St. Andrew choir director Karle Erickson debuts work

By Karla Wennerstrom

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be
comforted.”

So begin the Eight Beatitudes of Christ, from Matthew 5:3-12a,
the basis for the new choral anthem by Dr. Karle Erickson, St.
Andrew Lutheran Church choral conductor and composer.

The Canticle Choir at St. Andrew premiered the work, “Blessed
Are the Poor in Spirit,” on Feb. 20.

Erickson said he was seeking a good piece of music based on the
Beatitudes to complement sermon topics for late January and
February. He didn’t find one that he really liked.

“Why don’t I try to write one myself?” he thought.

He dedicated the piece to his mother, Inga, a church musician
for decades in his hometown of Rush City.

“She was very influential in my young years,” Erickson said.
“That’s what caused me to choose music as a career.”

Erickson, 72, added, “I think that she understood the value of
the arts, the value of music. If you’re involved in music and
participating in music it’s speaking to your inner self. Many times
… you don’t identify what it is about the music that makes you
feel better, but it does. The purpose of music is to enrich the
soul.