Henry Charles Smith leads Minnesota Orchestra in performances at New Ulm Junior High School Tuesday night. (Photo by Art Hanson)

The Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Henry Charles Smith, played to about 1,000 Community Concert Association members Tuesday night.

They performed selections from Wagner, Handel, Ives-Schuman and Tchaikovsky.

People familiar with classical music could listen with a hint of what was to come, waiting for favorite passages.

Listeners less schooled in classical music could float where the music took them; not knowing which note or tempo would come next.

ALL TICKETS for the performance had been subscribed for in advance. New Ulm Junior High School auditorium, scene of the show, was filled almost to capacity.

The last time Minnesota Orchestra played in New Ulm, sponsored by Community Concert Association, was in 1957.

TO THE UNTRAINED ear, the most easily understood piece of music was Charles Ives’, “Variation on “America,” translated for orchestra by William Schuman.

The strings and horns alternated in carrying the tune in different tempos and musical styles. At times “America” had a circus atmosphere to it. Listening seconds later there were jazz overtones punctuated by the shake of a tambourine. The finals was a flowy, patriotic flourish.

“Isn’t that a nice song for the Bicentennial,” one person said.

A look of happiness showed on faces of many audience members after the performance. One man was overheard to say,”Wonderful, wasn’t that wonderful. Hmm that feels good. It just flows into my being.”

Others left silent, cherishing the memory of the sound; unwilling to break the spell.