The Minneapolis journal., 1903-11-26
NORWAY'S GREATEST
PIANIST rs GONE
Death Whose Fame
Trondhm Anniversary
the Day of swedish-Norwegan Union

to the Princess of Wales, under
whose protection she was. introduced
by a concert in 1889. In England
Lind, with whose personality and art
she was deeply impressed.
In 1870 she was called by Mr.. Gade
TO Copenhagen as teacher at the con-
servatory OF music there, and the fol-
lowing year she made her debut at
Leipzig. with brilliant concert at the
"GeWandhaus." In the following years
she won equally high honors in differ
ent places in Germany, Holland, Bel
gium and Switzerland.
In 1874 she was married to DR.. Os-
car Nissen, after which she again
went out giving concerts in different
European cities. OF late years she
Germany and Denmark. mostly played
In Norway, where she has visited
nearly every town in the country.
Eight years ago she celebrated her
50th birthday. Her health has been
poor, and she has had much to con-
tend with to keep her art at the
highest standard. With never-failing
kindess she has always given her as
sistance when and where 1t was re-
quested.
With her the most spirited and the
finest performer of the musical art in
NORWAY mas passed away.
Her funeral was held on October 81.
Our Saviors church was crowded. In
the throng were seen the minister of
setate, several cabinet officers, Bjorn-
stterne Bjornson, Edward Grieg and
others prominent in art and literature.
The coffin was buried in flowers sent
by admirers of her art from all over
the country. Henrik Ibsen sent a
beautiful bouquet of orchids.
After the funeral sermOn Edward
Grieg himself conducted the orchestra
of the National theater, playing his
composition, THE Spring" which
made a great and solemn impression.
In his sermon the minister laid special
stress on the charitable and kind dis
position Of Erika Nissen. how she re-
garded 1t her happiest and most
sacred duty to give a concert for the
benefit OF the poor. and this she had
| done time and again without being
asked to do 1t, always saying that as
she had nothing else to give for the
| relief of those who suffered. she would
gladly give what she had,-her music.
To the cadences of Chopin's funeral
march, played by the Second brigade's
military band, the great procession
moved toward Our Savior's cemetery,
where her remains now rest. 1t was
said about Erika Nissen that she could
| play Chopin's funeral march so that
| 1t would bring solace to the sorrowful,
and make the listener forget his dis
tress. No wonder, therefore, that this
was the last piece of music ever played
| for her sake.
The flags were at half-mast on all
! public. and on many private, buildings.
The music dealers kept their stores
closed on account of her funeral, and
it was not single family only that
mourned Its bereavement, but a whole
| nation.
Throndhjem's Cathedral.
The best-known historic building
from the early days of ecclesiastical
| architecture is the old cathedral at
marks for the foreign traveller in Nor
way. and Trondhjem's main point Of
attraction. Just now the old build
ing, or, rather. it's reconstruction, is
much discussed subject in Norwegian
newspapers. This building work was
begun in 1869 and has cost 100000
kroner SO far, and it's completion will
require about 2,250,000 more. The
whole building is expected to be
finished in about sixteen years
from now, this on the basis Of an an
nual budget Of 10000 kroner and
ninety men kept working steadily. OF
the amount already used. about
1.250,00O kroner has been furnished
by the Norwegian government, some
$4,000 by King Oscar, several thou
sands by the German emperor, 100000
by the sale of city prize mortgages,
about 100000 has been donated by
Trondhjem's s savings bank. the balance
Is made UP by private donations and
by the means belonging to the church.
The first beginning of this magnifi-
cent building was a small chapel,
which the farmer, Thorgils Hjalmesen,
built over the place where he had bur-
led the corpse Of st. Olav (the patron
TT - - Ht-k ~
icism). King Olav Kyree replaced the
chapel with a stone church, called the
Christ church, which was dedicated
July 81, 1898. On its high altar was
placed the shrine containing st. CLAWS
bones, and it stood there for 500 years.
In the middle of the twelfth and in
the thirteenth centuries several
changes and improvements took place
in the building. When at it's best the
length Of ~ church was 324 feet, with
five toweS, SIC windows, $3.50 pillars,
about 40 statues and at least 25 altars
But hardly had. a generation passed
before the destruction of this-the fin
est church building of the time in
northern Europe-began. Easter
| week. 1928, fire destroyed large
portion Of it and in each Of the two
following centuries it was again ha-
| raised by the flames. In 1908 and
l719 the building for the fourth and
| fifth time respectively was burnt
down. First in the year 1850 was it
restored to such an extent that it
could again be used for divine service.
| and the appearance 1t then had was
| maintained until the work of restora-
| ton begans anew in 1869.
| The principal point of argument
now seems to be whether a plan Of
restoration, or one of reconstruction
shall be followed, and many seem to
think that according to the specifica-
| tions submitted by the man in charge
of the work the new building will diff
fer. altogether too much from the one
of which it should be as exact copy
as could be had Some even suggest
that when the church finally is COM
| pleted 1t should be called "Trond-
hjem's New Dome" For the future
welfare of the town of Trondh1em ii ie
to be hoped that this will not be done.
| for what foreigner cares to travel all
the way to Trondhjem to look at
new church completed in 1918: To
be able to say, truthfully or otherwise
! this church. was erected in 1093,''
that is something that will take quite
differently with the man out hunting
for the odd sights OF this world.
| The Union Day.
| Nov. 4, 1914, the amended con-
stitution OF Norway became law, the
union with Sweden was reality, and
limmediates after, Charles Kill was
chosen King of Norway. A1tho the