At A Glance
Awarded to the United German Singers of Philadelphia at the 21st National Saengerfest
Haydn was considered the father of symphonic music
Please check the hours for the Horticulture Center grounds before your visit
Throughout the 19th century, Philadelphia’s German singing societies participated in singing competitions. In 1906, the United German Singers of Philadelphia won the 21st National Saengerfest held in Newark, New Jersey. The grand prize was the bust of Austrian composer Joseph Haydn (1732-1809), which the singing society gave to the City of Philadelphia. The sculpture was installed in West Fairmount Park near the bust of Franz Schubert, which was also won by the singing group then gifted to the City in 1891.
Haydn was considered the father of symphonic music. His masterpiece is the oratorio, The Creation.
Voices heard in the Museum Without Walls: AUDIO program: David Kim is Concertmaster and solo violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra. He is a renowned teacher who presents master classes world-wide. Kim also works with youth to cultivate future audiences for classical music. Hardy von Auenmueller is Chairman of the Board of The German Society of Pennsylvania, founded in 1764 to assist German immigrants. Today the organization furthers the understanding of German and German-American contributions to American history and culture. Richard N. Juliani is a historian who has studied immigration and ethnic life, with a focus on the Italian American experience. He is the author of The Social Organization of Immigration: The Italians in Philadelphia. Segment Producer: Jonathan Mitchell
Museum Without Walls: AUDIO is the Association for Public Art’s award-winning audio program for Philadelphia’s outdoor sculpture. Available for free by phone, mobile app, or online, the program features more than 150 voices from all walks of life – artists, educators, civic leaders, historians, and those with personal connections to the artworks.
This artwork is part of the Around the Horticulture Center tour