The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-07-11
CHOIR OF WEST
GIVES EXCELLENT
PERFORMANCE HERE
Event Demonstrates Manner in
Which Choral Singing Has
Developed on Coast

Bismarck music lovers Friday night
heard THE Choir Of the West" from
the Pacific Lutheran college, Park
land, Washington, near Tacoma, In q
program of sacred music at the Trim
ity Lutheran church.
AS q musical event it was important
because 1t demonstrates the manner
In which choral singing, as conceived
IN the more famous musical centers
Of the nation, has spread throughout
the country and the way in which 1t
has been developed on the Pacific
coast.
The program given here, consisting
entirely Of sacred music, was notable
for the dizziness with which the poly
phonouS passages were executed. The
resonance which marked each num-
Der was reminiscent of the choral
qualities which have had the musical
organizations of st. Olaf college,
Mortified, Mimi, as their chief x
ponent in the Northwest.
The Pacific Lutheran choir main
tanned in praiseworthy manner the
lofty standards which have been es-
tablished for organizations Of this
class, singing this particular kind Of
program.
1t was distinguished here by a
particularly noteworthy basso section
which provided splendid tonal back
ground for the lighter and more rapid
movements of the various selections.
From a technical standpoint the
performance left nothing to be de-
sired. Professor j. o. Edwards, one OF
the younger Of the musical notables
of the northwest, kept it under adj
mirable restraint, a difficult task con-
sidering the youth and relative mex
perience of the singers.
Miss Anna Mikkelsen, soprano solo,
list, displayed a voice of unusual
range, power and smoothness in q
group of three numbers with Profess
sor Edwards as accompanist. Her
performance was notable for the eX-
ceptional evenness Of the runs in sell
ectiOns such as Mozart's "Allelujah"
and the warmth and sympathy with
which she sang Loves in My Heart"
and spirit Flower"
The choir began with some Russian !
compositions. In Gretchaninov's
Gladstone Radiance" it showed al
ready that it had a light and flexible
attack, unfailing'purity Of tone and ex-
cellent text en%unciation. In Tchai-
kovsky's 20 Praise Ye God" 1t deliver
ed its first Alleuia in firm and crisp
fugato while with its only number
by modern German composers, Make
Me. O Lord God, Pure in Heart" by
Brahms, it sang authoritatively its
first fugue and double chorus effects.
Later, in Lvovsky's "Gospodi Pomi-
luz, an excellent bit Of chanting In
the original Russian was given.
There were not less than eight OF
the most beloved Of the compositions
and arrangements by DR.. F. Melius
Christensen, Of st. Olaf's college, en-
bracing "A Snow Mountain" which
quite naturally put Mount Tacoma IN
mind, In Dulci Jubilo," Beautiful
Saviour and Prom Heaven Above"
in which last mentioned motel the eff
forts Of the evening eliminated. In
the same composers "Hosanna" the
individuality Of the director was
maintained al 1t was sung with much
assurance, but without that overflow
of routine which often mars its per-
Torrance. Director Edwards also
documented himself as q fine COM
poser through Sweet Angel Voices"
Of fine and compact harmonies and
in Glorious Christ" dedicated to st.
Paul's Lutheran choir of Toledo,
Ohio, which gave fitting employment
to original tonal accent Of telling
flexibility.
Rev. o. 8. Rindahl, pastor o. Trim
ity Lutheran church, announced that
the choir will sing Saturday at Dick
inson but will return here Sunday, en-
route to Minot, and will sing two
numbers at the Sunday services at
the local church.
The choir is en- route home after
having been a guest musical organ
ization at the recent convention OF
the Lutheran church In Chicago.