Friday, August 5, 2016

My Großvater sings - "a little nervousness was noticeable"

I can't sing!  I am well aware of this but since the journey of researching the grandfather I never knew, I have come to find that I have musical genes on my paternal side.

In 1886 Theodore Wilhelm Vetter arrived in Victoria from Germany, and soon settled in the area of Dumbalk.  In fact within 2 years he had signed up to lease some land.

In April 1890 a new School building was opened in Dumbalk, in fact it had been built by Theodore.  "The building which is 24x13 feet was erected by Mr. T. Vetter, and reflects credit on that gentleman by the neat manner in which the work has been executed."[i]
The opening was celebrated with a musical evening, and different members of the community got up and sang.  Well Theodore was one of them.  He, along with a Mr. Demuth, sang “In Happy moments day by day.”

IN HAPPY MOMENTS.
In happy moments, day by day, the sands of life may pass In swift but tranquil tide away, for time's unerring glass.
Yet hopes we used as bright to deem remembrance will recall.
Whose pure and whose unfading beam is dearer than them all;
Whose pure And whose unfading beam is dearer than them all.

Tho' anxious eyes upon as gaze, and hearts with fondness beat.
Whose smile upon each feature plays with truthfulness replete.
Some thoughts none other can replace, remembrance will recall,
Which in the flight of years we trace is dearer than them all;
Which in the flight of years we trace is dearer than them all.

The reporter from the Gippsland Times noted that the duet sung by the two men was “very affectively rendered, though a little nervousness was noticeable.”

Theodore a few years later decided to leave Dumbalk, and head to Western Australia.  But he stopped in to Adelaide along the way, and during the first week of his arrival there he ventured to the “then very flash Globe Hotel, now Myers.” Here he stayed and became quite acquainted with Adelaide nightlife.  “After midnight the bars were still packed with people.  Vetter joined right up with funny tales and comic songs, and was quite a hero by 2 am.” [ii]

Nearly a 100 years later, his grandson (Me!), would also be frequenting Adelaide bars after midnight – but never singing!!!

In 1905 after spending just short of 10 years in Western Australia, Theodore came back to South Australia.  By now he was a married man with a family, and soon settled in to the Deutsch community.

He became a member of the Adelaide Liedertafel[iii] choir, and in 1908 they were celebrating their 50th anniversary.  On the 17th of September   an anniversary concert was held in the Adelaide Exhibition grounds and the programme of the event includes a photo of the choir and Theodore is proudly standing there.

Among the songs that he sang as part of the choir were “Durch den Wald” (Through the Woods), “Waldkönig” (King of the Forest) and Johann Brahms “Wiegenlied”.

Wiegenlied
Guten Abend, gute Nacht,
mit Rosen bedacht,
mit Näglein besteckt,
schlüpf unter die Deck!
Morgen früh, wenn Gott will,
wirst du wieder geweckt.

Guten Abend, gute Nacht,
von Englein bewacht,
die zeigen im Traum
die Christkindleins Baum.
Schlaf nun selig, und süß
schau im Traum's Paradies

After 1915 Theodore life changed a bit and there was not quite as much to celebrate as there was in his earlier years, but I am proud to think that I have musical DNA, even if it is with a bit of “nervousness.”




[i] Gippsland Times 30 April 1890
[ii] Sport (an Adelaide newspaper) 6 February 1931
[iii] http://www.alt1858.org/

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