Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-06-23
EKROUTE |. C. C. B. SPECIAL
Radcliffe to Jewell, Iowa, Saturday
June Nineteen.
Band Meeting With Great Success at
Every Stop Where Concert is
Given. g.
,(By Enoeh E. Peterson. }

The Luther College Concert Band
left DEBORAH Thursday morning,
June 10. The first stop was at Albert
Lea, Mimi, where a concert was
given in Broadway theatre. An en-
thusiastic audience greeted the band.
The intense heat and, threatening
storm kept many away from the con-
cert.
Early Friday morning found the
hand ready to board their Gpecial
cars at the Rock Island depot. Min
neapolis was scheduled for Friday,
Saturday and Sunday. Upon arrival
in Minneapolis the band was taken
care Of by Owe Preus, IT. The boys
were lodged at Luther Seminary.
Como Ave. and Pierce in Midway.
Rehearsals were scheduled for the
band and the soloist, Mildred Rom
sdahe-Bruns and the chorus of the
Choral Union, Friday afternoon at
the auditorium and evening at the
almory. Saturday morning another
rehearsal was held at the auditor
inm. Saturday afternoon was free.
The heat was oppressive and most of
the boys sought relief at Calhoun or
Earriett.
The grand concert of the Choral
Union was held in the Armory Satur-
cay evening.
Victor Nilsson, writing in the Sun
day Journal said "A monster con-
cert was given last night at the Ken
wood armory by the Choral Union
of the Norwegian Lutheran church
of America. assisted by Mildred
Romsdahe- Bruins and Luther College
Concert Band. Carlo/A. Sperati di-
lected it all and proved that the
young musician who won his spurs
in Minneapolis nearly 80 years ago
has developed into a veteran con-
ductor, and yet preserves his fiery
temperament. He held his chorus and
ltand we'll in check, although the
damp atmosphere and bad acoustics
Of the hall influenced soloists and
ensembles both for clarity and pre-
cision of tone. For the La Gazza
Ladia overture he unlsed up a truly
Rossincian crescendo and throughout
, n aintained inspirited tempt. The
band has fine tonal quality"
Sunday was the hottest day of all.
1t was also the hardest day for the
, band too. We were scheduled to play
! at morning, afternoon and evening
/ services. After the long ordination
services in the afternoon the boys
were all tired out and gladly well
coined DR.. Stubb's announcement
that they need not play that evening.
1t was something unusual that after
noon to see Luther College Concert
Band appear in shirt sleeves and no
collars.
Monday morning brought rain. In
. oPSSlNl NulS vi lhO 4h. ~ Ot. IL the
band arrived at Lake Mills and
transferred to the Northwestern.
Scarville was the destination. We
all wondered what the outcome
would be at Scarville. We knew Rev.
s. j. Fretheim had charge of all ar
rangements and that preparations
had been made long ago for a Farm
ers Day at Scarville, but the rain
made us dubious as to the success
Of the two concerts scheduled there.
Well, all we can say, is that we were
most thoroughly surprised. A fine
/ dinner was served by the ladies of
Rev. Fretheim's congregation in the
! church basement. A tent was pitch
ed in vacant lot opposite the church
where both afternoon and evening
| concerts We're given to large audien-
ces. Rev. Fretheim had made splen-
did arrangements and advertised the
concert in a dozen or more nearby
towns. Upwards of 1900 people at
tended the concerts. Rev. Fretheim
showed real old Luther pep and
the boys babe him farewell with a
rousing Pri Sec.
June 18th and still it rained.
Fortunately the rain stopped before
We arrived in Mason City. Clear Lake
was scheduled for the evening. The
boys gave loud cheer when it was
announced that they would be free
that afternoon. The sun came out
hot and it was no wonder that bath
ing suits took the place of band
uniforms. The concert in the even
ing was given in the camp grounds
Pavilion under most trying condit-
ions. A terrific thunderstorm broke
, loose and though the roof of the
pavilion was much the worse for
wear and the lights went off and on
Internationally, yet we managed to
play through a good concert The
audience was not only thoroughly
surnrispd. hut also delighted IN hear