The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-05-29
REEDER sings
the CREATION

Hettinger, N. D., May 29.-On Sun
day last, the little southwestern North
Dakota town of Reeder again did itself
proud in fine rendition of high class
oratorio, the work presented being
Haydn's glorious oratorio. The Crea-
ton.
People who live in centers of Gull
ture, finance, and population, find that
such an effort invariably requires the
best of their strength and devotion
An oratorio demands the enthusiastic
personal effort of more than hundred
able singers, and the financial oblga-
ton oftener exceeds than falls below
the $1,000 mark. Yet here at Reeder,
right in the heart of the sod shack coun-
try, they again, and for the third time,
rendered an oratorio, complete, inspir-
ing and truly artistic in sentiment and
force, last Sundays concert being the
first time that The Creation was sung
here.
This splendid cultural work is the
result of the high-ninded and devoted
service of one j. l.. Hjort, a Reeder
citizen, banker, elevator man, booster,
real estate man and legislator in his
little world, but above all a singer and
deVotee to musical art. Five years ago
Mr.. HORT shook the dust Of Minneap-
oils from his feet, for reasons of
health, to help in the upbuilding Of
the country tributary to the Milwau-
kee coast extension, and when his
friends tried to dissuade him from 60
ing into the songless wilderness of the
land Of coyotes, horned toads and rat
tiers, Jacob l.. confidently waved aside
their protests, saying he would have
his honyak neighbors help him sing
oratorios within five years. Sure
enough, Mr.. Hjort made his promise
good, for in the early spring of 1912
he nl
twice that masterful and difficult
work, Handels, Messiah, complete,
with quartete Of soloists, two Of
whom were amateurs, picked up" on
the prairie but who, with Mr.. Hjort
and Madame Loe- -Skaug, rendered
their difficult parts in a manner Of
which none need be ashamed. And that
chorus, fifty strong, sang the stirring
lines Of the choral parts in a manner
that spoke splendidly for their devo-
ton to the better things of ideal life,
as well as for the magic influence of
their captain.
This years concert, given last Sun
day before an audience of some $50
people, deserves honorable mention.
The oratorio was rendered, practically
in its entirety. The solos were sung
by Miss Clara Williams, soprano, of
Minneapolis; Frank e. Ellickson,
Gross, baritone Of Lennon, S. ID.
The instrumental accompaniment was
by Misses Walborg Hort and Emma
Byers, on the piano, and by devoted
string quartette.
Too much cannot be said in praise
of Miss Williams glorious singing.
Having been heard and appreciated
throug hout the northwest wherever
oratorio music finds deyotees, she
graciously sacrificed to sing the glori-
Gus strains of her part in an out of =
the-way corner of earth, more for the
love of the cause than for reason of
gold or glory. Mr.. Ellickson fairly
took his friends by surprise with the
splendid effect of his singing. He
possesses a lyric tenor voice, vigorous
and true as steel, and has moreover,
that gift of soul which allows him,
though an amateur, to render an Inter-
probation not usually to be looked for
except in the tried professionalist.
The baritone solos were to have been
rendered by Carl Hjort, Of Hillsboro,
but illness made 1t impossible for him
to appear, and at the eleventh hour
j.. f. Paul Gross, who had the year
before successfully rendered the Mes
siah solos, consented to sing his part.
Considering that he had but two days
in which to prepare himself for that
exacting demand, he acquitted him
self splendidly, and the Reeder folks
! were unanimous In their sentiment oil
appreciation for the timely service he
rendered them In stepping into the
breach. sss
What is there in d song2 Mr.
| Hjort's single hearted devotion to his
1 art nlag. not have brought TO Reedor