Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-09
HEAR FOLK SONGS
Big Audience at Prospect Park to
Welcome Chorus of Swedish
Singers.
RECEPTION AT THE COLLEGE
Visitors are Entertained There Yes
terday AfternoOn-Members
of Party.

An audience of large proportions
greeted the student chorus of the Uni
versity of Lund, Sweden, at Prospect
park last evening, where one of the
"a concerts scheduled for America was
presented An ovation was accorded
the singers, and throughout the pro
gram repeated encores were demand
ed The chorus. dressed in evening
clothes, and wearing the white student
caps, as they are affected in Sweden,
made an impressive appearance.
A chorus of 100 Swedish students
were invited to participate in an in
tenational singing contest at the
Worlds exhibition in Paris, 1867. They
won such a great and decisive victory
over all their competitors that not
only was the first prize unanimously
awarded TO them by such judges as
Gounod and others. but Empress
Eugene gave them as an especial
grand priX'' a large gold medal, and
they were officially declared to be
"hOrs concours," or above all competi-
ton.
Honorary Guests Since.
The young sons of Jenny Lind's and
Christine Missions country have since
been invited as honored guests to ev-
cry Paris worlds fair, and they have
been overwhelmed with applause and
hOnors at the Trocadero when they
appeared there in 1878 and 1900. But
they have not, on account of their
first decisive victory. been allowed TO
compete for prizes any more. They
were once for all declared to be the
champion singers of the world" to use
a well known sporting term.
The reason why the Swedish stu
dents are such excellent singers is, be
sides the Swedes' general musical
gifts and their love for song, that in
every school in Sweden music and
singing are an obligatory part of the
study plan. This is continued in the
colleges, and every university has its
director musiceS.'
Have Beautiful Songs.
Then. too the most prominent Swed-
ish composers, such at Soderman,
LindbIad, Wcnncrberg. Norman, JOS
cphSOn and many others, have written
most beautiful songs especially for
these chOirs. not in the style of the
American college songs, but the most
original and poctical compositions of
the highest musical value.
The well known impressario Gus
tave Thalberg, of Stockholm. Sweden.
was asked last winter to bring over
to America a chorus of Swedish stu
81, I igI,
Day" June "a, at the worlds fair. and
TO make a tour of the largest places,
such as New York, Philadelphia, Chi
cago, Denver, Minneapolis. Boston and
others. He accepted the invitation.
Arrival of Chorus.
The singers were met at
yesterday afternoon
by a committee consisting of c. l..
Peterson. George II. johnson and Dr.
Gustav Andreen. At the Milwaukee
depot the Svae Male chorus, the Svi-
thiod Soner, the Swedish Olive quartet
and many others formed a reception
committee and escorted the visitors to
the Manufacturers hotel in Moline. On
the way to the hotel the students of
college and the distinguish
ed singers struck off tunes full of vol
umc and force. From the hotel the
singers and escort came to- the col
lege, where they were photographed
on the dormitory steps. They then
repaired TO the dining room. where
tie singers were banqueted. The room
was decorated in green and white with
oak leaves. lilies. Swedish and Ameri-
4
about the ceiling over the
tables. being allowed to sway in the
and fastened at either end
with small flags. In the room also
were large pictures of President
Roosevelt and King Oscar. After the
banquet there was a short program,
consisting of two toasts in Swedish
and two in English. There were about
175 present at the feast.
Names of the Singers.
The names of the Swedish singers
from the University of Lund follow:
Alfred Berg, director; John Forsill. so
loist: y. Zaff, minister; r. Kjellen.
professor; V. Amneus. notary in SUI
Dreme court; Albert Arveschaug.
opera singer. and the following stu
dents: J. Lundbladh. y Arnold. c.
Lindquist, y. II. Bakander o. Ralf. F.
Paulssen. \. Smith, L. Gagner. J.
[jaderquist. 4. Rudstrom, 6. Thalberg,
X. Kempff. X. Barr. s. Bruzelius. II. |
IaTlsson, y. Rosander. II. Peterson,
Il. Hintze. S. Whitman, II. Schaiin, o. |
Brett. Z. Predecessor. T. Neander. J.
J. NoTen. G. Beijbon. +
Dahlberg. Z. Gottfrid. 3. Bengtsson. |
D. Werner. o. Krook. f Carlberg. E
Frieberg. O. Moberg. b. Anderson. c. |
Ullman. c. Brandt, r Christensen.
G. Efuergren. J. Herrlin, V. Leeb-Lund- /
berg. V. Skodl. f. Sjoblom. r. Norden-
stendt, y. Ribbing. S. Johnson. The
chorus departed this morning for
Rockford. where concent will be
given this evening. The chorus starts