Concordia alumni, students, faculty, and staff have long celebrated their Concordia pride through song. Staples such as Stand Up and Cheer and Hymn to Concordia can be heard resonating from Cobber gatherings. Hymn to Concordia was written as a collaborative effort in 1931 to celebrate Concordia’s fortieth anniversary. Herman W. Monson, Choir Director from 1923 to 1937 and Director of the School of Music from 1923 to 1939, composed the music. Borghild Torvick, 1931 Concordia graduate, wrote some of the lyrics as part of an assignment and later submitted them for a poetry contest. Mrs. Paul A. Rasmussen, wife of a history and political science faculty member, completed the lyrics for the second stanza. The hymn was dedicated to Helga Fjelstad, longtime matron of the school and second mother to many Cobbers.
Monson also authored and composed another Concordia favorite. Penned In 1931, Concordia Forever, the college’s field song, was dedicated to Concordia athletics in general and specifically to Frank Cleve, then football coach, and Alfred M. Sattre, the “granddaddy” of Concordia athletics. The title of this exhibit panel was taken from the song Wherever in the World You Go. This song, which appeared prior to 1940, was written for alumni to tribute Concordia College. |