Klein, W. H. Lawrence, J. Jones, W. H. Battles, Joel Williams, J. F. Kruse, O. F. Bangert, C. H. Montgomery, E. A. Stoutenberg, Christ. Langhorst, John S. Culp. The church organists are Miss Mayme Brown, Catholic ; Miss Esther Thraikill, Methodist; Miss Doris Brown, Lutheran; Miss Sarah Owens, Baptist.

is under the direction of Prof. W. B. Thomas. He also conducts bands in Collinsville, Troy and Norden. There are quite a number of orchestras, but mostly of the dance variety.

The principal quartet is the Lotus Quartet, which has sung many engagements outside of Edwardsville as well as in. Its members are : Mrs. Edith Metcalfe Tuxhorn, Mrs. George D. Burroughs, Miss Josephine Springer and Miss Carrie Wolf. The place now occupied by Miss Wolf was in the original quartet taken by Miss Nora Burroughs, who married I. B. Dilling¬ ham, and located in New York. The Choral Society, organized in 1908, which Mrs. Rohland led, is not holding sessions this year.

Granite City has a famous singing club, the St. David's Benevolent Choral Society, num¬ bering fifty voices. Mr. John Morgan is di¬ rector and Aliss Gladys Lynch, pianist. The Underwood School of Music is the only insti¬ tution of its kind in Granite City and has met with popular favor. Miss Eunice Underwood is the principal and has several teachers to assist her. This school is affiliated with the Kroeger School of Music in St. Louis, Mo., and the W. D. Armstrong School of Music in Alton. Aliss Edith Frohardt is organist of the Neidringhaus Memorial church.

In the musical world, both local and instru¬ mental, Highland has been prominent and in¬ fluential in this section from the start. The love and knowledge of music of the German settlers asserted itself both in vocal and instru¬ mental practice in homes and at social gather¬ ings. Though private singing and instru¬ mental musical clubs were in existence, yet it was only about 1850 that the first regular sing¬ ing society was organized in Highland, with Julius Hammer, a German school and music teacher, as its first director.

Highland eventually made so prominent and favorable a reputation for singers that in 1855 the grand singers' festival of the Western Saengerbund (covering a number of states) was held here on Koepfli's hill just north of town. It was very largely attended and is yet remembered as a grand success. At the next festival at St. Louis, in 1856, the Highland singers carried off first prize.

Succeeding several old societies, the present Harmonie Alaennerchor was organized in 1867, wffiich now has thirty-five active and about 100 passive members, with an additional ladies' choir of thirty active members. Its standing in the district organization (including St. Louis and southern Illinois) is such that several district festivals were held here, and another to be here in June, 1912.

Air. Charles Koch, father of ex-supervisor Louis Koch, has been an active singer for fiftyseven years. He is yet active, never missing a practice except when sick. His four sons and one grandson are all active members of the society, as well as three daughters in the ladies' choir.

In instrumental music many of the old set¬ tlers (the Suppigers, Kinnes and others) were proficient and active privately and at social gatherings. The first regular music band, however, was organized by J. Willimann, who died soon thereafter, being succeeded by his son, J. H. Willimann, about 1852. The latter was an excellent musician. He came from Switzerland and had served three years in the United States army as band master previous to his settlement at Highland. He was the pioneer organizer and leader of brass bands and orchestras in this section. It is known that he made his professional rounds to his bands and scholars in the various towns on a grey pony, going to Troy Mondays, Collins¬ ville Tuesdays, Edwardsville Wednesdays, Marine Thursdays and Fridays, remaining at home in Highland only on Saturdays and Sun¬ days. Later on he also engaged in the mer¬ cantile business with success, becoming so prominent a citizen that he was honored with

Highland has had many good music bands and orchestras, also several so-called philhar¬ monic orchestras, composed of citizens who did not practice for financial results. At pres¬ ent we have again several good bands and orchestras.