Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-06-14
GREAT DAY OF MUSIC.
Norwegian Student Singers Capture the
City and Delight Thousands With
Beautiful Singing.

Never before and perhaps never
| again will DEBORAH hear such beauti-
full music as on Monday. The visit to
our city of the Norwegian Student
| Singers, graduates of the University
| of Christiana, who are touring Ameri-
ca, was the occasion of great anticipa-
ton, elaborate preparation and de-
| lightful realization FOR our people
When the matter of securing this
worlds greatest male chorus for De-
corah was first suggested it was feared
that it was too great an undertaking !;
but the enterprise of some of our most
prominent Scandinavians came to the
front, and they shouldered the respon-
sibility. The result was great day,
large audiences, and over three thous-
and people charmed with the superb
| singing Of these sweet-voiced songs
| tiers.
They arrived in special car on
Sunday night, and were met by the
| reception committee and large crowd
OF citizens at the station. They were
soon taken to the hotels and private
residences for entertainment. Monday
morning at 8 80 O'Clock, they were
| given serenade at the Winneshiek
hotel by the Luther College Banu of
over fifty pieces. And it seemed that
| the band was inspired by the occasion.
We never heard them play so we'll
before. The perfect rythm and touch
ing expression of the old-time tunes of
Norway brought tears to the eyes of
many stern old foreigner who had
left his work and come to DEBORAH to
hear the singers from his native land,
and whose thoughts went back to his
boyhood days in old Norway. Prof.
Sperati has made wonderful progress
with the band in the short time he
has been here.
Immediately after the serenade the
singers were given a carriage ride
about the city, which they greatly en-
Joyed. Many of them said they thought
DEBORAH the prettiest city they had
visited during their American tour.
1t was veritable holiday for De-
corah. Hundreds drove in and came
by train, and by noon the streets
were crowded. At the college auditor
ium in the afternoon there was a
crowd conservatively estimated at two
thousand, and the opera house in the
Ievening was packed, with many
standing.
AT five O'Clock in the afternoon a
reception was held at the college audi
torium, which was participated in by
large number. Refreshments were
served, and the occasion proved very
pleasant one. Speeches were made by
Rev. DIR. Koren, who organized the
quartette from which this chorus has
resulted in Norway over half century
ago, also by Profs. Larsen and Rogue.
1t is entirely beyond our power to
appropriately describe the beautiful
music of this chorus of sixty accom-
plished musicians. None but the eX-
pert musical critic is capable to pro-
perly portray such excellence, such
sweetness of tone. such precision,
such rythm, such harmony, such
power. Now swaying softly like
fields Of ripening grain famed by the
gentle breezes of autumn, now thun.
dering and roaring like powerful
cataract, their voices rising and fall.
ing in perfect unison and accord like
great pipe organ, so perfect had
been their training and so gifted by
nature their voices. Time and again
the audiences were fairly thrilled
with the wonderful sympathetic quail.
ty and power of their music. and for
many years the memory of this great
musical treat will linger in the minds
Of those who heard them.
At the opera house in the evening
after the opening number, Prof. L.
| s. Rogue introduced Mayor +. w.
Daubney, who in speech that
brought down the house and elected
repeated applause, heartily welcomed
the visitors to the city and expressed
the universal delight of our citizens
for the opportunity to hear them. The
chorus answered with singing 1.-THE
Star Spangled Banner" which
brought the audience TO their feet,
as did the singing of the Norwegian
national airs later in the evening.
The singers departed yesterday noon
for La Crosse, having spent two of
the most pleasant days of their
American tour in the smallest city
they visited, as several of them ex-
pressed it.