Gustavus Adolphus College

the Gustavus Wind Orchestra, and the Gustavus Jazz Ensemble.
In 1942, Percy Grainger, writing in The Musical Quarterly, publicized the "pathbreaking activities"—as an historically appropriate ensemble—of the college's A Capella Choir and chamber orchestra, which toured a series of concerts of music from the 13th to 20th centuries. He praised the "rare value", "practical skill" and "subtle esthetic intuition" of conductor G. Adolph Nelson.
Grainger had an opportunity to observe the work of Nelson, the choir, and the orchestra at close quarters by touring and performing with them that year. Nelson was the college's musical director from 1930 to 1945 and the driving force behind a group that toured the eastern states, winning critical acclaim and financial success. He was particularly concerned about reviving and sharing the chapel's music, including voices and instruments that supported them, including organ, brass, and strings. "Nelson, through his dedication to choral singing and Gustavus Adolphus College, his …