Concordia’s Music Tradition Touches Lives
“Sing to the Lord a new song. He has done wonderful things. . . . Sing for joy to the Lord, all the earth; praise him with songs and shouts of joy!” Psalm 96:1 and 4. The words from the Biblical hymn underscore reasons for celebrating the long and distinguished tradition of musical excellence at Concordia University, St. Paul. Music praises God and brings joy to His people. This edition of Concordia St. Paul seeks to inform and inspire you about our musical tradition and our current practices. Music at Concordia enriches our campus and the lives of many individuals. Our programs develop talents to benefit the careers of our graduates and the lives of others.
Concordia’s musical heritage has enriched my life in many ways. While studying at Concordia, I sang in several groups but remember most fondly the quartet of classmates Lowell Beck, Bob Brueske, Paul Dorn and Dan Otto. They not only inspired us on campus but spent a summer traveling the upper Midwest sharing their talents and the Concordia story.
As another part of the Concordia story, I watched Concordia’s choir soothe a troubled crowd in O’Hare International Airport in Chicago in 2000. The Christus Chorus was traveling to Poland as an invited choir for the national Gaude Mater festival in Cjestochowa. One flight delay after another stranded our plane and created increasing frustration for its many passengers. Since our flight was scheduled to arrive in Poland just before a national holiday weekend, the airport was filled with Polish people flying home to visit friends and relatives for the holiday. After witnessing any people express frustration, anger, and even shed tears, Dr. David Mennicke the choir director, approached a flight agent and asked if the choir couldsing in the airport. Perhaps in despair, the agent muttered, “Go ahead. It can’t make things worse.”
I will never forget what happened next. Softly and gently the choir members vocalized a traditional Polish Christmas hymn. “Lulaijze, Jezuniu, moja perelko, Lulaijze, Jezuniu, me piescidelko . . . Utulze zemdlone lkaniem ustecski.” [“Lullaby, sweet Jesus, angels surround you. Lullaby, sweet Jesus, shepherds found you . . . Peacefully blooms the Rose in manger lowly.”] Peace settled like refreshing morning dew. Some people reverently started to sing along. Others quietly wept tears of nostalgic joy. The Christus Chorus shared God’s love to troubled people in a troubled time.
Another inspirational experience came more recently. Dr. Harold Otte, who directed the Chorale Club choir when I was a student at Concordia, died on July 31, 2007. His son told me a treasured friend visited Dr. Otte that day and read Psalm 27 with Pastor and Mrs. Otte. During the reading of the Psalm, Dr. Otte simply closed his eyes and stopped breathing. Quietly and peacefully, God transferred him from time into eternity. I wonder if an angelic choir picked up and finished what began as human praise of the Lord, our Light and Salvation. We who still wait and watch continue to find peace and can express our faith in the words of that ancient hymn, “I am still confident of this: I will see the Day of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord: be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:13-14. Professor Otte, rest in peace and thank you for your part in Concordia’s legacy of music and faith.
Thank you, dear readers, who sing God’s praise and wait for the Lord. Thank you for your interest and care for Concordia University, St. Paul, including our legacy and musical tradition of praising God and bringing peace and joy to people.
In Christ,
Rev. Dr. Robert Holst
President
