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.”
