The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Dr. Emory K. Lindquist's
1984 "Hagbard Brase, Beloved Music Master"
~ The Words of Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~ The Smoky Valley Writers ~
Dr. Emory K. Lindquist's
1984 "Hagbard Brase, Beloved Music Master"
~ The Words of Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
A last-living-link as a student, colleague and friend of Dr. Hagbard Brase and having sung in the Messiah and St. Matthew Passion performances, Dr. Lindquist writes his compassionate and well researched story on one of the last of America's "... finest type of European music masters to raise his baton at Lindsborg Bethany College's Messiah for the last time." * Thus, he writes his story on Dr. Brase, and the Lindsborg Bethany College Oratorio Society, ranked as among the finest choruses of the world for many decades, beginning in the early years of the 20th century.
Source: 1984, "Hagbard Brase: Beloved Music Master," page xii
In his 1953 Smoky Valley People, Dr. Lindquist devoted 18 significant pages in his 8th chapter, "The Lindsborg Messiah," pages 108 to 125, on this subject. Here he begins his first two paragraphs and beginning the third:
"IN SMALL town community achievement, Lindsborg has a record of distinction that has brought recognition throughout the nation and in many parts of the world. The uniqueness of this town of 2000 residents in Central Kansas is associated generally with the glorious "Messiah" tradition of Holy Week and the achievement of Bethany College in cultural and religious values.
"Thousands of people make annual pilgrimages to Lindsborg during Holy Week to hear the Bethany College Oratorial Society Handel's "The Messiah" on Palm and Easter Sunday and Bach's "The Passion of Our Lord According to Saint Matthew" on Good Friday and to listen to recitals by renowned artists. They view the current showing of the Mid-West Art Exhibit, the oldest of its kind in the Plains area, and visit several art gallery studios where outstanding achievement in various media is demonstrated. They worship in Lindsborg's churches; they share the friendly atmosphere of the Bethany campus; they visit with Lindsborg residents. They become a part of a great tradition that had its origins in the pioneer world of 1881.
"The threads of this story are associated like so many in the history of Lindsborg with Pastor Olof Olson. The day was Friday, April 4, 1879, when the Lindsborg pioneer pastor, now on a trip to Europe, arrived in London..."
In his 1975 Bethany in Kansas, he devoted 24 pages in his 10th chapter, "The Lindsborg 'Messiah' Tradition," pages 151 to 174. Here he begins his first paragraph:
"The achievement in music and art has identified Bethany College as a unique and distinctive collegiate institution with great cultural resources. National attention has come to the College and to the Lindsborg community through the annual "Messiah" Festival and the Mid-West Art Exhibition during Holy Week. Thousands of people have made annual pilgrimages to the Smoky Valley of Central Kansas for decades in order to share in these religious and cultural events. Such designations for the college community as 'America's Bayreuth' and the 'Oberammergau of the Plains' suggest symbols that are distinctive historically and currently. Twin-born with the founding of the College in 1881 was the Handel Oratorio Society which became known as the Bethany College Oratorio Society. The popular reference to this distinguished organization identifies it as the Lindsborg 'Messiah' chorus. Endowing the music of the oratorio with deep meaning is the great spiritual message based upon the abiding promises of the Holy Scriptures."
After the chapter on him in Smoky Valley People of 1953 and over 20 years later with the chapter on him in Bethany in Kansas of 1975, it had to be a dream come true for Dr. Lindquist to finally write his book on the 31 years of the Lindsborg Bethany College Music Master. Put forth in the above two classics, the great Lindsborg "Messiah" tradition is the "grand background" for Dr. Lindquist's "grand foreground" of his insightful biography, of 154 pages, on his former professor, colleague and friend of Bethany College found in his 1984 "Hagbard Brase, Beloved Music Master" -- where one critic recognized him for creating 'one of the finest choruses in the world, that of the Bethany College Oratorio Society.
Below are the words of Dr. Lindquist showing his great respect for Dr. Hagbard Brase, from inside the dustjacket to "Dedication," to "Preface and Acknowledgements," "The Years in Retrospect" and the last chapter, followed by the "Contents." In addition, another section provides a compiled "Contents and Illustrations."
"IN SMALL town community achievement, Lindsborg has a record of distinction that has brought recognition throughout the nation and in many parts of the world. The uniqueness of this town of 2000 residents in Central Kansas is associated generally with the glorious "Messiah" tradition of Holy Week and the achievement of Bethany College in cultural and religious values.
"Thousands of people make annual pilgrimages to Lindsborg during Holy Week to hear the Bethany College Oratorial Society Handel's "The Messiah" on Palm and Easter Sunday and Bach's "The Passion of Our Lord According to Saint Matthew" on Good Friday and to listen to recitals by renowned artists. They view the current showing of the Mid-West Art Exhibit, the oldest of its kind in the Plains area, and visit several art gallery studios where outstanding achievement in various media is demonstrated. They worship in Lindsborg's churches; they share the friendly atmosphere of the Bethany campus; they visit with Lindsborg residents. They become a part of a great tradition that had its origins in the pioneer world of 1881.
"The threads of this story are associated like so many in the history of Lindsborg with Pastor Olof Olson. The day was Friday, April 4, 1879, when the Lindsborg pioneer pastor, now on a trip to Europe, arrived in London..."
In his 1975 Bethany in Kansas, he devoted 24 pages in his 10th chapter, "The Lindsborg 'Messiah' Tradition," pages 151 to 174. Here he begins his first paragraph:
"The achievement in music and art has identified Bethany College as a unique and distinctive collegiate institution with great cultural resources. National attention has come to the College and to the Lindsborg community through the annual "Messiah" Festival and the Mid-West Art Exhibition during Holy Week. Thousands of people have made annual pilgrimages to the Smoky Valley of Central Kansas for decades in order to share in these religious and cultural events. Such designations for the college community as 'America's Bayreuth' and the 'Oberammergau of the Plains' suggest symbols that are distinctive historically and currently. Twin-born with the founding of the College in 1881 was the Handel Oratorio Society which became known as the Bethany College Oratorio Society. The popular reference to this distinguished organization identifies it as the Lindsborg 'Messiah' chorus. Endowing the music of the oratorio with deep meaning is the great spiritual message based upon the abiding promises of the Holy Scriptures."
After the chapter on him in Smoky Valley People of 1953 and over 20 years later with the chapter on him in Bethany in Kansas of 1975, it had to be a dream come true for Dr. Lindquist to finally write his book on the 31 years of the Lindsborg Bethany College Music Master. Put forth in the above two classics, the great Lindsborg "Messiah" tradition is the "grand background" for Dr. Lindquist's "grand foreground" of his insightful biography, of 154 pages, on his former professor, colleague and friend of Bethany College found in his 1984 "Hagbard Brase, Beloved Music Master" -- where one critic recognized him for creating 'one of the finest choruses in the world, that of the Bethany College Oratorio Society.
Below are the words of Dr. Lindquist showing his great respect for Dr. Hagbard Brase, from inside the dustjacket to "Dedication," to "Preface and Acknowledgements," "The Years in Retrospect" and the last chapter, followed by the "Contents." In addition, another section provides a compiled "Contents and Illustrations."
Inside Dustjacket
[POSSIBLY PARTIALLY WRITTEN BY EDITOR A. JOHN PEARSON WHO HAS YET TO LET ME KNOW]*
[POSSIBLY PARTIALLY WRITTEN BY EDITOR A. JOHN PEARSON WHO HAS YET TO LET ME KNOW]*
"The lengthening shadow of the life of the beloved music master in Lindsborg, Kansas – Dr. Hagbard Brase (1877-1953) – continues to inspire generations of admirers who knew him personally.
"Additional numbers greatly appreciate the legacy of his musical, spiritual, academic, and personal contributions to Bethany College, his students, his church, the Bethany College Oratorio Society for which he was a conductor for 31 years, and other ensembles including the Bethany College Choir which he founded in 1935. Those who are conversant with his musical compositions, those who have heard him perform on organ, those who knew Brase as a family man, and those who realized that both institutions and individuals today have a better life because of what he did and what he was some decades ago, are full of gratitude for his life‘s work.
"This volume by Dr. Emory Lindquist is a sensitive, understanding, personable, and thorough portrayal of Dr. Brase based on first-hand knowledge and extensive research.
"Hagbard Brase was born in the Swedish parish of Råda in the beautiful province of Västergötland on September 25, 1877; he studied at Skara and Stockholm in Sweden; he immigrated to America in October 1900 and married his Swedish sweetheart in Lindsborg the following year; and, except for a brief visit in Sweden, he devoted his career for more than a half a century to the many aspects of life in and around Lindsborg.
"The man, a giant in cultural achievement, completed his life journey quietly as he died in his home near the campus of Bethany College on the morning of March 18, 1953. The Oratorio Society appropriately presented selections from Handel's Messiah and Bach's Saint Matthews Passion as part of the memorial service in the college's Presser Auditorium to help mark the end of a pilgrimage which certainly was lived fully and victoriously."
"Additional numbers greatly appreciate the legacy of his musical, spiritual, academic, and personal contributions to Bethany College, his students, his church, the Bethany College Oratorio Society for which he was a conductor for 31 years, and other ensembles including the Bethany College Choir which he founded in 1935. Those who are conversant with his musical compositions, those who have heard him perform on organ, those who knew Brase as a family man, and those who realized that both institutions and individuals today have a better life because of what he did and what he was some decades ago, are full of gratitude for his life‘s work.
"This volume by Dr. Emory Lindquist is a sensitive, understanding, personable, and thorough portrayal of Dr. Brase based on first-hand knowledge and extensive research.
"Hagbard Brase was born in the Swedish parish of Råda in the beautiful province of Västergötland on September 25, 1877; he studied at Skara and Stockholm in Sweden; he immigrated to America in October 1900 and married his Swedish sweetheart in Lindsborg the following year; and, except for a brief visit in Sweden, he devoted his career for more than a half a century to the many aspects of life in and around Lindsborg.
"The man, a giant in cultural achievement, completed his life journey quietly as he died in his home near the campus of Bethany College on the morning of March 18, 1953. The Oratorio Society appropriately presented selections from Handel's Messiah and Bach's Saint Matthews Passion as part of the memorial service in the college's Presser Auditorium to help mark the end of a pilgrimage which certainly was lived fully and victoriously."
Dr. Lindquist's dedication in the book, is formatted exactly as shown below:
* * *
Dedicated
to the members of the Bethany College Oratorio Society
who shared with Hagbard Brase in the great
Lindsborg Oratorio Tradition.
Dedicated
to the members of the Bethany College Oratorio Society
who shared with Hagbard Brase in the great
Lindsborg Oratorio Tradition.
* * *
The words of Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
Preface
[With Acknowledgements]
The words of Dr. Emory K. Lindquist
Preface
[With Acknowledgements]
[Preface]
"The life and career of Hagbard Brase, famous oratorio society conductor, teacher, organist and composer at Bethany College for more than half a century, provides another fine example of the legacy that talented and dedicated sons and daughters of Europe have contributed to American life. The New World offered challenges and opportunities to which he responded with gratifying results.
"Following studies at Skara School and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Stockholm, Hagbard Brase emigrated to Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1900. Although the young man in his early twenties found himself in a milieu quite different from that of Skara and Stockholm in Sweden, his fine personal qualities and talents were soon recognized and appreciated. He began a career at Bethany College which lasted as long as life itself.
"Paramount in Hagbard Brase's life work was his distinguished service to the Bethany College Oratorio Society, often referred to as the Lindsborg "Messiah Chorus." He was organist from 1900 to 1914 and then director for more than three decades until retirement in 1946. A music critic described his achievements during those years in the following words: "To Dr. Brase's splendid musical training and ideals the Oratorio Society owes its rank among the finest choruses of the world."
"Hagbard Brase was also an inspiring teacher, a fine organist and a talented composer. This beloved music master was a man of keen intelligence, true sensitivity, broad culture and high ideals. Hagbard Brase was a deeply religious man who shared firm but quiet views of life's greatest values. Although he never lost the distinctive qualities of his European background, he fully understood the problems and aspirations of his new homeland. He was an unforgettable person who generated esteem and respect. Family, friends, and admirers in large numbers hold him in kindly remembrances.
"The papers of Hagberg Brase provide rewarding sources for study. Included are letters to and from members of his family, friends and associates in Sweden and America; lectures on conducting an oratorio chorus, the meaning of Bach's The Passion of our Lord According to Saint Matthew, the origin, development and importance of church music; and an intimate description of vital religious experience. The principal source in the Brase papers is his remembrances of the years he recorded for his family in 1945 in the form of "Memoirs."
"The life of Hagbard Brase was immensely enriched through a fine family. Only one year pass between the arrival of Brase in Lindsborg and his marriage there to Minna Hernwall, Halmstad, his Swedish fiancé. They shared the problems of adaptation to the new milieu, which at times resulted in acute longing for home (hemlängtan). The future assumed new dimensions of interest and meaning as the family circle included five children -- Thorborg, Karin, Yngve, Sonja and Ingrid. These resources were expanded and enriched with the passing of the years and the addition of spouses and grandchildren. In the twilight years of life there was a sense of belonging to the future for Hagbard and Minna Brase.
[Acknowledgements]
"In the context of the above factors the research and writing of this volume was a pleasant and gratifying experience. In addition to the availability of extensive Brase family papers, generous responses to interviews by members of the family greatly enriched the sources of information. Kenneth W. Willey, a son-in-law of Hagbard and Minna Brase was an especially vital force of initiating and developing this biography.
"Several persons in Sweden provided helpful guidance and information. Included among them are Rektor Arne Palmqvist, Skara School, Rektor Harald Ryfors, Göteborg, a nephew of Hagbard Brase, Fil. lic. Ola Christensson, a librarian at Göteborg University and Karen Stenfors, Stockholm. Dixie Lanning, Librarian of Bethany College and Dr. Eugene Holdsworth, Music Department Head, assisted in various ways. Eighteen former Brase students presented at my request valuable "Remembrances of Hagbard Brase." Their names are cited in the text where they are quoted. Carol N. Anderson, Bethany Graduate and well-known Kansas choral conductor, urged me in the first instance to write this biography.
"I am thankful for the fine assistance of two former students of Dr. Brase. Neloise Hodges Stapp is a graduate of Bethany College and a former member of the music faculty. Lambert Dahlsten, also a Bethany alumnus and Emeritus Professor of Piano and Organ, is the organist for the Oratorio Society, a position which he has held with distinction for more than three decades. They have not only provided valuable understanding of their former teacher, but they have read and discussed the manuscript with me, thus eliminating errors and enriching the contents. I also greatly appreciated the helpful suggestions made by Dr. Delmar C. Homan, the Margaret H. Mountcastle Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Bethany College.
"Lauran Elmquist Lofgren and Jane Asche at Bethany College prepared the manuscript for publication with great skill and understanding. I thank both of them for their fine service.
"The dedicatory poem by Jessie Lofgren Kraft, "The Messiah," was first published in Overton by Exposition Press, New York, 1947, and it is reprinted with permission.
"It is a pleasure to have this volume published by the Bethany College Press. In this relationship and others, I am grateful to Dr. Peter Ristuben, President of Bethany College, for his personal interest and support. Finally, I express hardy appreciation to A. John Pearson, Director of Public Relations, Bethany College, who has been a wise advisor and a knowledgeable editor.
"The pages that follow are designed to describe the main aspects of the life and contribution of Hagbard Brase who's gracious spirit and distinguished achievement have provided a precious legacy for succeeding generations. Errors and omissions are the responsibility of the author."
"The life and career of Hagbard Brase, famous oratorio society conductor, teacher, organist and composer at Bethany College for more than half a century, provides another fine example of the legacy that talented and dedicated sons and daughters of Europe have contributed to American life. The New World offered challenges and opportunities to which he responded with gratifying results.
"Following studies at Skara School and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Stockholm, Hagbard Brase emigrated to Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1900. Although the young man in his early twenties found himself in a milieu quite different from that of Skara and Stockholm in Sweden, his fine personal qualities and talents were soon recognized and appreciated. He began a career at Bethany College which lasted as long as life itself.
"Paramount in Hagbard Brase's life work was his distinguished service to the Bethany College Oratorio Society, often referred to as the Lindsborg "Messiah Chorus." He was organist from 1900 to 1914 and then director for more than three decades until retirement in 1946. A music critic described his achievements during those years in the following words: "To Dr. Brase's splendid musical training and ideals the Oratorio Society owes its rank among the finest choruses of the world."
"Hagbard Brase was also an inspiring teacher, a fine organist and a talented composer. This beloved music master was a man of keen intelligence, true sensitivity, broad culture and high ideals. Hagbard Brase was a deeply religious man who shared firm but quiet views of life's greatest values. Although he never lost the distinctive qualities of his European background, he fully understood the problems and aspirations of his new homeland. He was an unforgettable person who generated esteem and respect. Family, friends, and admirers in large numbers hold him in kindly remembrances.
"The papers of Hagberg Brase provide rewarding sources for study. Included are letters to and from members of his family, friends and associates in Sweden and America; lectures on conducting an oratorio chorus, the meaning of Bach's The Passion of our Lord According to Saint Matthew, the origin, development and importance of church music; and an intimate description of vital religious experience. The principal source in the Brase papers is his remembrances of the years he recorded for his family in 1945 in the form of "Memoirs."
"The life of Hagbard Brase was immensely enriched through a fine family. Only one year pass between the arrival of Brase in Lindsborg and his marriage there to Minna Hernwall, Halmstad, his Swedish fiancé. They shared the problems of adaptation to the new milieu, which at times resulted in acute longing for home (hemlängtan). The future assumed new dimensions of interest and meaning as the family circle included five children -- Thorborg, Karin, Yngve, Sonja and Ingrid. These resources were expanded and enriched with the passing of the years and the addition of spouses and grandchildren. In the twilight years of life there was a sense of belonging to the future for Hagbard and Minna Brase.
[Acknowledgements]
"In the context of the above factors the research and writing of this volume was a pleasant and gratifying experience. In addition to the availability of extensive Brase family papers, generous responses to interviews by members of the family greatly enriched the sources of information. Kenneth W. Willey, a son-in-law of Hagbard and Minna Brase was an especially vital force of initiating and developing this biography.
"Several persons in Sweden provided helpful guidance and information. Included among them are Rektor Arne Palmqvist, Skara School, Rektor Harald Ryfors, Göteborg, a nephew of Hagbard Brase, Fil. lic. Ola Christensson, a librarian at Göteborg University and Karen Stenfors, Stockholm. Dixie Lanning, Librarian of Bethany College and Dr. Eugene Holdsworth, Music Department Head, assisted in various ways. Eighteen former Brase students presented at my request valuable "Remembrances of Hagbard Brase." Their names are cited in the text where they are quoted. Carol N. Anderson, Bethany Graduate and well-known Kansas choral conductor, urged me in the first instance to write this biography.
"I am thankful for the fine assistance of two former students of Dr. Brase. Neloise Hodges Stapp is a graduate of Bethany College and a former member of the music faculty. Lambert Dahlsten, also a Bethany alumnus and Emeritus Professor of Piano and Organ, is the organist for the Oratorio Society, a position which he has held with distinction for more than three decades. They have not only provided valuable understanding of their former teacher, but they have read and discussed the manuscript with me, thus eliminating errors and enriching the contents. I also greatly appreciated the helpful suggestions made by Dr. Delmar C. Homan, the Margaret H. Mountcastle Distinguished Professor of Humanities at Bethany College.
"Lauran Elmquist Lofgren and Jane Asche at Bethany College prepared the manuscript for publication with great skill and understanding. I thank both of them for their fine service.
"The dedicatory poem by Jessie Lofgren Kraft, "The Messiah," was first published in Overton by Exposition Press, New York, 1947, and it is reprinted with permission.
"It is a pleasure to have this volume published by the Bethany College Press. In this relationship and others, I am grateful to Dr. Peter Ristuben, President of Bethany College, for his personal interest and support. Finally, I express hardy appreciation to A. John Pearson, Director of Public Relations, Bethany College, who has been a wise advisor and a knowledgeable editor.
"The pages that follow are designed to describe the main aspects of the life and contribution of Hagbard Brase who's gracious spirit and distinguished achievement have provided a precious legacy for succeeding generations. Errors and omissions are the responsibility of the author."
The Years in Retrospect
Chapter XI
Chapter XI
"People who knew Hagbard Brase have the clear image of a man of great dignity, walking slowly with measured steps, or on other occasions, standing erect, in control of himself and the situation whether before a chorus of hundreds of members or in conversation with a few people. A tall man, he was high waisted, of less than average weight perhaps, with a rather large frame. Quite bald in early middle years, he had a small mustache and goatee that turned white. His eyes were penetrating but friendly; he possessed a deep, resonant bass voice which produce a distinctive Swedish accent when he spoke English. His arms were long, hands large, the fingers narrowly tapered, created for a keyboard.
"A natural courtesy characterized Hagbard Brase as a gentleman. He was a model of politeness. When walking and meeting a woman, he raised his hat saying, "Good morning," or "How-do-you-do," never "Hello." In manner of life and thought he reflected the best of Old World culture. Outwardly he seemed quite austere and reserved but he was actually a congenial and responsive person with a keen interest in people and their problems. He possessed an unusual capacity for gratitude--great appreciation even for small favors.
"In conversation Hagbard Brase was a good listener, and when in agreement with his counterpart he used the word, "Surely." His rate of speaking was slow and deliberate; he was thoughtful, there was never anything casual or cavalier in his speech although he had a good sense of humor. As a participant in conversation he was well informed both in questions and comments. He was a kind associate, a true friend, and an unforgettable character who generated esteem and respect.
"Dedication to professional responsibilities and to his family occupied Dr. Brase fully but he managed to devote some time to personal interests and hobbies. He continued the physical exercise program associated with the name of Per Henrik Ling, famous Swedish gymnast, which he had learned in the land of his birth. A period was used each morning for this purpose. He often played solitaire at his home at his desk for relaxation. On Sunday afternoons and during evenings on other days, whenever his schedule made it possible, he listened to radio concerts by the New York Philharmonic or other musical groups and to phonographic recordings, often with the aid of the orchestral or other score. Troubled by insomnia, he passed the hours reading history books or studying the scores of sonatas or symphonies. Dr. Brase was an avid reader; often Toy, Minna's dog, sat in his lap, as they both enjoyed mutual quiet contentment.
"Gardening was a hobby which Hagbard Brase thoroughly enjoyed. At Skara läroverk extensive studies in botany were required, including passing an examination in the Latin and Swedish names of hundreds of flowers and plants in the tradition of Linné, famous Swedish botanist. Love of nature was a great personal resource for the Lindsborg professor and musician. The importance of gardening was expressed in his autobiographical article in the series published by Morgontidningen, Göteborg in 1937: 'My home and my garden are my hobbies. I do not always beat time with the baton; for a change I cut grass. When it becomes fatiguing to dig in music scores, I get pleasure from digging in the earth.' He faithfully kept a garden diary with records of planting, growth progress, blooms, etc.
"A detailed description of Brase's garden was printed in the Kansas City Star in 1937 after a visit by the writer. 'On the sloping ground in the rear of the house were three terraces held by a retaining stone wall. The walls had been built by Dr. Brase. The terraces were landscaped and planted in shrubs, perennials and annuals in season. In the center of the second terrace was a pond where lilies bloomed and goldfish played. Overshadowing it was a great Babylonian weeping willow, its branches reflected in the still water of the pond. All around were flowers and shrubs. There was a quality about the entire arrangement which gave the impression that it was a natural garden. Included among the beautiful features of the Brase garden were two Chinaberry trees, probably the only trees of this kind in Lindsborg. They are a southern variety which grow luxuriously in the bayous of Louisiana. The berries are beautiful like amber China or glassbeads. June Currier Holmes observed in The Lindsborg News-Record: 'It comes to mind that those trees in the Brase garden might reflect the sensitive taste for the beauty in nature as well as in music of Dr. Brase who planted them there.'
Yngve, the middle child and only son of Minna and hagbard brassie, feels that his father's interest in gardening, including growing vegetables, was important from several points of view. He observed that his father used his surprisingly physical strength in spading the earth, lifting and placing heavy stones in the retaining wall of the terrace, and in trimming large trees, his outlook toward life was more exuberant than previously. He became more vibrant and enthusiastic in the midst of physical labor. Yngve, who often worked side by side with his father, was not only impressed with his father's physical strength which he affirms was greater than his own, but he was so pleased that a fine fellowship and understanding developed between them. He had felt at times in the past that he really did not know his father and that they had very little in common. That was all changed now and for the future. Their relationship became more rewarding and happier than they had been previously.
"Astronomy was another of Hagbard Brase interests and hobbies. He did much reading on the subject. The children were delighted when he described for them the beauty and mystery of the universe above them in the clear night sky.
"As years past, the great career of Hagbard Brase was recognized by the award of special honors. On May 31, 1932, Augustana College and Theological Seminary, Rock Island, Illinois, awarded him the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa, for his distinguished service to music as a teacher, conductor, performer and composer.
"The trip to Rock Island of Hagbard and Minna was made with Yngve in his 1928 Chrysler coupe. The journey from Lindsborg started out cheerfully, with an overnight stop at Marysville and a visit with Thorborg and her husband, Ralph Russell. When the Brase reached Iowa the next day they found that heavy spring rains had preceded them. The dirt roads were slick and difficult to navigate. On the down side slope of a steep hill it was impossible for Yngve to steer the car through a very hazardous and slippery section with the result that the car rested in the ditch without any injury to the passengers or damage to the vehicle Yngve secured the generous aid of a farmer who hitched up two horses and pulled the car from the ditch. Dr. and Mrs. Brase were silent spectators as the action took place. When it was over, the former expressed his appreciation to the kind stranger and when he was told that the cost for this service would be fifty cents, the rescuer was pleased and surprised when Dr. Brase placed $2.00 in his hands.
"In October 1947 more than 200 persons assembled on the campus of Bethany College for a festive dinner occasion honoring Hagbard Brase. Gösta Oldenburg, Swedish Royal Consul General from Chicago, conferred upon Dr. Brase the title and insignia that created him a Knight of the Royal Order of Vasa on behalf of King Gustaf V of Sweden. The royal award, founded in the reign of Gustavus III in 1772, is conferred upon persons who have distinguished themselves in a variety of areas of service in the Swedish or Swedish-American context. This was an additional recognition of Hagbard's achievement in music. When Consul General Oldenburg presented Dr. Brase with this honor, the Bethany professor was greeted by a standing ovation.
"The Hagbard Brase Memorial Scholarship was established at Bethany College as a means of honoring Dr. Brase and assisting continuing generations of students.
"Dr. Brase maintained a number of professional memberships through his career. Included were memberships in the America Guild of Organists, the New Bach Society of Leipzig, Camma Mu chapter of the Sinfonia Fraternity of America and other organizations.
"Hagbard Brase asked to be relieved of his position as director of the Bethany College Oratorio Society, as already indicated, following the 1946 festival season. He was Director Emeritus 1947-53. Brase conducted the capella choir until the end of the academic year 1948. He continued to teach theory classes and organ full-time until shortly before his death in 1953. He was a part-time faculty member for a brief period.
"When years and decades accumulate it is a common experience of those who are in that period of life to reflect upon early years and the passing of time. Hagbard Brase did just that in correspondence with Samuel Landtmanson, a boyhood friend from Skara. In 1947 he wrote to Samuel: 'This so-called American work tempo has slowed down somewhat for me and I can reflect on my years in America.'
"As Brase reflected there was a combination of nostalgia, anxiety and hope. 'My thoughts go back most of all to the years at Skara, he wrote. 'Ingegerd sent me a copy of Skaradjäknen (The Skara College publication for former students) and I treasure the content and photographs.'
As a sensitive person with a keen insight into the course of events, Brase had considerable anxiety about the future as he wrote to his friend Samuel Landtmanson: 'The half century that I have lived in America has seen much progress in a technical sense but the character of people has undoubtedly worsened. Or are we perhaps dazzled by the machine age? Neither you nor I are too old to understand that we live in a foreboding era and in a world that is much more insecure than when we were children. Although you and I may escape the consequences, our children will be here for the storm that is in the process of developing.
"But there were hopes and promises for the future. He rejoiced in a fine family--Minna, five children and their spouses and grandchildren. Christmas 1951 had been especially festive. Minna and Hagbard had thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Mattie and Yngve and their five children in Denver where the nearby snowcapped Rocky Mountains added natural splendor to the gala season. The traditions of the old country prevailed: "In our home we observe a Swedish Christmas, perhaps it should be described as a Västergötland Christmas. Our children and grandchildren don't think it's Christmas unless everything is like that."
"There were also other signs of joy and hope. In 1952 he wrote to his friend in Sweden: "Minna and I have our first great grandchild, born last year." They, too, belonged to the future through their children and their children's children.
"The generally good health of Dr. Brase is demonstrated by the fact that in more than three decades he missed only one oratorio performance, in 1945. In later years he felt at times somewhat less energetic than formally and a leg condition that had impaired his walking temporarily on previous occasions was also somewhat troublesome. However, his condition did not interrupt faithful performance of college responsibilities.
"Occasional fainting spells were experienced by Dr. Brase in later years. In 1947 his medical condition was diagnosed as pernicious anemia. He kept in close touch with Dr. William Holwerda, his Lindsborg physician. Life continued to be fairly normal although he told those closest to him that he did not feel as well as he would like to feel. He was not confined to bed but rested more than customarily. On the evening before Dr. Brase's death, Birger Sandzén, long-time friend and colleague, had a long and pleasant visit with him in the Brase home. This was the last of hundreds of visits across more than half a century.
"On Wednesday morning, March 18, 1953, Hagbard and Minna Brase awakened at the dawn of a new day. When Minna brought breakfast to the bedroom on the second floor of the home at 535 North Second Street in Lindsborg, in which they had lived since 1915, her husband had passed away quietly as the result of a heart attack.
"When faculty members and students assembled for the daily Chapel service that morning, they learned with deep sorrow about Dr. Brase's death. There was complete silence in the Chapel as Reverend Emmet Eklund, college professor, announced the passing of Bethany's great teacher and conductor. At the Brase home there was grief, dignity and poise, also as Mrs. Brase talked quietly with Dr. William Holwerda, family physician, and Emory Lindquist, president of the college. Soon members of the family and friends came to face together a world in which Hagbard Brase was not present to share life directly with them.
"A large congregation of friends and admirers of Hagbard Brase joined the family in impressive memorial services in the auditorium of Pressor Hall on Sunday afternoon, March 22, 1953. There were many remembrances of Hagbard Brase coming unostentatiously to the podium, picking up the baton with quiet confidence, nodding to the concertmaster, after which were heard the strains of the "Overture" to Handel's Messiah. There were memories of those critical few minutes at each performance as the singers keyed up for No. 4, the first chorus selection, with eyes fastened upon the director, waiting for the signal to arise in unison, playing of the first ten measures of the introduction by the orchestra, and then the auditorium resounding with the words of Isaiah set to music, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed." The chorus and the audience that March day 1953 had been participants in a great tradition with a beloved music master who would not raise his baton again.
"The memorial service was conducted by friends and associates. The Reverend Ervin C. Malm, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in which Dr. Brase had been a member since 1900, preached the sermon. Dr Emory Lindquist, president of Bethany College, spoke words of tribute; the Reverend Emmet Eklund, College pastor, and Dr. William Clark, a friend also participated in the service.
"The oratorio society, with deep feeling, presented four selections. Some of the singers had been in the chorus continuously since that day in 1915 when Hagbard Brase directed for the first time. A kindly spirit hovered over the audience in Presser Hall as the chorus sang Dr. Brase's favorites--'Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs and Carried Our Sorrows.' from Messiah, and from the St. Matthew Passion, 'Our Sorrows Thou Art Bearing,' 'When Life Begins To Fail Me,' 'Here Yet Awhile.' Rolf Espeseth conducted the chorus and orchestra, Lloyd Spear was concertmaster and Lambert Dahlsten was at the organ.
"A large funeral cortege joined the family for graveside services at Elmwood Cemetery, a short distance east of Lindsborg. Casket bearers were colleagues at Bethany College. The burial rites were conducted by Pastor Malm in the liturgy of the Augustana Lutheran Church, an English translation of the Church of Sweden's order of service. On Saturday evening the sound of the bells in the spire of the Bethany Church, which can be seen on the western horizon, reach this resting place and the chimes of the Messiah Lutheran Church bring the message of Christian hymnody, including familiar hymns from the old homeland across the Atlantic Ocean.
"Hagbard Brase began his earthly pilgrimage at Råda in Västergötland and the end was at Lindsborg in the Smoky Valley of Central Kansas. It was a journey that was lived fully and victoriously."
"A natural courtesy characterized Hagbard Brase as a gentleman. He was a model of politeness. When walking and meeting a woman, he raised his hat saying, "Good morning," or "How-do-you-do," never "Hello." In manner of life and thought he reflected the best of Old World culture. Outwardly he seemed quite austere and reserved but he was actually a congenial and responsive person with a keen interest in people and their problems. He possessed an unusual capacity for gratitude--great appreciation even for small favors.
"In conversation Hagbard Brase was a good listener, and when in agreement with his counterpart he used the word, "Surely." His rate of speaking was slow and deliberate; he was thoughtful, there was never anything casual or cavalier in his speech although he had a good sense of humor. As a participant in conversation he was well informed both in questions and comments. He was a kind associate, a true friend, and an unforgettable character who generated esteem and respect.
"Dedication to professional responsibilities and to his family occupied Dr. Brase fully but he managed to devote some time to personal interests and hobbies. He continued the physical exercise program associated with the name of Per Henrik Ling, famous Swedish gymnast, which he had learned in the land of his birth. A period was used each morning for this purpose. He often played solitaire at his home at his desk for relaxation. On Sunday afternoons and during evenings on other days, whenever his schedule made it possible, he listened to radio concerts by the New York Philharmonic or other musical groups and to phonographic recordings, often with the aid of the orchestral or other score. Troubled by insomnia, he passed the hours reading history books or studying the scores of sonatas or symphonies. Dr. Brase was an avid reader; often Toy, Minna's dog, sat in his lap, as they both enjoyed mutual quiet contentment.
"Gardening was a hobby which Hagbard Brase thoroughly enjoyed. At Skara läroverk extensive studies in botany were required, including passing an examination in the Latin and Swedish names of hundreds of flowers and plants in the tradition of Linné, famous Swedish botanist. Love of nature was a great personal resource for the Lindsborg professor and musician. The importance of gardening was expressed in his autobiographical article in the series published by Morgontidningen, Göteborg in 1937: 'My home and my garden are my hobbies. I do not always beat time with the baton; for a change I cut grass. When it becomes fatiguing to dig in music scores, I get pleasure from digging in the earth.' He faithfully kept a garden diary with records of planting, growth progress, blooms, etc.
"A detailed description of Brase's garden was printed in the Kansas City Star in 1937 after a visit by the writer. 'On the sloping ground in the rear of the house were three terraces held by a retaining stone wall. The walls had been built by Dr. Brase. The terraces were landscaped and planted in shrubs, perennials and annuals in season. In the center of the second terrace was a pond where lilies bloomed and goldfish played. Overshadowing it was a great Babylonian weeping willow, its branches reflected in the still water of the pond. All around were flowers and shrubs. There was a quality about the entire arrangement which gave the impression that it was a natural garden. Included among the beautiful features of the Brase garden were two Chinaberry trees, probably the only trees of this kind in Lindsborg. They are a southern variety which grow luxuriously in the bayous of Louisiana. The berries are beautiful like amber China or glassbeads. June Currier Holmes observed in The Lindsborg News-Record: 'It comes to mind that those trees in the Brase garden might reflect the sensitive taste for the beauty in nature as well as in music of Dr. Brase who planted them there.'
Yngve, the middle child and only son of Minna and hagbard brassie, feels that his father's interest in gardening, including growing vegetables, was important from several points of view. He observed that his father used his surprisingly physical strength in spading the earth, lifting and placing heavy stones in the retaining wall of the terrace, and in trimming large trees, his outlook toward life was more exuberant than previously. He became more vibrant and enthusiastic in the midst of physical labor. Yngve, who often worked side by side with his father, was not only impressed with his father's physical strength which he affirms was greater than his own, but he was so pleased that a fine fellowship and understanding developed between them. He had felt at times in the past that he really did not know his father and that they had very little in common. That was all changed now and for the future. Their relationship became more rewarding and happier than they had been previously.
"Astronomy was another of Hagbard Brase interests and hobbies. He did much reading on the subject. The children were delighted when he described for them the beauty and mystery of the universe above them in the clear night sky.
"As years past, the great career of Hagbard Brase was recognized by the award of special honors. On May 31, 1932, Augustana College and Theological Seminary, Rock Island, Illinois, awarded him the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa, for his distinguished service to music as a teacher, conductor, performer and composer.
"The trip to Rock Island of Hagbard and Minna was made with Yngve in his 1928 Chrysler coupe. The journey from Lindsborg started out cheerfully, with an overnight stop at Marysville and a visit with Thorborg and her husband, Ralph Russell. When the Brase reached Iowa the next day they found that heavy spring rains had preceded them. The dirt roads were slick and difficult to navigate. On the down side slope of a steep hill it was impossible for Yngve to steer the car through a very hazardous and slippery section with the result that the car rested in the ditch without any injury to the passengers or damage to the vehicle Yngve secured the generous aid of a farmer who hitched up two horses and pulled the car from the ditch. Dr. and Mrs. Brase were silent spectators as the action took place. When it was over, the former expressed his appreciation to the kind stranger and when he was told that the cost for this service would be fifty cents, the rescuer was pleased and surprised when Dr. Brase placed $2.00 in his hands.
"In October 1947 more than 200 persons assembled on the campus of Bethany College for a festive dinner occasion honoring Hagbard Brase. Gösta Oldenburg, Swedish Royal Consul General from Chicago, conferred upon Dr. Brase the title and insignia that created him a Knight of the Royal Order of Vasa on behalf of King Gustaf V of Sweden. The royal award, founded in the reign of Gustavus III in 1772, is conferred upon persons who have distinguished themselves in a variety of areas of service in the Swedish or Swedish-American context. This was an additional recognition of Hagbard's achievement in music. When Consul General Oldenburg presented Dr. Brase with this honor, the Bethany professor was greeted by a standing ovation.
"The Hagbard Brase Memorial Scholarship was established at Bethany College as a means of honoring Dr. Brase and assisting continuing generations of students.
"Dr. Brase maintained a number of professional memberships through his career. Included were memberships in the America Guild of Organists, the New Bach Society of Leipzig, Camma Mu chapter of the Sinfonia Fraternity of America and other organizations.
"Hagbard Brase asked to be relieved of his position as director of the Bethany College Oratorio Society, as already indicated, following the 1946 festival season. He was Director Emeritus 1947-53. Brase conducted the capella choir until the end of the academic year 1948. He continued to teach theory classes and organ full-time until shortly before his death in 1953. He was a part-time faculty member for a brief period.
"When years and decades accumulate it is a common experience of those who are in that period of life to reflect upon early years and the passing of time. Hagbard Brase did just that in correspondence with Samuel Landtmanson, a boyhood friend from Skara. In 1947 he wrote to Samuel: 'This so-called American work tempo has slowed down somewhat for me and I can reflect on my years in America.'
"As Brase reflected there was a combination of nostalgia, anxiety and hope. 'My thoughts go back most of all to the years at Skara, he wrote. 'Ingegerd sent me a copy of Skaradjäknen (The Skara College publication for former students) and I treasure the content and photographs.'
As a sensitive person with a keen insight into the course of events, Brase had considerable anxiety about the future as he wrote to his friend Samuel Landtmanson: 'The half century that I have lived in America has seen much progress in a technical sense but the character of people has undoubtedly worsened. Or are we perhaps dazzled by the machine age? Neither you nor I are too old to understand that we live in a foreboding era and in a world that is much more insecure than when we were children. Although you and I may escape the consequences, our children will be here for the storm that is in the process of developing.
"But there were hopes and promises for the future. He rejoiced in a fine family--Minna, five children and their spouses and grandchildren. Christmas 1951 had been especially festive. Minna and Hagbard had thoroughly enjoyed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Mattie and Yngve and their five children in Denver where the nearby snowcapped Rocky Mountains added natural splendor to the gala season. The traditions of the old country prevailed: "In our home we observe a Swedish Christmas, perhaps it should be described as a Västergötland Christmas. Our children and grandchildren don't think it's Christmas unless everything is like that."
"There were also other signs of joy and hope. In 1952 he wrote to his friend in Sweden: "Minna and I have our first great grandchild, born last year." They, too, belonged to the future through their children and their children's children.
"The generally good health of Dr. Brase is demonstrated by the fact that in more than three decades he missed only one oratorio performance, in 1945. In later years he felt at times somewhat less energetic than formally and a leg condition that had impaired his walking temporarily on previous occasions was also somewhat troublesome. However, his condition did not interrupt faithful performance of college responsibilities.
"Occasional fainting spells were experienced by Dr. Brase in later years. In 1947 his medical condition was diagnosed as pernicious anemia. He kept in close touch with Dr. William Holwerda, his Lindsborg physician. Life continued to be fairly normal although he told those closest to him that he did not feel as well as he would like to feel. He was not confined to bed but rested more than customarily. On the evening before Dr. Brase's death, Birger Sandzén, long-time friend and colleague, had a long and pleasant visit with him in the Brase home. This was the last of hundreds of visits across more than half a century.
"On Wednesday morning, March 18, 1953, Hagbard and Minna Brase awakened at the dawn of a new day. When Minna brought breakfast to the bedroom on the second floor of the home at 535 North Second Street in Lindsborg, in which they had lived since 1915, her husband had passed away quietly as the result of a heart attack.
"When faculty members and students assembled for the daily Chapel service that morning, they learned with deep sorrow about Dr. Brase's death. There was complete silence in the Chapel as Reverend Emmet Eklund, college professor, announced the passing of Bethany's great teacher and conductor. At the Brase home there was grief, dignity and poise, also as Mrs. Brase talked quietly with Dr. William Holwerda, family physician, and Emory Lindquist, president of the college. Soon members of the family and friends came to face together a world in which Hagbard Brase was not present to share life directly with them.
"A large congregation of friends and admirers of Hagbard Brase joined the family in impressive memorial services in the auditorium of Pressor Hall on Sunday afternoon, March 22, 1953. There were many remembrances of Hagbard Brase coming unostentatiously to the podium, picking up the baton with quiet confidence, nodding to the concertmaster, after which were heard the strains of the "Overture" to Handel's Messiah. There were memories of those critical few minutes at each performance as the singers keyed up for No. 4, the first chorus selection, with eyes fastened upon the director, waiting for the signal to arise in unison, playing of the first ten measures of the introduction by the orchestra, and then the auditorium resounding with the words of Isaiah set to music, "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed." The chorus and the audience that March day 1953 had been participants in a great tradition with a beloved music master who would not raise his baton again.
"The memorial service was conducted by friends and associates. The Reverend Ervin C. Malm, pastor of Bethany Lutheran Church in which Dr. Brase had been a member since 1900, preached the sermon. Dr Emory Lindquist, president of Bethany College, spoke words of tribute; the Reverend Emmet Eklund, College pastor, and Dr. William Clark, a friend also participated in the service.
"The oratorio society, with deep feeling, presented four selections. Some of the singers had been in the chorus continuously since that day in 1915 when Hagbard Brase directed for the first time. A kindly spirit hovered over the audience in Presser Hall as the chorus sang Dr. Brase's favorites--'Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs and Carried Our Sorrows.' from Messiah, and from the St. Matthew Passion, 'Our Sorrows Thou Art Bearing,' 'When Life Begins To Fail Me,' 'Here Yet Awhile.' Rolf Espeseth conducted the chorus and orchestra, Lloyd Spear was concertmaster and Lambert Dahlsten was at the organ.
"A large funeral cortege joined the family for graveside services at Elmwood Cemetery, a short distance east of Lindsborg. Casket bearers were colleagues at Bethany College. The burial rites were conducted by Pastor Malm in the liturgy of the Augustana Lutheran Church, an English translation of the Church of Sweden's order of service. On Saturday evening the sound of the bells in the spire of the Bethany Church, which can be seen on the western horizon, reach this resting place and the chimes of the Messiah Lutheran Church bring the message of Christian hymnody, including familiar hymns from the old homeland across the Atlantic Ocean.
"Hagbard Brase began his earthly pilgrimage at Råda in Västergötland and the end was at Lindsborg in the Smoky Valley of Central Kansas. It was a journey that was lived fully and victoriously."
This Dustjacket's Significance
from
Bethany College Music Professor
- Carl Busch -
from
Bethany College Music Professor
- Carl Busch -
"The musical score incorporated into the design of the dustjacket is from an old orchestral score of Handel's Messiah oratorio which dates from before Handel's death in 1759. The large volume of this score was acquired in London by Carl Busch, a music professor of Bethany College, composer of the Pilgrims of the Prairie cantata, who presented it to Earl Rosenberg, vocal teacher at Bethany College from 1908 to 1913, and Messiah festival conductor, 1909 to 1913, who in turn presented it to Bethany College in 1972.
"The volume is now in the Bethany College archives."
"The volume is now in the Bethany College archives."
*Waiting for his return email with answer to this question of 2022.
* * *
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Preface and Acknowledgments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .vii
I. The Early Years in Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Music Studies in Stockholm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
III. Interlude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
IV. Emigration and Early Years in Lindsborg, 1900-1906 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
V. To Sweden and Lindsborg Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
VI. Hagbard Brase and the Lindsborg "Messiah" Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
VII. Singing the "Saint Matthew's Passion" and Other Sacred Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
VIII. Conducting, Teaching and Composing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
IX. Christian Thought, Faith and Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
X. Family and Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
XI. The Years in Retrospect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Selected Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
I. The Early Years in Sweden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. Music Studies in Stockholm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
III. Interlude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
IV. Emigration and Early Years in Lindsborg, 1900-1906 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
V. To Sweden and Lindsborg Again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
VI. Hagbard Brase and the Lindsborg "Messiah" Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
VII. Singing the "Saint Matthew's Passion" and Other Sacred Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
VIII. Conducting, Teaching and Composing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
IX. Christian Thought, Faith and Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
X. Family and Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
XI. The Years in Retrospect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Selected Bibliography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .143
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
For 1984 "Hagbard Brase, Beloved Music Master" ~ Contents and Illustrations, go HERE.
* * *
"Let Us Remember Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated, or obviously concluded it is not.
Copyright © 2022 www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
"Let Us Remember Them"
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated, or obviously concluded it is not.
Copyright © 2022 www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
