Notes from the Choir Director
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Interview with
the Choir Director, Dawn Sonntag May 2008 Dawn Sonntag goes to Ohio In August Dawn begins a position as Assistant Professor of Music at Hiram College. It is located in northeastern Ohio in the Western Reserve area, which has a strong New England influence, having originally belonged to Vermont. Hiram is a small liberal arts college with approximately 1200 students. Dawn will teach music theory and composition program, voice, and in the future conduct the choir. In addition, she will teach study abroad courses, most likely in Germany and Norway. As the composer-in-residence, she will compose for the choir, orchestra, and for music faculty members, and will perform as a singer and pianist on faculty concerts. PV: Dawn, you are a very skilled and active organist, music arranger, singer and choir director. What kind of work gives you the most energy, and why? DS: Prior to coming to Minnesota, I was offered scholarships for several doctoral programs in conducting, but classical singing and composing are the things I enjoy most, so I chose to focus on these areas in my doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota. Composition has become my main professional area of focus, but I will always continue to perform. I prefer to compose original music rather than arrange, as I have much more freedom to express my own ideas that way. That is much more exciting. Playing the piano is also very important to me; I strongly prefer to play the piano over the organ, and I have never studied the organ. The piano feels much more personal to me, as one's own body weight affects the intensity of the sound, and there is the possibility of dynamic and color nuance in every melodic line. With the organ, it doesn't matter how hard or lightly you strike a key, the sound is the same. It has a whole different set of physical and intellectual requirements. However, the organ is much more suitable for congregational singing and for worship music in general, due to its sustained vocal-like quality (like the voice, it requires flowing air to make sound) and its ability to carry acoustically. The piano, on the other hand, is a percussion instrument, so its sound quickly decays and is not as supportive of congregational singing.
DS:The opportunity to learn Norwegian language and music in a Lutheran worship setting was what originally drew me to Mindekirken. After I left Germany in 2000, after living there for nine years, I very much missed the German culture. I also grew up in a very strong German-American culture in eastern Wisconsin. Although different than Norwegian, it was still a northern-European rooted culture. So I immediately felt very at home at Mindekirken. I find the Norwegian Lutheran liturgy, hymns, and choral music to be very beautiful, and worth preserving here in the US. I have very much enjoyed kirkekaffe every Sunday. Getting to know the people at Mindekirken, who have been very kind and helpful, has been the most enjoyable part of my job.
PV: What is your very best memory from your 3 years with us? DS: I have many good memories, but one that I will never forget is the serious look in the Crown Prince's eyes as he shook my hand and said very earnestly, "I enjoyed the choir very, very much," after the special service in honor of his visit in October, 2005. I had only been working at Mindekirken for a week when Pastor Dale approached me and said very non-chalantly, "The Prince is coming next month, and we need you to arrange for the service music." I thought he was kidding at first, but of course I have since learned that Norwegian dignitaries often visit Mindekirken when they travel in the Midwest. I also love the Syttende Mai parade. It is very colorful and happy, and not only helps preserve the memories of the neighborhood's roots, but also shares the Syttende Mai festivities with the neighborhood's immigrant population. Many people call the US a melting pot, but it is really more a quilt, with many unique colors and designs. I think it's important that the neighborhood around Mindekirken, which has been a home to many different immigrant groups, preserve its colorful Norwegian-American heritage.
PV: What is your favorite Norwegian hymn? DS: That is a hard question - there are so many beautiful ones....but two of my favorites are "Lær meg å kjenne dine veie" (NoS 312) and "I Himmelen" (NoS 844).
PV: In order to develop as a worship fellowship, what does Mindekirken need to focus on? DS: As a Lutheran church, Mindekirken has something to offer that surpasses all cultures and times: the message of grace through faith alone. Virtually all other religions and belief systems, including some Christian denominations, teach that one's eternal future is dependent on either one's measuring up to a moral standard in this life, or making enough sacrifices. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we fail in achieving moral perfection every day, if not in our deeds, then certainly in our thoughts. This could drive us either to despair or to self-deception. Thanks to Luther's dedicated study of the Bible and his subsequent writings, we can move through life in peace, knowing that despite our wrong-doings and failings, we have eternal life, bought in love with Christ's sacrifice. What could be a more valuable or important gift to offer new members? The "Lutheran" aspect of Mindekirken needs to be carefully preserved in order to prevent the loss of this gift. Mindekirken's members should continue to study the timeless Lutheran confessions - not just the creeds, but all the Lutheran writings, as well as the history and meaning of the liturgy and sacraments. This will clarify the purpose of all the parts of worship, and will strengthen Mindekirken's foundation, so that even if lightening strikes, Mindekirken can be sure that her future is in God's hands.
PV: How can we welcome our new organist and choir director? DS: Your appreciative and supportive comments were always very helpful and encouraging to me. There is a great deal of information to process in the beginning; all new organists and choir directors need time to become acquainted with the pastor, congregation, choir members, liturgy and hymns, and the organ. It helped me when people let me know if the organ was too loud, or if the hymn tempos needed to change a bit, as I cannot always judge that from the organ bench. Joining the choir, even if only for special occasions, is also a superb way to support the choir director/organist. The Mindekirken organ, which was originally built to play accompaniments to silent films, is difficult for most church organists to play, due to the strange shape of its console, its lack of variety of pipes for Lutheran worship music, and its need for repairs. The best way to support the organist would be to move ahead towards replacing the organ with an instrument more suitable for Lutheran worship playing. Even if this project requires years to accomplish, it is encouraging for the organist to know that the congregation values the organ music, appreciates the challenges the organist has in playing the present organ, and is willing to look at solutions for the future.
PV: We at Mindekirken want to say thank you to Dawn for a wonderful job in our congregation. We wish all the best for her and her husband Holger as they move to Ohio, and blessings for their future!
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The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |