Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-09-20
JOYOUS HOMECOMING
Reception to Luther College Concert
Band an Enthusiastic
One.
GRAND HOMECOMING CONCERT.
DecOrah's Welcome a Fitting Con-
clusiOn to Successful Concert
Tour of Western
States.

With flying flags and streaming
banners, the streets packed with peo-
pie, the Merchants Band playing and
the Winneshiek County Sangerfor-
bund singing out the welcome in
everybody's heart, Prof Carlo A.
Sperati and his magnificent musical
organization, the Luther College Con-
cert Band, returned home Friday
afternoon from tour of the western
states and the Pacific coast which
had been constant ovation, great
success in every way, to an enthusi-
astic reception and hearty welcome
home, which they were free to admit
preciated than any reception they
had met with on the trip.
At Calmar they were met by the
citizens committee, Ben Bear, c. j.
Weiser, H. A. Warner, L. S. Dale, E.
c. Bailey and H. J. Green, who ac-
companied them home in their spe-
cial car. Upon arrival here pro-
cession was formed and following
American and Norwegian flags,
marched up town. The Decorah Mer-
chants Band, the Winneshiek County
Sangerforbund, the mayor and COM
mittee, and an immense crowd OF
people escorted the band to the cor
ner of Water and Washington streets,
where they played a couple of selec-
tions, and then the march was re-
sumed west to the opera house, and
around the square to the front of
the court house, where the band was
photographed, then returned to the
station and dispersed.
The complimentary homecoming
concert at the Grand opera house
was even more of a success. The
house was packed. Ths Stage was
beautifully decorated with plants.
and it was indeed a Joyous return
home. Mayor Daubney expressed
the hearty welcome in which the en-
tire city participated, in his usual
inimitable manner, which was re-
sponded to with feeling by Mr.. o.
H. Aanestad, president of the Luther
College Concert Band, and by Prof.
Sperati, who described the successful
trip just ended.
The concert which followed was
musical treat which was simply Won
derful, considering the fact that the
men responsible for it were college
men, trained in so short time in so
small city. 1t would have done
credit to any of the great bands of
the country. We have heard the
most of them, and we think we are
not influenced by local pride when
we say that the concert on Friday
night was the equal of any we have
ever heard, if not superior. The
rendition of Grieg's Peer Gynt,"
Bazzinis Overture to saul" and
Lee Johnson's "The Death of Gus
ter to say nothing of the sextette
from Lucia" and Mr.. Ellson's de-
lightful cornet solos, were rendered
with a finish which bespeaks the &C
complished musician Prof. Sperati
has never had such perfect control
over a set of men in Deccrah. They
responded to his baton like machin-
cry, they played in tune, the har-
mony was charming, and in every
sense it was a concert worthy of the
packed house, the prolonged ap-
plause and the succeeding encores
each number received. There was
nothing wanting, as is so often the
case, the conception and rendition OF
each number was complete, and we
do not see how it will be possible for
much greater improvement in this
band The glee club sang splendidly,
in English and Norwegian, and the
Winneshiek County Sangerforbund
filed the intermission in the program
with two pleasing numbers.
1t was altogether a great day for
Decorah and for the band, fitting
recognition of the excellence it has
attained and Of our appreciation OF
what Prof. Sperati and his fine body
of men have done for Decorah, both
in past years and during the present
trip, which has spread the name or
Decorah far and wide.
The proceeds of the concert were
divided between Prof. Sperati and
the band, as a homecoming testi-
monial from the people of Decorah.