Concordia Choir & my Grandpa Paul J. Christiansen LIVE in Bergen Norway 1978

So proud of my Grandpa! #choral, #chorus, #singing, #concordia, #nrk, #accapella, #music, #norway, #conductor, #composer
Festspillene i Bergen - TV
4. jul. 1978 · Concordia-koret fra Minnesota
Programinformasjon
Seriebeskrivelse
Festspill i Bergen - reportasjer og konserter
Kategorier: Kultur og NRK-arkivet
Tilgjengelig til:
Ingen begrensning
Tilgjengelig i:
Verden
Første gang sendt:
NRK1 · Tirsdag 4. juli 1978 kl. 00:00
Siste gang sendt:
NRK1 · Tirsdag 4. juli 1978 kl. 00:00
Produksjonsår:
1978
Original episodetittel:
Concordia-koret fra Minnesota
Aldersgrense:
Tillatt for alle
Varighet:
32 minutter
NRKs interne arkivbeskrivelse av programmet
Fra Festspillene i Bergen 1978.
Dirigent: Paul J. Christensen.
Ikkj
Les mer om arkivbeskrivelsen

[@bcgrittner]

In 1972 I attended a choral music clinic at a college choir convention in Rochester, MN. The clinic was given by Paul J. Christiansen. I learned a great deal about choral music in that one brief session. My high school director studied under Paul at Concordia College and he passed that education on to us in the A Capella Choir at Sibley High School in West St. Paul. MN. We performed such beautiful concerts, especially at Christmas. I treasure those times and I still sing in choirs and occasionally solo to this day. Thank you, Paul J.

[@MichaelScherb]

I sang with the Concordia Choir on the 1974 Norway Tour. An experience I'll never forget.

[@haroldlee4230]

Hi Mike!　Long time no see!

[@palindq51]

I sang in this choir and treasure every single minute of the 5 week tour in Norway. I will never forget the 7 minute long standing ovation we received after the Bergen concert in the new Grieghallen. Unbelievable honor to sing for Paul J and enjoy singing with such a talented choir. Agree that Sue was the most amazing soprano soloist! I treasure this video so much.

[@jt98116]

Thank you so much for posting this. I started college at Concordia two months after this concert. I was humbled to get to sing for Paul J from 1980 to 1982 - everything I learned about excellence, artistry and discipline traces directly back to the Concordia Choir.

[@balsamrosin]

I sang with him in 1983 and shall forever treasure those memories, especially since I connected with Norwegian relatives.

[@jacobsmith2280]

Incredible to see and hear this long living tradition! I am currently in the Concordia Choir and I wouldn't trade it for the world. So much love goes out to Paul J, Dr. Clausen, Dr. Culloton, and all those singers who came before.

[@haroldlee4230]

I studied conducting with PJ at Concordia, and also a Summer session at Bemidji sleeping in tents! Those were the days!!! After so many years, I still can't find anyone who can top him in this! Simply the best of the best!!! He's like ... out of this world!!

[@MichaelScherb]

Hi Harold! I hope all is well with you. At this year's Concordia Homecoming (9/27-29-24), we'll be having our 50th anniversary reunion of the 1974 Norway Tour choir. I'm looking forward to it!

[@haroldlee4230]

@@MichaelScherb 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 Should be super fun!!!!

[@tomhamilton5203]

I sang in Paul J's choir from 83 to 85, and he was one of the most significant musical influences on my life. I'm a professional organist and love it, but, if I have a regret, it's that I didn't pursue choral music. I love it, and I developed that love under PJ. Yes, the sound he demanded is not without controversy, but hearing it again is so very satisfying. I have the most vivid memories of singing in the choir and developed long and meaningful friendships there. Thank you for posting this, Tor.

[@jangodreams]

No one could turn a phrase with the tremendous variance in tone and rhythmic nuance like Paul J. And with limited arm movement... no music stand... no piano... and no mouthing of the words. The best I've ever seen.

[@kathleenmatthews1256]

Thank you so much for posting this, Tor. I just ran across this, coincidentally. You have every reason to be so proud of your grandpa! He and your great grandfather influenced so many of us, all over the country. My high school choir director studied and sang at Concordia, bringing your grandfathers influence to Pennsylvania and Ohio. My college choir director at Gettysburg studied and sang with your great grandfather at St. Olaf. To this day, I know of no finer college choirs than Concordia and St. Olaf. Yes, they have done their best to keep the tradition alive. What a wonderful legacy you are part of! I only met your grandfather once, when I was in a week long choral workshop with him in Pittsburgh. In just 5 days, he had us all whipped into shape enough to sing a 90 minute concert. He was quite amazing!

[@bcgrittner]

In the spring of 1972 I participated in a clinic about vocal expression. The instructor was Paul Christiansen. What an honor! And, my high school choir director was a graduate of Concordia Moorhead, having studied and performed under Paul Christiansen. Such good twists of fate.

[@buckjohnson1119]

Amen. 🕊

[@lgaryanderson7543]

L. Gary, I have waited for years to see a video of Paul J.'s Choir. I was in his conducting class in 1968-1969. I treasure my time with him. Thanks so much for posting the video.

[@kurtdsauer]

Tor, I knew your grandfather from having attended three of his Choral Schools at Bemidji and Chautauqua. I also hosted the choir for a concert and workshop in the Berea Schools where I taught vocal music. Aside from that, I had attended numerous concerts when they were in the Cleveland area, also including hearing St. Olaf directed by your great uncle Olaf way back when. Since then, I returned to study at Concordia one summer with Grandpa's protege, Rene Clausen. Whenever the choir comes through Cleveland, or St. Olaf's, we make a point to attend concerts. I have the deepest respect and admiration for PJ Christiansen, for the heritage he brought with him through his father's work, through PJ's vision of choral music, for his techniques, for the sensativity in his conducting the music, his arrangements, and for the way he lived life. He always made time for tennis at Chautauqua, believing physical activity is essential in our daily lives. He loved to tell a funny story about flushing a toilet at Chautauqua and how it affected the lake's water level. Perhaps a family member of yours recalls the point of his tale. Anyway, I'm blessed to have known your grandfather and to have learned from him and performed under his direction. Your grandmother was a beautiful woman. The Hofflands were assisting with the choral schools back when I took those classes. Thank you so much for this post. From FMC, Beautiful Saviour and From Grief to Glory are among my favorites. Best wishes to you and your family! Such an incredible heritage!!!

[@valerieswenson9699]

This was an extraordinary experience. I was there. It seems like yesterday seeing your grandfather directing us and being surrounded by beautiful 'sounds' of music. Thank you for sharing your wonderful cinematography skills with us so that we can today hear and relive this beautiful memory. I remember after returning home, telling family that Norway's beauty could not be captured in photos! (Certainly not with camera's from the 70's.). While there, I also had the opportunity in Oslo to meet my grandmother's cousin and her son. Thank you again, Tor, for sharing this heartwarming concert and lovely memory.

[@jamesolson6357]

Watching this tonight in memory of Pete Trier who did some of the solos with this Choir. His funeral is tomorrow. We were often roommates on this tour, and as people have said, that year and this tour was one of the most influential times in my life. I remember going to PJs house as a first year choir member with other first years - trick or treating right after the choir party. He invited us in for a while and we got to know him better. I asked why we hadn't yet done the first movement of Psalm 50 (I had never heard it before, but had sung the other two movements in high school). Next time we rehearsed, we ran the first movement and he gave me a look - and we did it from then on. Though I didn't often have one on one conversations with him, I enjoyed it when it happened.

[@shawnhampton8503]

So sorry to hear about Peter. I am a good friend of Patti Mooney, whom you probably know. We went to high school together in Houston and sang under a wonderful woman who was a protegé of PJ's. I sang under PJ's son Sigurd at Texas Lutheran.

[@celestianna]

wonderful to watch this video, and read the comments from so many former members of the choir and all the sharing of great memories. soprano soloist was lovely, but the bass guy had a lovely tone as well. :D i'm searching for a score for PJ's Festive Procession. my first year of high school i was in the choir which was conducted by a longtime faculty who had taught my 4 elder siblings when they were in school, and i was the last one to be able to sing under him before he retired. Festive Procession was the show-starter for every concert we had. (still not sure how they got away with that, since our HS wasn't religious, but it was a different time i guess) anyway i still have it mostly memorized today, and would love to get a score so i can share it with the music director at my church gig. would be great to sing it whenever our choir is able to safely sing together again. i would love it if anyone could point me to a score of it. thank you.

[@randyfrater4318]

I sang in this choir the two years before this concert. What a treat to see so many familiar faces and watch Paul J conduct again. And the soprano soloist was outstanding!

[@basicmarsh]

the soloist is Susie Stoltz - sister of the actor Eric Stoltz

[@robertpost1221]

I have recently been exploring beautiful choral music on youtube, which I have found to be an amazing treasure chest of great stuff. I was delighted to find this video because it gave me a chance to see the great Paul J. Christiansen conducting his Concordia College Choir. I have been singing in choirs for all my adult life. I currently sing in the Mile High Church Choir and the Colorado Choir. I joined the Colorado Choir back in the 90's when it was conducted by the late Randolph (Casey) Jones. He was a student of Paul Christiansen, and we performed his arrangement of Beautiful Savior many times. The music goes out there, and it is echoed a thousand times by choirs all over the world. I am blessed indeed to have been a part of it all. I feel very privileged and grateful.

[@1srstoltz]

One of the most wonderful times of my life, one of the most defining experiences I've ever had to be directed by Paul J.

[@randyfrater4318]

And your solo was magnificent Sue!

[@pygmygiraffepublishing8042]

@@randyfrater4318 Thank you so much Randy. But it was always part of being a whole wasn't it?

[@pygmygiraffepublishing8042]

@@jamesvangerud3863 Thank you Jim. How are you? Haven't heard from you for quite awhile!

[@randolphstenson7374]

Loved every minute of this Norway tour! It was one of the most memorable and influential musical experiences and feel humbled to have had such an opportunity to be part of this group.

[@davidheaton9332]

Your grandfather's arrangement of "All Poor Men and Humble" is priceless, as far as I'm concerned.

[@hansgordy]

Nice to hear changing colors...phrasing...and depth of tone. Fabulous

[@carltonmoser7606]

The soprano soloist in Chalet Girl is absolutely amazing. Such an incredible choir that endures through the decades.

[@bev1491]

Absolutely marvelous. Always has been my lifelong favorite hymn. This is extraordinary. So sorry I never heard this choir in person.

[@allenblaine6551]

A+A+A+A+A+... besides his multi-talents, what was his secret for attaining that gorgeous head of hair?????

[@TheFFANN]

I was one of the singers in the Concordia Choir which was part of the opening season of the new hall in Bergen in 1978.

[@iansherwood2443]

He was one of kind

[@jeffreyspringborg136]

Hearing this brings back so many wonderful memories of my time in the choir; the music, and all of my wonderful friends, and of course, Paul J. (He called me "the Professor" because of my horn-rimmed glasses!) It's a great feeling that I shall NEVER forget these wonderful memories and the fantastic music we made together. Best wishes to all my former buddies who read this! Thanks for the memories!

[@torrolfjohansen]

Thank you for your comments Professor Springborg, Paul J was my Grandpa.

[@barryleece631]

Hi, Jeff. Do you remember me? I was also a Tenor 1 with you in Paul J's choir.....maybe 1974-5? Sat next to Greg Aune..... Lord but we were a bunch! My life has been full, with many crescendos and decrescendos, but by far some of the most memorable were with The Choir. I would go back in a minute if I could! Hope life has been kind and blessed. Barry Leece

[@jeffreyspringborg4285]

Yes Berry!!!! I DO remember you; it's impossible for me to forget the wonderful music we made together in that incredible group; we were quite an enigma, weren't we?. I'm glad you're doing well and thanks so much for your reply. My best thoughts be with you, Barry!

[@randyfrater4318]

Jeff, Barry, happy to share those memories with you guys. Really took me back watching PJ direct in this video. Barry, did you know Greg Aune is also a music director, not sure which college but I think Gustavus Adolphus. @@jeffreyspringborg4285

[@buckjohnson1119]

This choir under Maestro Christiansen is a powerhouse. I was mesmerized, by their talents. I sang Beautiful Savior at Oak Grove Concert Lutheran HS in the early 1970’s. We performed other Christiansen music, also.

[@VanSensei]

That slow vibrato-heavy style of singing, the low F#1, the throaty contraltos... It's some of the most unhealthy choral singing I think I've ever heard. AND I LOVE IT.

[@jeffreyspringborg4285]

You're exactly right, but I'll go to my grave believing he never "hurt" anyone's voice with his demands. You'll NEVER hear a sound like that again. I sang in the National Lutheran Choir for seven years, and Larry Fleming came as close as one could get to duplicating that sound. I'm so glad I got to be a part of Paul J.'s choir; a wonderful and gratifying experience!! I shall never forget it.

[@pygmygiraffepublishing8042]

@@jeffreyspringborg4285 I remember you! Susan Stoltz here!

[@marrietakilula136]

This choir is amazing,I wish I could be near to accompany them, balances voices like keyboard,wow!!! I love u guys

[@matthewbrick7539]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

[@bryanstenson5903]

My dad is in this choir!

[@victorialarson8448]

I cannot tell you how grateful I am to find this. I sang in the choir in 1972 and 1973. This is such a treasure - especially to hear Beautiful Savior once again in the consummate definitive way that Paul J conducted it. And to get to WATCH him do it and so find myself back on the riser singing again for him. I know I'm prejudiced, but I much prefer this sound - so much richer, so much more emotional and evocative than the current choir. Delicious dark chocolate and Don Perignon.

[@torrolfjohansen]

That's great to hear Victoria. Proud to say that PJC was my Grandfather, on my Mothers side.

[@victorialarson8448]

Tor Johansen 💜💜💜 How lovely to know that. I'm proud to say that I sang with your uncle Erik and pulled a few all-nighters with him studying for music history at your grandfather's kitchen table.😉

[@torrolfjohansen]

What a great story! My Mom is Liv. The oldest of the five kids.

[@victorialarson8448]

Tor Johansen The rest of the story is that one night Paul J heard us and came into the kitchen in his T-shirt and boxer shorts. Erik was eating cereal with bananas; I was glugging coffee as usual. I didn't tell anybody but I have to assume Erik did because by the time we got to Chapel in the morning it was all through the choir that I had seen Paul J in his boxer shorts. To this day I'm not entirely sure that he recognized me in the kitchen; on the other hand he had eyes in the back of his head and knew everything. lol 😂

[@shawnhampton8503]

Hi Tor: I was a student of your uncle Sigurd at Texas Lutheran. I am still close to your cousins Lia, Sten, and Lis, and Karen, of course. Just saw them in January when they dedicated the new choral rehearsal hall at TLU to Sig: or "Coach", as we called him. I just love this video. I spent several summers at Bemidji in the summer choral camps PJ ran. My high school choir director was one of his protegés and we always hosted the choir when they came to Houston.

[@nancyaronsonnorr3932]

Please who is the soprano soloist? My father Henry Aronson emulated Concordia is his years at LaCrosse Central High School.

[@basicmarsh]

Soloist is Susie Stoltz - her brother is Eric Stoltz the actor

[@io132]

i’d love to get that allegria arrangement! only heard it in spanish!

[@hendrixrox12]

do you have anymore videos of Paul J’s choir that you could post? I’m in the choir now and would love to hear more.

[@russnutt]

can you settle a debate? I always heard your grandfather say his last name was pronounced "chris-chun-sehn" but just last night I heard Dr. Armstrong of the St. Olaf choir say "Chris-chee-on-sehn" several times. which is right?!

[@bourdon0774]

It depends on which Christiansen. I'm a Concordia alum and Paul J.'s successor René Clausen pronounced Paul J and Olaf and F. Melius the way Anton Armstrong and others have with "chris-chee-on-sen". Now Olaf and Paul J had an older brother Jacobi (Jake). Jake was the football coach at Concordia when his brother conducted the choir. Jake's name was pronounced "chris-chen-sen." It all depends. This is how many around me have said it. Probably should ask family members.

[@frogleg10]

Armstrong mispronounces it as "Chris Johnson" and he is over- hearing the accented 2nd syllable and thereby mispronouncing the name. Your "chris - chun - sehn" is about right with the "chun" being accented in Norway and the "Chris" syllable being accented in the US. I attended Concordia at the time of Jake and Paul J and heard them both pronouncing their name and it was never "Chris Johnson"

[@Wsaetre]

Who is the soloist on Norge mit Norge? What a voice, and impressive breath control. Also choral/ensemble singing at its zenith here.

[@markhagen1635]

It was an incredible honor to sing this solo and share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience with such talented and committed musicians.

[@davezimmerman8781]

Mark, your comment was posted 9 hours ago! I can't believe it. I just watched/listened to your solo again. What a talent!! I miss this sound SO MUCH! Hope you have had a fulfilling singing career or sideline career. Beautiful my man. (My dad was in the choir '53-'55 and I will be forever hooked on this choir under Paul J.)