Karl Altenburg Oral History, 2013 (Part 2)
Dublin Core
Title
Karl Altenburg Oral History, 2013 (Part 2)
Subject
Homecoming
Concordia Orchestra
Description
This oral history covers these various topics Concordia band trips, Concordia Christmas Concerts, cobber tradition, homecoming experiences, changes on campus, social spots (music building, Pool, sauna club, computer labs), marriage, and an orchestra trip to Europe
Creator
Altenburg, Karl (Donor)
Publisher
Concordia College Archives
Date
2013-10-12
Contributor
Altenburg, Karl (Interviewee)
Breitbach, Emily (Interviewer)
Rights
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License
Format
Oral Histories
Language
English
Type
Moving Image
Identifier
HHO274OHb
Coverage
1989
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Breitbach, Emily
Interviewee
Altenburg, Carl
Location
Carl B. Ylvisaker Library (Moorhead, Minn.)
Transcription
CARL ALTENBURG: Always amazed to ahh I remember one time we went to the, I believe it was the Chicago area. Umm… and ahh you know, we often do home stays But we stayed with this gal who had attended Concordia for about a year back in like the 1930s or 1940s and she had just gotten a call from the alumni association saying could you house a couple of people and she you know let 3 whatever 20 year old guys into her house for a night. So you got to meet some very interesting alums and others while on tour always very fun.
EMILY BREITBACH: And were you involved then with the Christmas concert?
CA: Yes I was, yep absolutely!
EM: And what was kind of you experience cause Concordia is very well known for their Christmas concerts?
CA: Yeah umm… you know a lot of rehearsals I mean a lot of rehearsals many many hours I remember ahh many Friday evenings or Saturday morning doing dress rehearsals and sound checks not only for the multiple performances here in Moorhead but also then in Minneapolis if I remember correctly you know just getting used to all the different lights and the cues and different conductors coming on an conducting a different times. So umm you know Dr. Hanson was the orchestra conductor at the time and so he would conduct some of the pieces and then others would come on to conduct the choirs and orchestra at the same time. Dr. Claussen I think joined about my sophomore year if I remember correctly. So you know, I had a variety of different conductors coming in an conducting things you know in a big production I just remember you know it seemed like how are we going to get all of this done there are a lot of moving pieces epically the first time but then and how wonderful it was to be apart of that particularly with the full production going on and how they can set up that environment that people can share our Christmas experience like that so it was a very good experience.
EM: And you mentioned that you stated with the one women who came to Concordia and our theme this year is a living tradition. What do you think it means to you to be cobber the Concordia tradition what does that symbolize to you?
CA: Well I guess umm… yeah that ahh… you know you are a living you should live your values I guess is what it means to me. And what did Concordia what kind of values did it impart to me? I think life long learning and enthusiasm for life long learning, recognition that things are always changing and to do well in life you have to embrace those changes and I think education is one way to do that. I also think a little bit of as I have aged a little bit living tradition is a umm you know the recognizing who founded Concordia, the Scandinavian pioneers here and recognizing my own heritage I’m mostly Scandinavian and embracing that fact and finding that kind of connection throughout the community. And so you know recognizing the people that have come before have laid the growns for a very strong institution and then carrying that forward carrying those values forward myself and trying to express them to others.
EM: And with it also it being homecoming what were some of your homecoming memories or experiences?
CA: You know there was always a homecoming concert so there were those things I think that was an important piece umm you know it was kinda strange to see my you know, I think probably one of those times my mother came here as you know one of her class reunions and kinda seeing that and seeing the connection there. I think my freshman year I did the as a freshman frolics or whatever it was I remember playing I played in addition to string bass I played electric bass rock bands and things like that so me and my friend we played some rock piece I can remember. I think it was happy birthday by the beetles and umm it was pretty fun in the Knutson center and just and opportunity to do something kinda different. So you know that some of my memories there.
EM: So campus kinda talking about campus life and the tradition stuff so what are some of the biggest changes you have noticed around campus or something that always remains the same when you ever you come back?
CA: Its hard to say its hard for me to say what have changed I mean obviously there has been expansion in some of the buildings the Olin center for example and things have been a little bit rearranged umm but you know, I guess the truth of the matter is more things are very similar to the way they were when I was here as a student then that are different. So that’s what I’m impressed with.
EM: And you talked about how the library was your place you often studied. where was the place you would go and socialized or hung out with friends around campus?
CA: Well a couple of places the music building there is you know always someone doing something over there. They had kinda a lounge area it was more like in the entry they had a couple of tables where students could study or just hang out or have lunch and yeah you would go there and spend time there. Umm… I took advantage of the pool quite a bit knowing that I was going to be going into the navy starting doing more and more swimming and things like that. So ahh the sauna there was a sauna club kinda informal sauna club so would meet people there and talk with them and the computer labs you know my friends in computer science obviously we would be hanging out in the computer labs. So but mostly the music building and the pool and sauna those were kinda some socializing areas for me.
EM: And you mention the sauna club, were there any other clubs you were involved in or that you would attend?
CA: You know I don’t recall strongly any of them other then the music stuff so umm no I don’t remember any more.
EM: And you said you got married while you were going to college was your wife also a cobber?
CA: Yep she was, she played saxophone in band so we just had some common interests and yep and I proposed to her after her senior year and I was starting my junior so we were two years apart in school so.
EM: Then what was it like going to college and being married was there anything you noticed different throughout like did you still live on campus?
CA: No living off campus, yeah we umm I guess one of the things that might have been different is that put a little more seriousness in to my thinking about getting a career after graduating. Thinking that you know after I graduate I need to try to help support both of us umm so I guess that was the principle thing. And maybe I still saw some of my friends still kinda doing some crazy college things whatever where I was probably doing that a little bit less. But otherwise I thought it was very good.
EM: Finally, what is one of your foundest memories of Concordia or something that sticks out as uniquely yours?
CA: You know like a said after my freshman year we travelled to Europe with the orchestra and I think ahh climbing up the Eiffel tower with two of my friends from the orchestra that is probably one of my more fond memories. So just thinking back here we are in a beautiful place you know doing music and ahh what a unique opportunity for a couple of young guys.
EM: Is there anything else any other stories or information you would like to share with the archives?
CA: No, not at this time.
EM: So thank you so much for the time.
CA: Yep, you bet.
EM: And I hope you have the rest of the week and and enjoy homecoming and stay warm in this weather
CA: I sure will.
EM: Thank you so much!
CA: Oh thank you.
EMILY BREITBACH: And were you involved then with the Christmas concert?
CA: Yes I was, yep absolutely!
EM: And what was kind of you experience cause Concordia is very well known for their Christmas concerts?
CA: Yeah umm… you know a lot of rehearsals I mean a lot of rehearsals many many hours I remember ahh many Friday evenings or Saturday morning doing dress rehearsals and sound checks not only for the multiple performances here in Moorhead but also then in Minneapolis if I remember correctly you know just getting used to all the different lights and the cues and different conductors coming on an conducting a different times. So umm you know Dr. Hanson was the orchestra conductor at the time and so he would conduct some of the pieces and then others would come on to conduct the choirs and orchestra at the same time. Dr. Claussen I think joined about my sophomore year if I remember correctly. So you know, I had a variety of different conductors coming in an conducting things you know in a big production I just remember you know it seemed like how are we going to get all of this done there are a lot of moving pieces epically the first time but then and how wonderful it was to be apart of that particularly with the full production going on and how they can set up that environment that people can share our Christmas experience like that so it was a very good experience.
EM: And you mentioned that you stated with the one women who came to Concordia and our theme this year is a living tradition. What do you think it means to you to be cobber the Concordia tradition what does that symbolize to you?
CA: Well I guess umm… yeah that ahh… you know you are a living you should live your values I guess is what it means to me. And what did Concordia what kind of values did it impart to me? I think life long learning and enthusiasm for life long learning, recognition that things are always changing and to do well in life you have to embrace those changes and I think education is one way to do that. I also think a little bit of as I have aged a little bit living tradition is a umm you know the recognizing who founded Concordia, the Scandinavian pioneers here and recognizing my own heritage I’m mostly Scandinavian and embracing that fact and finding that kind of connection throughout the community. And so you know recognizing the people that have come before have laid the growns for a very strong institution and then carrying that forward carrying those values forward myself and trying to express them to others.
EM: And with it also it being homecoming what were some of your homecoming memories or experiences?
CA: You know there was always a homecoming concert so there were those things I think that was an important piece umm you know it was kinda strange to see my you know, I think probably one of those times my mother came here as you know one of her class reunions and kinda seeing that and seeing the connection there. I think my freshman year I did the as a freshman frolics or whatever it was I remember playing I played in addition to string bass I played electric bass rock bands and things like that so me and my friend we played some rock piece I can remember. I think it was happy birthday by the beetles and umm it was pretty fun in the Knutson center and just and opportunity to do something kinda different. So you know that some of my memories there.
EM: So campus kinda talking about campus life and the tradition stuff so what are some of the biggest changes you have noticed around campus or something that always remains the same when you ever you come back?
CA: Its hard to say its hard for me to say what have changed I mean obviously there has been expansion in some of the buildings the Olin center for example and things have been a little bit rearranged umm but you know, I guess the truth of the matter is more things are very similar to the way they were when I was here as a student then that are different. So that’s what I’m impressed with.
EM: And you talked about how the library was your place you often studied. where was the place you would go and socialized or hung out with friends around campus?
CA: Well a couple of places the music building there is you know always someone doing something over there. They had kinda a lounge area it was more like in the entry they had a couple of tables where students could study or just hang out or have lunch and yeah you would go there and spend time there. Umm… I took advantage of the pool quite a bit knowing that I was going to be going into the navy starting doing more and more swimming and things like that. So ahh the sauna there was a sauna club kinda informal sauna club so would meet people there and talk with them and the computer labs you know my friends in computer science obviously we would be hanging out in the computer labs. So but mostly the music building and the pool and sauna those were kinda some socializing areas for me.
EM: And you mention the sauna club, were there any other clubs you were involved in or that you would attend?
CA: You know I don’t recall strongly any of them other then the music stuff so umm no I don’t remember any more.
EM: And you said you got married while you were going to college was your wife also a cobber?
CA: Yep she was, she played saxophone in band so we just had some common interests and yep and I proposed to her after her senior year and I was starting my junior so we were two years apart in school so.
EM: Then what was it like going to college and being married was there anything you noticed different throughout like did you still live on campus?
CA: No living off campus, yeah we umm I guess one of the things that might have been different is that put a little more seriousness in to my thinking about getting a career after graduating. Thinking that you know after I graduate I need to try to help support both of us umm so I guess that was the principle thing. And maybe I still saw some of my friends still kinda doing some crazy college things whatever where I was probably doing that a little bit less. But otherwise I thought it was very good.
EM: Finally, what is one of your foundest memories of Concordia or something that sticks out as uniquely yours?
CA: You know like a said after my freshman year we travelled to Europe with the orchestra and I think ahh climbing up the Eiffel tower with two of my friends from the orchestra that is probably one of my more fond memories. So just thinking back here we are in a beautiful place you know doing music and ahh what a unique opportunity for a couple of young guys.
EM: Is there anything else any other stories or information you would like to share with the archives?
CA: No, not at this time.
EM: So thank you so much for the time.
CA: Yep, you bet.
EM: And I hope you have the rest of the week and and enjoy homecoming and stay warm in this weather
CA: I sure will.
EM: Thank you so much!
CA: Oh thank you.
Duration
9:53
Time Summary
0:00-Concordia Band Trips
0:40-Concordia Christmas Concerts
2:30-Cobber Tradition
4:30-Homecoming Experiences
5:10-Changes On Campus
5:50-Social Spots- Music Building, Pool, Sauna Club, Computer Labs
7:24- Marriage
8:30- Orchestra Trip to Europe
0:40-Concordia Christmas Concerts
2:30-Cobber Tradition
4:30-Homecoming Experiences
5:10-Changes On Campus
5:50-Social Spots- Music Building, Pool, Sauna Club, Computer Labs
7:24- Marriage
8:30- Orchestra Trip to Europe
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Citation
Altenburg, Karl (Donor), “Karl Altenburg Oral History, 2013 (Part 2),” Concordia Memory Project, accessed April 28, 2024, https://concordiamemoryproject.concordiacollegearchives.org/items/show/587.