The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-27
LUTHERAN Choir
WINS ACCLAIM
IN FIRST WORK
A CappeiIa Singers Present Fine
Program Of Church Music in
Davenport Concert.

Those who heard the Tri-City
Lutheran A CappelIa choir sing in
St PauIs Lutheran church, Dav-
export. last night, united in hearty
welcome" to this new addition to
the musical wealth of the tri-cities.
1t Is to appear in concert April 4, in
the Zion Lutheran church.
One might think that a choir is
as-yays choir. and that the differ
ence between them is only relative.
Such a contention cannot hold true
In regard to the A Cappella choir,
for 1t Is not only original in every
respect, but so unique that it de-
serves notice. 1t is the embodiment
of an ideal, and an attempt to bring
before the public the wealth of sac
red music that has been entrusted
to the church throughout centuries.
The director OF the organization,
DIR. o. III. Bostrom, is well known
musfcally, and the singers are from
the best choirs in the tri-cities. The
entire personnel of the. chorus
seems imbued with the zeal of their
leader. When they sing, they do
not simply produce tone-they sing
the words, and they translate emo
ton into harmony. Their attention
to the musical rhythm is perfect.
The tone is clear and harmonious,
and the blending is complete. The
balance is the most even, and the
theme-although often of the most
difficult kinds always realized in
its smallest details. 1t seems that
nothing is too complicated; the most
difficult is as easily dispatched as
the most simple.
The program consisted of nine
songs grouped according to con-
tents. The opening number was
Gounod's invocation Bow Down
Thine Ear" Then followed a Nor
wegian "Chorale," set for eight
parts, with the theme changing
from one chorus to the other. Then
there were the Incompatible Lenten
songs, Good Friday" by Hayd, and
Passion Song" by Gounod, marked
by mighty climaxes intermingled
with plaintive and pleading moods.
Gloria Patri" was less attractive,
but deserves praise for it's devotional
element, its effective shading, and
its mighty double finale.
"Buiit On Rock Best Number.
Built On Rock" by Lindeman-
Christensen, was undoubtedly the
best number on the programme
waves beat against the rock,
steeples fall, and yet the church of
God stands; storms cease before it,
defiant winds soften down to melod-
ious whispers. while from afar the
chime of bells speaks peace to the
tired waves. This number included
also a solo part, carried very effec-
lively by NJ. ]. Anderson of Moline
The bass effect in the last part of
the song was most remarkable
In "Cherubim Song" by Tschai-
kowsky. the voices were put to a
test in blending and stood their test
honorably, and this although they
had to contend with difficult runs
from beginning to end The closing
number, Some Blessed Day" needs
no comment. 1t stands far above
criticism, and il is in itself SO beau
tiful that even a less skillful choir
could sing it with much credit.
The Lutheran A Capella choir is
an eight part religious concert
choir without special utilization to
any church. 1t will serve this com
munity to which it belongs, and al
though it has several concerts
scheduled for Chicago and other
places. it has adopted as its motto,
''tri-cities first" 1t is a fine addi-
ton to local musical activities, and
its accomplishments during its ex-
istence since last September are
noteworthy.