Beethoven’s conductor, David Nelson, with his accordion.
I arrive at Beethoven Männerchor, to meet the musical director of the former German institution, David Nelson, at night, when the sky becomes soft.
Small teams of other people gather on the giant beer lawn and make a song club, naturally complemented by giant cups. An Eastern European pop song plays on the speakers and everything smells like hot sausages. I’ve never been to Germany, but I think in San Antonio, this little enclave is as close to a reproduction as possible.
The 154-year-old nonprofit is lately for Oktoberfest. With Fiesta, the birthday party represents the majority of Beethoven’s properties.
Beethoven’s director, David Nelson.
Beethoven Männerchor, located in the King William community of San Antonio, is one of the oldest German music clubs in Texas.
Now the stall is almost empty, but on Friday, October 1, it will be with revelers.
I am accompanied to The Club Room through Jane May, who was the resident pianist of the Männerchor for about 8 years. For the uninitiated, Männerchor means men’s choir in German. The Damenchor, composed of singers, was already educated when I arrived.
Beethoven’s musical programming is solid, with several orchestras and choirs, before the pandemic they even had a Kinderchor for children, programs of this type work from Pereida Street in the community of King William for just over a hundred years. was born in what is now the construction of the Majestic Theatre in the city centre. If you ever pass by, you will notice that there is a “B” tile written somewhere on the floor.
Jane May, pianist of the Männerchor.
Behind the bar is a collection of ornate mugs on display as trophies, though I suspect they are occasionally removed from the shelves for the proper casting or sensible man. I notice that the wood paneled walls fit the floors, and I love the old framed paintings and colorful posters that hang from the moldings. The area is covered with alumni and regular customers, such as an officers’ club. Some start making jokes. I suspect they may be members of the choir, and probably veterans as well, and I made a decision that I would locate quite early in rehearsal.
“Willkommen” reads a sign on a sign that pronounces a cigar club.
Soon after, Nelson greets me. I shake his hand as I leave the band room, located on an outdoor stage, and I compliment him with his black braided straps.
“I bought them from Buc-ee,” he laughs.
David Nelson, director of the Beethoven Männerchor.
Nelson, a music teacher, has been Beethoven’s music director for 28 years. Since 1994, he has commanded the pack with an accordion (and an impressive beard). The Männerchor, which lately has forty-five active members, sings almost exclusively in German as a tribute to culture, many members do not even speak the language.
While there are German immigrants in the mix, some members do not have close ties to Germany. Nelson mentions that the show’s biggest draw is the camaraderie, and it’s easy to see why. of life and ages, with the member over 94 and the youngest somewhere in their twenties. The only prerequisites for the club are a preference for singing and openness to healthy field training.
“It’s a house for people. When I got here, everyone was very welcoming. Have you noticed the cheers? That’s it,” said Nelson, who confirms that many of the men in the club’s running back are in the choir.
David Nelson conducts choir practice at the Beethoven Männerchor ahead of the Oktoberfest 2021 birthday party.
With a wide diversity of German beers to choose from, I am also informed that the bartender offers Nelson a Spaten, unless he says otherwise.
I pass two sheets of song lyrics, none of which I can perform, although in the subsequent practice session I recognize some of Beethoven’s past travel melodies.
A song that more or less translates as “In paradise there is no beer” turns out to be one of the greatest satisfactions of the public.
Every Tuesday night at 8 p. m. , Nelson rings a bell, as if he were tending cattle, to alert his men that it is time to enter the music hall. .
“Some guys say we’re a beer drinkers’ club with a problem making a song,” Nelson jokes.
Repeat a member of the Männerchor.
Beethoven Männerchor rehearsals ahead of the two oktoberfest 2021 birthday party weekends.
On the Tuesday before the first weekend of Oktoberfest, the hallway is filled with participants, adding members of the Damenchor, who pass through the scores, while drinking their drinks and unfolding the packaging of the Tootsie Roll. May sits at the piano as Nelson leads with his accordion, imposing status in the middle of the room. A “B” mosaic is visual in front of the rows of populated folding chairs, of the same type that can be found in the original location of the beer garden.
Beethoven’s conductor, David Nelson, with his accordion.
When not in training, the music director, who officially retired from training in 2014, remains providing at the facility almost every night, helping with the volunteer-led meal program. In addition to bartenders, control of the association includes Vice President David Ulher and President Klaus Heide, who has a strong German accent.
After an hour and part of rehearsal, the band returns to the bar. Whenever it is a member’s birthday, and with more than forty-five members, it is, they actually start celebrating with cakes and classic songs. I wasn’t there to witness it. Me too. It was starting to thunder when, despite everything, I left to leave, the beer lawn was dark unless the hanging lights hung up.
Beethoven is one of the oldest German song clubs in Texas. When they are not preparing for one of their main occasions, you can attend the choirs on site every first Friday and sometimes in the city.
“One word that embodies our feeling here on earth is Gemütlichkeit, which essentially means friendship and brotherhood,” Nelson explains.
It turns out there’s a German word for everything. Another word you should know before buying your Oktoberfest tickets: Prost.
In other words, that’s it.
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Beers in the Männerchor practice session.