Evening star., 1942-04-13
BY ALICE EvERSMAN.

The Duluth Nordic Chorus under
the direction Of Margrethe Hokan-
son was heard in this city for the
first time yesterday afternoon at
Constitution Hall and brought
something new and refreshing to
the art Of choral singing.
This Is a group OF young singers
whose existence as a chorus Is only
8 years old, yet, the chorus has
many points, both vocal and inter-
pretive, that could be well copied by
older and more seasoned ensembles.
The singers also present a picture
on the stage, being dressed in Nordic
costumes with a color scheme well
played up by a Hollywood designer,
and possess youth and beauty among
the members. Seldom does a choral
ensemble so please the eye as well
as the ear.
The voices have evidently been
chosen exclusively for their quality,
for they are not trained In soloist
sense, but appear to be natively
fine and musical. Several, heard in
solo portions, are outstanding, but
this is only q variation in the excel
lent timber Of the group as a whole.
The range from pure lyric to deep
bass Is well balanced and extensive
In the individual sections, while the
sense Of pitch is extraordinarily pure
throughout, there being no need,
apparently, for any tone-giving be-
fore the singers start their q cap
pella performance.
Have Inspiring Leader.
Miss Hokanson Is an inspiring
leader with a vivid imagination in
tonal color and in interpretive ideas.
Many of the arrangements Of the
selections on yesterdays program
were hers and in them she has
striven for original and unique re-
suits, some of them requiring sound
musical background for their exc
cution. The young singers are plas-
tic in her hands and have been
trained for polyphonic effects and
for minute gradations in vocal col
oring. They sing with ease and
personal enjoyment and without
desiring volume in any way.
To a certain degree, this might be
considered the only flaw in yester-
days performance for the protracted
use of pianissimo is bound to be
monotonous. In q program the
length of yesterdays, variety could
have been infused by a little more
forte singing for the freshness of
the voices would have lent itself well
to the exerting of more tonal power.
Two Changes in Program.
Two changes were made in the
announced program, q Hymn of
Norway" with words by Sigmund
Spaeth and arranged by Miss Ho-
hanson. being substituted for Bach's
Lento" and traditional Finnish
folk song being added to the folk
group. This group was the most in
teresting Of the program, comprising
English, Swedish, Russian, Norwe-
gian, Italian and Bavarian folk
songs that offered wide variety
of moods which the singers pro-
jected with skill. The 18th CEN
tury church melody, Song of the
Pilgrim" and the Bach motet, 'The
Spirit Also Helpeth U.s." with the
Norwegian hymn, formed q first
group, while the concert closed with
song Of four seasons, including ST.
belius' Song of the Shepherd" !"
"NRing Dans," traditional Swedish;
Lies Snow" and Grieg's "Sidste
Var"
Several encores were added, the
impression the singers made grow
ing with each number until after
the singing of the Bach Air" at
the conclusion OF the program, the
applause was Of ovational strength.
1t was q pity that the attendance
was not large for Constitution Hall,
for the Duluth singers are the best
choral group to come here with the
exception of the st. Olaf Chorus,
which halls from the same section
of the country.
Gregor Gives Recital.
The first program OF q series of
piano recitals was given by Henry
Gregor, pianist-composer, last night
at Phillips Gallery. Mr.. Gregor has
planned a different subject for each
concert and last evening began with
modern French and Spanish COM
posers."
Placing Debussy at the head of
the list, he grouped around him
composers who came under his In
fluence and worked out their indi-
vidual style through the way he had
opened up. Before each number
Mr.. Gregor explained something
about the author or the selection
itself, showing the pfogress made
and the tendencies OF the new COM
posers OF both France and Spain.
Followins psbu'sy' who was repre-