NORWEGIAN COMPOSER OF `CAPE MARCH' WILL RETURN

The "Cape Girardeau Polka" was composed in 1855. In 1973, Jess. E. Thilenius wrote "A Rose for Cape Girardeau," which became the city's official song.

When the "Cape Girardeau March" premiered here in 1990, the composer was Norway's Geir Knutson. He wrote the piece after visiting the city as a young composer and band director in 1988.

Knutson will visit again next week, this time to talk to Cape Girardeau elementary school students and Southeast Missouri State University elementary education graduate students. He plans to play the mouth harp and teach students about Norwegian folk tales.

Knutson now is one of Norway's leading composers of wind music. He has won many awards for his compositions and appeared on Norwegian national television recently after the premiere of his new Mass.

His visit is sponsored by the Goals 2000 Fine Arts Grant. Drs. Ann and Robert Gifford wrote the grant to find ways to integrate the arts into the classroom.

Knutson first came to Cape Girardeau at the invitation of Dr. Robert Gifford, a professor of music at Southeast. The purpose of that stay was simply an exchange of ideas.

Two years later Knutson returned to hear the Southeast Missouri State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble premiere his "Cape Girardeau March."

At that time, former Cape Girardeau mayor Gene Rhodes named Knutson an honorary "Admiral of the Cape Girardeau Navy."

Knutson's band music will be featured in a concert Jan. 17, by the Southeast Missouri Honors Wind Ensemble. The ensemble is composed of 50 musicians chosen by audition from the 40 school districts in Southeast Missouri. The 7:30 p.m. concert at Academic Auditorium is free.

Knutson has published more than 60 works for band, orchestra, choir and soloists. His music is often heard on Norwegian national radio and television.

He teaches elementary school music and languages in Birkeland, Norway.

While here, Knutson will speak to a graduate class called Integration of the Arts is an International Experience. The elementary education class is free and open to the public.

Knutson's schedule:

-- 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Wednesday, Franklin Elementary School.

-- 2:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jefferson Elementary School.

-- 8:30 a.m.-9 a.m. Friday, grades 5-6, Washington Elementary School.

-- 11 a.m.-11:30 a.m., grades 3-6, May Greene Elementary School.

-- 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. Friday, Dempster Hall, Southeast Missouri State University (Phone 987-6770 if interested in attending the class).

-- 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, Dempster Hall, Southeast Missouri State University.