The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-06-27
R|NDAHL OUTLINES
HISTORY OF Choir
st. Olaf Chorus to Sing Here
July Il Was Inspired by
German Master

The making Of the world-famous
st. Olaf choir Of Northfield, MIMI,
was described Wednesday By Rev.
Opie 8. Rindahl, pastor Of Trinity
Lutheran church, which Is sponsoring
. concert by the singers ct the Bis
marck city auditorium at $50 o'clock
the evening Of Wednesday, July IL.
Dr.. r. Melius Christiausen, who re-
ceived the inspiration Of founding .
choir while he was studying In Ger
many, will direct the singers. A num-
Der Of Christiansen's hymns, particu.
larry those composed for the Christ
mas season, are familiar to local
churchgoers.
Had High Ambitions
It was his ambition to found . body
Of singers that would campare with
the choir Of his old teacher, schreck.
Of the Thomas church In Leipzig. He
believed Minnesota could produce
such . choir, In fact he believes that
any state can produce such = choir
with the right incentive and leader
ship. Acting on this faith he began
his work, which. when completed, ap-
peared like . ray Of musical glory.
From the time Of the first concert
tour OF the choir, In spite Of Its
changing character in membership.
he not only has maintained It's high
standards but has sndeavored each
year to surpass all previous perform
ances.
Rev. Rindahl explained that st.
Olaf college, from which the chorus
comes, Is . denominational college Of
about 1000 students. founded some
thing more than 50 years ago BY the
Norwegian Lutheran settlers In MIN
nesota and neighboring states. At
present more. than one-half Of the
students are taking incidental courses
In music and there = In the student
body an artistic interest In and ap-
probation Of music which = uncom-
mon In college circles.
In 1912 the choir had become the
outstanding musical group ct the col
lege and after q few local concert
tours the first larger trip WAS car
ried out with signal success. followed
In 1913 by tour Of the eastern states
and Europe.
Choir Has @ Voicee
In its present membership the choir
consists Of - men and 81 women,
About ne-third q these are lost BY
graduation ct the end Of each year
and to fill these vacancies competitive
tests and tryouts are carried out q
the beginning Of each new season
The few who are chosen from 500 o.
more applicants must como up to I
high standard Of voice quality. true
ness Of ear, general intelligence
musical feeling and ability to do con-
centrated and gruelling work. In
this selection the problems Of vocal
tone color and the blending quality
OF the individual voices are worked
out 50 Is to get the finest tonal ef-
fects, both IN the way Of contrast
and unity.
The minimum Of time utilized for
part practice and general rehearsals
u 10 hours per week and Is all the
members are required to maintain :
high average Of scholarship and to
make up fully al time lost during
concert tours, It Is plain that men,
bership involves . considerable sacri-
flee Of many Of the distractions and
pleasures Of college social life.
Master Every Detail
One secret Of the technical skill Of
the choir = the emphasis laid In re-
hearsals On mastering every detail,
no matter how minute q apparently
unimportant. Every composition sung
must b accurately committed to
memory g no music ever Is used ct
rehearsals. There u continual
repetition and drill, phrase by phrase,
which results In the end In flexibility
Of performance and accuracy in intou-
alton and rhythm which could b Sc
cured in no other way.
The annual repertoire never Is very
extensive, Is It Is the belief Of the d.
rector that few things supremely
well done are more profitable than
many done acceptably. About Is COM
positions usually enter into . seasons
program.