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RAC INE , M ILW A UK E E , M IN N E A P O L IS , ST. PAU L
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The chorus produces a number of unusual effects. The sudden swell
and sharp diminuendo of lones under Ihe sweep of the conductor’s baton,
made a splendid effect of contrast. The revival of the sharp swell on
the final chord is orthodox and pleasing, although it is used less by
American choristers now. Another feature of the chorus was the
sustained sonorous quality of the chord.
The Danes, like other members of the north Teutonic peoples,
have voices marked by clearness, a soft sympathetic quality of warmth,
which conduces to the most surpassing harmony and contrasts with the
coarse raucous quality of the American chorister.
Kroyer’s patriotic song was given with a steady forte, combined
with the fervor and intensity of men who feel what they sing.
Reissiger’s familiar Olaf Trygvason was sung with the majesty and
strength which it deserves. The humorous numbers also made a big hit
with the audience.
Helge Nissen, baritone opera singer of Copenhagen, gave Grieg’s
Great White Host with a heavy sonorous voice of rich timber, strong
enough to stand out clearly over the chorus accompaniment. Olaf Hol-
boll, tenor soloist, sang a Norse folk number which carried quaintly
the melancholy minor strains that pervade the music of the northland.
Two quartets from the chorus were recalled again and again. The
Star Spangled Banner was sung with a magnificence which aroused a
new and stronger love for this song, too often depreciated in its Ameri
can home.
E fter et fornøjeligt Sam væ r med T a ler og Sang maatte vi
b ryde tidligt op, thi ved M idnat skulde vi med Toget ad M innea
polis til.
»Tak for denne herlige Dag, som vi vil lægge til Grund tor
en [ny T id sregn ing«, sagde Konsul
R o v e
ved A fskeden — som et
Bytte for en Begejstring, vi D anskere næppe vilde kunne lade os
hen rive til.
Fu lg t a f de varm este H ilsener raslede Toget ud i Natten. Og
nu kom en a f de Scener, som Gang paa Gang gentog sig under
Tu ren , Om- og A fk lædn ingsscenerne i Sovevogn og Pakvogn .
F ø rst en langsomm elig V and ring frem og tilbage gennem Sove
vognenes sm alle M idtergang, inden man kunde bestemme sig tor
en Køje, og saa endte det jo gerne med, at man maatte bekvemme
sig til at tage den eller den O verkøje, som man nødigst vilde
have. Og dernæst de endeløse V an skeligheder med at finde sin
Ku ffert frem i Bagagevognen s H a lvm ø rk e ; Ku lstøv og Snavs stod
i tætte S k ye r ind gennem alle Sp ræ kker og fik det danske Sprogs
kraftigste Ud tryk til at blande sig med Vognh julenes vanvittige
Raslen. L id t efter trængtes saa et halvt Hundrede hel- eller h a lv
nøgne Mandfolk gennem Gangene under Latter og Gnaveri, under
Raaben og F lø jten , mens Besvæ rlighed paa Besværlighed taarnede
sig op under Bestræbelserne tor at faa K jolen anbragt nogenlunde