78 200 voices at Chorus meet in Willmar
January 28, 1935
Dear Corinna,
Monday after dinner. I have just finished up the work and am drawing a deep breath. I have been on the jump for some time. Yesterday afternoon I went with Nordlie’s to Willmar for that great Chorus meet at the Bethel Luth. Church. We had a wonderful time. I hadn’t intended to go as I thot some of the others should have the chance but Nordlies were the only ones to drive (except Jo who took Mrs. Manning and Mrs. Tresk) and Mr. Nordlie insisted I was the one they wanted besides Mrs. Holm and Ed Miller and Bernice Nordstrom. So there were 6 of us in the Nordlie car—2 in Joe’s car and France Larson (the young man who took you to Dist. 41, you know) from Atwater. There were only 200 voices—they had expected 400—but bad weather spoiled that.
We got there at 5—found our standing places—practiced filing out and in—6 exits to the Basement—sang awhile and then had our lunch. Atwater furnished sandwiches. Then promptly at 8:15 we filed in and sang our first 3 numbers. We couldn’t hear the pianist during the program but after it was all over we came up and she played all her numbers for us. The thing that impressed me most about her playing was her complete relaxation and her evident ease as she played each number. Mr. Rice has so often told us—the way to sing is to be relaxed and do it the easiest way and he says it is the same with the piano. I am sending you the program.
Every singer watched him every moment—started at once on the same word and when his baton went down the last word stopped with his movement. The Church was full and I don’t think the audience moved at all. Mrs. Rice thinks the marvelous part of it all was that we are all untrained singers—I wished the children could have been there. Miss Neisheim said to us she considred it an honor to be playing on our program for we had sung so beautifully. Geneva Larson was there. She told me she had enjoyed the pianist so much and that was the first person she had ever heard who could beat Corinna. I told her I had heard many who were better than Corinna, but the reason was I had been in places where there was more musical talent than Atwater.
Mabel Stenberg was one of the sopranos. Oh there were lots of people there I knew and enjoyed talking to. I could write another page about it but I guess I won’t.
Today I washed and then at 11, I went to Mrs. Rudeen’s funeral. I got the dinner all ready before I left too. Annie and Nellie came and I went over to the Church with them. I had such a short visit with them that I feel worse than if I hadn’t seen them. Sidney Strong waited outside after he had taken them to the cemetery so Nellie and Annie could come in and see H and G and Daddy. (They think Gloria looks so thin.) Then Sidney took them down to see Myron at the garage. Isn’t he a prince? From there they went over to Sidney’s house where some of the Eastern Stars are serving dinner to the Rudeen’s and friends from the city. I suppose they will soon start home. Uncle ROC will be interested to know Nellie Rudeen is at home in London, England. I don’t know what she does. Paul lives in Canada and has I don’t know how many children. Christine and Lillie were here of course today. The Church was so beautiful and peaceful and quiet. I felt helped by the hour spent over there.
Betty Lundgren and children were here yesterday afternoon when Nordlies phoned that they wanted me to go. Right away she offered to make the sandwiches and said H and G should come over there and stay for supper. Wasn’t she nice to me? They stayed till 8—came home and no one was here but they came in and went to bed like big folks. Some girls, if I do say it myself! Today I have been telling them all about the concert. I was sorry Myrtle A. didn’t get a chance but I guess it wouldn’t hurt Arnold to take his own wife to something he wasn’t interested in, once.
It is not so cold today so now maybe the worst is over. This cold spell was terrible or else I don’t stand it, like I used to.
You know Nellie took care of Mrs. Rudeen till she went to the Hospital and now Nellie is still at Balzer’s doing the work as their Business College keeps them very busy. I don’t know how long she will stay—what a jewel they have, when they have Nellie!
We are all so glad about your toe—your letter came yesterday. I read it up at Church after S.S. I think that clipping from the newspaper might be worth trying. Love from Mother.