Participants
GöteborgsOperans Orkester, Christian Eggen (conductor), Kroumata, Tora Augestad (soprano), Jessica Breitlow (Harp)
Áskell Másson (Iceland)
ORA ISCM
Ora is latin and means coast. With this title, I want to think of the ocean and the fact that Iceland is surrounded by it and that it links us to our neighboring countries. It also refers to our origins on this island on which we live and to our cultural heritage. Most of the population of Iceland lives by the coast and through the ages it has depended largely on the fruits of the sea. In conjunction with other melodic material in the piece, I am using two Icelandic folk songs associated with singing and story telling from this island of the sagas.”
Pui-Shan Cheung (USA)
Dai Pai Dong ISCM
“The Dai Pai Dong is a unique Chinese-style food stall filled with big woks, large electric fans, folding tables and chairs. It developed along with Hong Kong and is an essential part of its character and culture. I have chosen to feature the ‘Dai Pai Dong’ in my orchestral work out of a desire to promote the unique Hong Kong culture to people of other countries. The music divides into three sections and the musical structure of the piece is based on the typical Chinese method of frying: first heating up the wok; then adding ginger, green onion or garlic; stir frying with other ingredients; and finally seasoning with salt and other flavours. The music is dominated by two musical themes with contrasting characteristics. Both are based upon an exploration of Cantonese throughout the menu of Cantonese dishes. The use of Cantonese-based themes represents the friendliness and loyalty of the Hong Kong people.”
Harue Kunieda (Japan)
Peace on Earth ISCM
Peace on Earth for soprano, harp and orchestra was composed in 2005: “When we imagine life on Earth tomorrow, there will be a mountain of issues, including those related to the global environment, energy, nuclear weapons, ethnic wars and also the dignity of life, religion, cultural differences, disparities in wealth and population problems. However, despite many people having vague feelings of insecurity and pessimism, the fact remains that many people behave impassively in the face of these problems. Peace on Earth (quoted from the Encyclical Letter ‘Pacem in Terris’ in 1963 by the Pope John XXIII), is an extremely serious idea. However, this piece is a satirical song, with the title expressed in eight languages. It has a light and happy tone, a feeling of warmth and hoping. Hope, that is, that we will continue to pray for Peace on Earth.” Peace on Earth was commissioned by NHK Symphony Orchestra in 2005
Jesper Koch (Denmark)
Snedronningen (The Snow Queen) ISCM
The Snow Queen, a tone poem, was inspired by a tale from 1844 by the famous Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen. Jesper Koch wants to write in the Richard Strauss style classical symphonic poem, where there is no shortage of effects meant to create a particular atmosphere and a specific image. It is outward-looking music and a work conceived as very definite programme music. The Snow Queen is divided into seven small stories and these will form the background for corresponding sections of the music. In the tale Andersen mentions the Brorson hymn “Den yndigste rose” (“The Loveliest Rose”) and the composer has already incorporated this in the music along with “En rose så jeg skyde” (“A Rose I saw growing”). The quotation that Andersen uses in The Snow Queen from the Danish hymnodist Brorson’s “Den yndigste rose” from 1732 is a slight variation of the last two lines of the strophe:
Oh, seek in the lowliest places
and weep in the dust for Our Saviour;
for then ye shall speak with Lord Jesus,
for roses they grow in the valleys.
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