The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-07-13
NORWEG|ANS IN
FEAST OF MUSIC
Thousand Voices Unite in
Great Concert of Norweg-
ian Singers Association.

chestra Of thirty pieces, all blending
in one grand, harmonious strain.
to the grand success of
the first concert by the Norwegian
Singers association Of America at
the auditorium in Fargo last night.
Unquestionably, 1t was the most elab-
crate festival of the kind ever held in
Fargo and to the director. Mr.. Biorn,
the directors of the various societies
every individual who participated in
the great treat. is due great praise.
From the opening number. an
overture. lie Domino Noir." by the
orchestra. until the grand finale. an
audience that taxed the capacity Of
the auditorium, sat spellbound by
the beautiful music and there was
actually sigh of regret when the
concert was concluded at IL o'clock
with that wonderful masterpiece,
"Landkjending."
1t was most imposing finale to a
most impressive festival Of music and
"Landkjending" marveled at the won
derful conception grasped by the
singers and at their remarkable rem
dition.
The Norwegian king, Olaf Tryg-
vason, who has been separated from
his beloved country, returns with his
great following to claim his own. AS
he approaches Norway's rugged
shores the scene appeals to him in
a most impressive manner. and the
music is wonderfully descriptive. The
king witnesses the grandeur of the
fjords. the mountains and the val
leys. he hears the distant peal Of
familiar organs in the cathedrals and
in the midst Of these environments
the enormous task he has before him
dawns upon him, and he bends his
knees in prayer to Almighty God,
thanking him for his return to Nor
way and beseeching strength and
power to reclaim that which should
be his own.
It is this prayer which gives the
baritone soloist his great opportunity,
and the powerful manner in which it
was handled by G. Holmquist brought
tears to the eyes of those who filled
taken up by the great chorus, in a
manner descriptive of that in which it
is narrated to have been taken up by
the kings following, and the grand
finale is wonderfully thrilling.
Each of the soloists is entitled to
special commentator. Their music
was remarkably appealing, corre-
spending harmoniously to the splen-
did support of the great chorus and
the splendid orchestra. Those who
attended last nights concert will
want to go again this evening. and
the praises of the opening session of
this music festival will undoubtedly
attract hundreds Of others who were
unable to enjoy last nights concert.
The Singers Association.
ThOugh comma rative1y voNnp tho
Norwegian Singers association of
America, numerically, is almost as
strong as the alliance of German
singers. Organized for the sole pur-
pose Of fostering the beautiful Scan
dinavian music. it has grown from a
little singing society of eighty men,
bers to an organization containing
fifty-six societies and more than 2.2O0
members. The association, as it's
name implies. is an organization COM
prising Norwegian singers of all parts
name been changed, and its officers,
except Grand Secretary Tamann of
Minneapolis. and Treasurer Oleson of
Fort Dodge, many times. but it has
always remained true to the high
standard set at the outset. and has
done much to encourage and popular
ize Norwegian music in this country.
The Northwestern Scandinavian
Singers association. as it was orig
inally known, was organized Septem-
ber "a, 1892. at Sioux Falls. S. D.,
and is now in its twentieth year. 1t
Is a unique event in the history of the
Scandinavian people in this adopted
country that an organization whose
sole aim Is the fostering and nourish-
ing Of Scandinavian song. has been
able to endure, thrive and prosper. in
creasing in strength as each succeed
ing festival is held.
First at Sioux Falls.
The first spring festival was held
at Sioux Falls in 1892, the big chorus
consisting of six societies, containing
about eighty voices. OF these socie-
ties the Minnehaha Mandskor is the
only one surviving.
The first president Of the associa-
ton was g. Bic Ravndal, and its first
musical director, DR.. ]. S. johnson.
These two. backed by the NIinnehaha
Mandskor, were the original founders
Of the now vigorous association.
Wedding March Wins Prize.
On the occasion costly banner
was presented the association by the
Scandinavian ladies Of Sioux Falls to
be competed for by the singing So
cieties individually. Sodermann's
Wedding March," sung by the Nor
den" (Omaha) won the prize. Two
years later the association met at
Sioux City. Iowa. The big chorus was
directed by Ernest Nordin. Omaha.
and had by this time increased to. ten
societies. B. S. Holmes Of
Sioux City. held the office Of presi-
dent. and the soloists were Miss Sigrid
Wolf. soprano: John Ortengren. BARI
tone. and Viggo Anderson. flute. In
the competition for the banner. the
Minnehaha Mandskor won the prize
from the Omaha society. thus bring
ing the trophy home in triumph to
the place from whence 1t came.
Omaha was chosen for the third
festival and the following officers
were elected: G. ]. johnson. Omaha,
president; TIL. Hamann. secretary; H.
b. Lien, treasurer. and Ernest Nordin.
musical director.
One especially pleasant feature Of
this festival must be mentioned.
namely. the borrowing by the local
rContinued on PAGE 81