Karl Muck was born in Germany in 1859. He and his family moved to Switzerland and he received citizenship at the age of 21. Renowned as a conductor, Muck became the music director for the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1906. He was close friends with Kaiser Wilhelm, but chose to bring German musical stylings to America instead. When the United States declared war on Germany, Muck offered to resign his post, but was persuaded to remain. As the wave of patriotism swept through the music halls, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played at the beginning of every show. The public demanded the pro-German Muck perform the anthem, but he failed to do so, prompting a wave of backlash which resulted in his arrest and internment. Though he was not a German citizen, a loophole in the Espionage and Sedition Acts allowed for the arrest of anyone born in Germany prior to the foundation of the Empire in 1871. While in camp, he performed Beethoven's "Eroita" for the 2000 German prisoners. He was deported in August of 1919 and lived out the rest of his days in Germany. He stepped away from conducting, viewing himself as an artist of the past in the post-war era and the rising Nazi control over the arts made him uncomfortable, though he received a Plaque of the German Eagle from Hitler on his 80th birthday. He passed away March 3, 1940.