New Britain herald., 1928-02-13
LUTHERAN CH0IRS
 IN CONCERT HERE
50 YeicS Sing Under Direction Of Per 0lSon

church yesterday afternoon. While fully $50 hardy Ncrthmen extended their thrcsts in paens of JOY, an audience that filled the edifice sat ln rapt attention and awe. lt was ths first appearance of the district choir formed by that interchangeable ex- pcnent of choral singing, Professor Ter Olsson. musical director Of the congregation. Ii was his newest ,dea, and like all the other ideas that have sprung from hls tecund braln, 1t was climaxed with success,
 Church choirs from Hartford, South Manchester. Portland. Md dletewr, New Haven. Naugatnek. BridFercYt, Mer1den, Cromwell, were linked with the large choir he has organized m New Britain, lt was grand fanfare of choral music, such as has rarely been heard Tn these parts.
 Naturally, there was no possibility cf these numerous organizations good as they might be individually, from suddenly joining and being 1oe DeE CcIL VllSlt HI a'i 'ti1 -4+iF fN-+'@- of musical projection. Director olsson did not expect any such possl- tiltv; it would have been an i'm rossihilitv. But the Lutheran cholrs were well trained in what they were singing. and it was astounding no" we'll they worked together, One reason for their success IS that they first eelect an unquestioned master niece, then study It with the thor cushness that comes from belng Scandinavian; then they memorlzs it. and then, after repeated singing under capable leadership, they get 10 know the piece backwards az che enthusiast expressed it.
 Take the "Hallelujah" chorus, from Handefs Messiah. for tn- stance. which was on the program yesterday. About the first thing Per Clseon did on taking charge of the music at the First Lutheran church was to cause his choir to study this resounding masterpiece SO thor oushly that 1t could be sung by the choir anywhere and at any time. with or without accompaniment. Al the same time he brought the choir up to l5o voices, and there were to be no weak brothers or sisters in the lineup, either Everybody vas ex- pected to do his or her duty and do it right. At about the same time other Lutheran choirs were follow ing out the same principle in other nearby ctties. Thus, when the com bined district choir got together yes terday they were able to handle the chorus without the slightest difficult ty. Each singer knew every note perfectly, knew when to attack 3 phrase. and there was no guess work or leaning on other voices to carry along 2 part. The singers did their job n individuals, merely watching the conductor for the time beats. There was no tagging behind the or gan: everything was done par eS- cellence. A few more meetings of the district choir and the biggest and best choral society the town ever knew will be able to startle fortunate listeners.
 Per olsson himself played the or gan in some solo numbers. AS sn crganist he needs no introduction" " He recently got through giving re- citsis on organs throughout New England; wherever and whenever they wsnt some extra fine orEan playing. be it in Worcester. Walthsm or Maine. they calr on Per Olsson, He nearly played al the Sesaul- Centennial exposition. but the deal slipped when the Sesqui began to wcbble.
 Yesterday the organist played some Bacha tcccato and fugue from the master organ Literature. The organist's plan is simple; he plays Bach go often that the audi ence gets 10 like it. There have been innumeyable requests st First Lutheran for Bach-and that is going some. as the saving goes As OIsson says himself, it takes three or four hearings for an intelligent person to begin to realize the power nf the Bach organ works. then why not provide the hearingsT Once isn't enough. A conEresstion's first reaction after Bach fuKue is one nf' 'heTllderment st the sound. the rapid fire wigellnx in and out of the inner parts. After the third hear ing. however. the music begins to plumb the soul. Clsson has played Each 20 frequently at the First Lu'b nran that 3 demand has set in fnr the big works of this superlstiyc master.
 It takes enthusiasm tn put thlnET c,er;in that manner The Lutheran churches. if can be said rithou' fear of contradiction. do not believe in a'tenusfed quartet singing, of pay ing few tc do the singing for tl1e congregation, They believe all the young people and all cf the old nttll al hle to sing should get in on 'he musical hand wagon And as they all take to music like duck to va fer. it only needs 3 dynamic leader to do the rest When ono real'zes that Professor Cleson. III addition +r playing the greatest of organ work ss regular thing. has built UP h7 i1F 'B,7 i1FktEI 'SHDlT III 'llt tf'N has taught # to memorize most o' the Messiah has started the Bsct chorus Of youthful male voices. ant has instigated this new dstrl" choir. one cannot help admirlns the pluck and determination that is s' apparent. No wonder he IS sick 1T he'd today. After days recupor atlon, there will he other days fo more frenzied musical planning. Tn nan who works until he iS sick ma well he spared for day ar so un'i rscny cry is attained. hut the HofI that gets done is remarka h'o must cal bistory-G. IT.
 MAIL BOX DESTROYED
 The man box s' the corner q