| Choral music in San Francisco flourished from the city's earliest days. Ensembles, societies, and clubs were formed by both amateur and professional singers, conductors, and teachers. These community-generated groups revealed a desire among immigrants to establish a cultural center in the western United States. This dissertation documents the growth, decline, and continual renewal of choral groups in San Francisco until the 1906 earthquake. An appendix lists choral works performed from 1852 to 1906.;The earliest ad hoc choral groups were initiated by touring vocalists, Elisa Biscaccianti and Anna Bishop, but more permanent groups were begun, including the San Francisco Philharmonic Society's singing section from 1853 to 1855 by George Loder, and the San Francisco Harmonic Society by Rudolph Herold from 1857 to 1860. Early performances included Rossini's Stabat Mater and Haydn's Creation. German groups included the Sängerbund, Turn Verein, Eintracht, and the San Francisco Mannerchor who contributed to local premieres of David's Le Désert and Weber's Der Freischütz..;The Handel and Haydn Society of San Francisco performed mainly sacred works from 1861 through 1890. Its many directors included Gustav Scott, George T. Evans, and John P. Morgan. Camilla Urso collaborated with the society and region-wide groups in her 1869 Grand Musical Festival. Similar events were given in 1883 and 1885 by Theodore Thomas and in 1889 by Patrick S. Gilmore. Carl Zerrahn contributed to San Francisco's 1878 May festival. Beginning in 1877, the Loring Club and the Schumann Club in 1884 performed madrigals, part-songs, and larger works such as Schumann's Der Rose Pilgerfahrt..;The Oratorio Society of San Francisco, led by Jacob H. Rosewald from 1885 to 1887, and the San Francisco Oratorio Society, led by James H. Howe from 1895 to 1899, offered works including Mendelssohn's Elijah, Gounod's Rédemption (with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra in 1896), and Dudley Buck's The Light of Asia. Howe also began similar oratorio societies in Oakland, San Jose, Marysville, and Sacramento in the late 1890s and early 1900s. The Apollo Choral Society with director Henry B. Pasmore presented with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra the 1898 local premiere of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.. |
