The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-03-17
5000 ATTENDED
MUSICAL SERVICES
GREAT CROWDS AT THE THREE
BIG SESSIONS OF THE SANGER
FEST OF THE RED RIVER VAL
LEY cHoIRs AT CoNcoRDiA
COLLEGE YESTERDAY.

1t is estimated that over 5000 peo-
pie attended the three musical service
es given yesterday in the large audi
forum of Concordia college, in con-
nection with the second annual sang
erfest by combined choirs of the Unit
ed Norwegian Lutheran church in the
Red river valley. The visiting and
home choirs numbered over 200 voices
which gave ensemble numbers as a
grand chorus under the direction of
Prof. o. l. Hertsgaard, of the music
department of Concordia college.
There were four events, the first one
last Saturday evening, a concert pro-
gramme by the Concordia college band
under the direction of Mr.. Hertsgaard.
The renditions by the band disclosed
splendid equipment and training and
the programme offered was an ambi-
tious one in which a number of diff
cut compositions by the masters were
represented. The players were in
perfect accord with the director.
showing a very acceptable sympathy
and understanding of all that was I'M
dertaken. The feeling in h monster
audience present was demonstrated by
the spontaneousness of the applause.
The soloists were Miss Blakeslee,
soprano, and Mr.. Johnson, c~larinetist,
both of whom gave great pleasure.
Miss Blakeslee interpreted The Erl-
king, by Schubert, which she prefaced
by a well prepared explanation Of the
work. The singer was in splendid
voice and she sang with that intelli-
gence and understanding which pleas
ed the audience to the point that Miss
Blakeslee was obliged to respond to a
recall. The encore number vas Years
at the Spring, by Beach. Miss Olson
supplied all the essentials required
from her as the accompanist.
The musical service yesterday
morning was wholly in the Norwegian
language as was also the address by
the president of Park Region college
at Fergus Falls. The programme con-
sisted Of choruses and hymns which
appealed greatly to the very large
audience present. The service was de-
v~otionally impressive and the hymns
used for the congregational singing
was Joined in very heartily by the
majority Of those in the large room.
The programme in the afternoon
was of a mixed character, English and
Norwegian, and all of the music Of
fered was of a high standard. Those
participating were the grand chorus,
tehe Norrona Singing society of Moor
head, Mrs. Quamme of Finley and
Miss Void of Pekin, N. D., Miss
Blakeslee, and Messrs. Wright and
| Martinson, Ibaritones, and the Glee
CluD OI NOIlSO1 liz NOlASSOI ola SN
alton of girls who displayed splendid
ability in the ensemble numbers as
signed to them. The programme was
appropriately opened by a duet on the
piano by Miss Olson and Mrs. Herts-
gard.
The evening programme was wholly
in English and the offerings were of
the same high standard as those Civ
en- in the morning and afternoon. A
contributor to this programme was
the choir of Trinity Lutheran church.
The festival closed with h rendition
of two numbers by the grand chorus,
| Sunset, and Behold What Manner of
Love. It was a grand day for the
singers and the audiences which at
tended and all concerned are worthy
of the strongest compliments for the
very excellent musical treats given
Saturday night and yesterday. The
festival was a conspicuous success
and a still better one is promised for
next year and it is hoped that will be
held in Moorhead.