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Swedish Society

Storm: Choral Works

$18.99

Details

Composer
Staffan Storm
Artist
Erik Westberg Vokalensemble
Format
CD
Label
Swedish Society
Released
Feb 21, 2025
Catalog #
SCD1192
UPC
822359004412

About

The three short movements in "Aspects of Snow" are united by the theme of snowy landscapes depicted in the poems and also share concentrated musical material. The piece was written in 2012 and premiered the same year by the Malmo Academy of Music Chamber Choir under the direction of Mats Paulsson. Else Lasker-Schuler (1869-1945) was one of the leading German writers in the decades after the turn of the century. She became famous for her expressionist poetry and her colorful performances. After the Nazis took power, she was persecuted and abused but managed to escape via Switzerland to Jerusalem, where she settled for the rest of her life. The short poem "Die Dammerung holt die Sichel" can here surround the prose sketch "Nachtregen" ("The Night Rain"). The work is written for choir a cappella and solo viola, which functions as a wordless voice in the vocal folds. The work was composed in 2018 and is dedicated to Erik Westberg and his vocal ensemble. The suite "Seelenherbst" ("Autumn of the Soul") for mixed choir and percussion was composed in 2021-22 and is based on a selection of poems by Luise Buchner (1821-1877). During her time, Buchner was a noted author of novels, short stories, and poetry. However, she probably became best known for her debate book "Die Frauen und ihr Beruf", which was printed in several editions during her lifetime. She also worked to ensure that the works of her late older brother Georg Buchner, including "Wozzeck", would be published. Luise Buchner's poetry has a personal romantic- symbolist touch where nature, special places, and environments reflect and relate to people's inner experiences and changing moods. Sometimes the picture expands with questions about the individual's place in the universe. The chosen poems form a suite of five movements, where the two outer move ments that frame the work depict a jour ney from winter to autumn, while the three middle movements are evening and night moods of different characters. This work is also written for and dedicated to Erik West berg and his vocal ensemble. "Långt i forsvunna tider" ("Far in By gone Times") takes it's starting point from three songs by Wilhelm Sten hammar, "Stjarnoga", "Flickan knyter i Johannesnatten" and "Vore jag ett litet barn". I selected these songs because they were more open to new musical angles due to their close connec tion to the Swedish folk song. Stenhammar 4 is here himself both freer in his use of har mony and in his part-writing, something I have underlined and partly reinforced. I have also placed the songs in surround ing wordless material as contrast and musi cal reflection, and here and there gaps also open up inside the songs when new material is used as contrast. Swedish Radio commis sioned the work for the 150th anniversary of Wilhelm Stenhammar in 2021 and the Swedish Radio Choir premiered it under the direction of Erik Westberg. / Staffan Storm

Tracklist 12 tracks

  1. 1 Nachtregen 09:47
    Track
    1
    Title
    Nachtregen
    Duration
    09:47
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Performer
    Kim Hellgren
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  2. 2 I. At Tago Bay 02:09
    Track
    2
    Title
    I. At Tago Bay
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  3. 3 II. In the early light 02:13
    Track
    3
    Title
    II. In the early light
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  4. 4 III. I look out and snow is falling 03:17
    Track
    4
    Title
    III. I look out and snow is falling
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  5. 5 I. Frühlingsgruß 05:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    I. Frühlingsgruß
    Duration
    05:48
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Performer
    Daniel Saur
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  6. 6 II. Die Mondesbrücke 04:29
    Track
    6
    Title
    II. Die Mondesbrücke
    Duration
    04:29
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Performer
    Daniel Saur
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  7. 7 III. Stille Frage 03:45
    Track
    7
    Title
    III. Stille Frage
    Duration
    03:45
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Performer
    Daniel Saur
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  8. 8 IV. Am Rheine 06:23
    Track
    8
    Title
    IV. Am Rheine
    Duration
    06:23
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Performer
    Daniel Saur
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  9. 9 V. Herbstlied 07:46
    Track
    9
    Title
    V. Herbstlied
    Duration
    07:46
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Performer
    Daniel Saur
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  10. 10 I. Stjärnöga 02:53
    Track
    10
    Title
    I. Stjärnöga
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  11. 11 II. Flickan knyter i Johannenatten 02:35
    Track
    11
    Title
    II. Flickan knyter i Johannenatten
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg
  12. 12 III. Vore jag ett litet barn 03:04
    Track
    12
    Title
    III. Vore jag ett litet barn
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Staffan Storm
    Ensemble
    Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble
    Conductor
    Erik Westberg