Suggested program for concerts in Japan on the 2nd and 4th of November 2015 Comments on the songs. Edvard Grieg: ( 1843 – 1907 ) Sangerhilsen (Song of Welcome) Written on the occasion of a choir festival in Trondheim 1883. 28 choirs took part and this song was performed by the choirs of Trondheim as a welcome to the visiting choirs. We often use this song as a starting song on our concerts. Welcome all singers! Let the song be loud and clear around our flag. Let us all sing together in an eternal chord of music. Before we leave each other we will be united in our minds. Johan Selmer: ( 1844 – 1910 ) Sangen har lysning (The singing is enlightening ) Written to a Norwegian choir in 1872 to celebrate their 25th Anniversary by the Norwegian poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. The singing casts an explanatory light over your work; it has warmth and breaks down the coldness in your mind. It has eternity and combines past and future in an immense ocean of lights. The singing also unites and reconciles fighting opponents in united efforts to create beauty, deed and purity. Rikard Nordraak: ( 1842 – 1866 ) Olav Trygvason The composer also composed the Norwegian National Anthem together with the poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson, who wrote the lyrics. Bjørnson has also written the lyrics for this song. The song describes the death of king Olav Trygvason (995-1000). A fleet of Viking ships is crossing the North Sea to Denmark to wait for the arrival of King Olav and his ship called Ormen Lange. Upon arrival to Denmark they see no sign of him or his ship. On the second day a great nervousness arises: Where is Ormen Lange? Where is Olav Trygvason? Then suddenly a great silence fell upon the men and it was like the sea said: Ormen Lange is captured, fallen is Olav Trygvason. Since then Norwegian ships especially in moonlight nights have been followed by the same words. Halfdan Kjerulf: ( 1815 – 1868 ) Im Wald (In the valley) The composer was the first conductor of our choir, founded in 1845. This year we are celebrating the 200 years anniversary of his birth. The German poet Emanuel Geibel (1815-84) has written the lyrics. The song is performed in German. In the wood, in the light sunshine I suddenly feel like singing when all plants are budding. If I am happy or sad, dreaming or awake I sing of all my heart for the trees. And they understand me very well. The leaves are listening and join in. The song is going through the treetops, to the mountains and bushes and even the nightingale joins in. Oh, the fresh song in the green wood is wonderful. O. A. Grøndahl: ( 1847 – 1923 ) Ung Magnus, baritone solo The composer has also been the conductor of our choir, lyrics is by Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson. The song describes the incident when King Magnus IV who reigned 1130- 35, was taken prisoner by one of the pretenders to the throne and was blinded and imprisoned in a monastery. This incident was the start of a civil war in Norway between the pretenders. Oh, please let me once again see the sparkling stars in the sky, asked young King Magnus and fell on his knees. Oh, let me see the mountains tomorrow and the sea how far it stretches, then it can happen. But first I would like to go to the church and the holly blood of God shall be the last thing I see. The steel touched his eyes and they fell like lightening in the night. Magnus, our King, farewell, farewell. And farewell to you who followed me during 18 years, answered the King. Halfdan Kjerulf: Jubilate Amen The tune is an English folksong arranged for choir by Kjerulf and with lyrics by Thomas Moore. The vesper hymn is stealing over the waters soft and clear. Nearer yet and nearer pealing and now it bursts upon the air: Jubilate Amen. Farther now, now farther stealing soft it fades upon the air. Now, like moonlight waves retreating to the shore, it dies along; now like angry surges meeting breaks the mingled tide of song: Jubilate Amen. Hush! Again, like waves retreating to the shore it dies along: Jubilate Amen. Ludvig Irgens Jensen: ( 1894 - 1969 ) På Jorden et sted (A certain place on the earth) Norwegian neo-classical composer. He made his debut in 1920 with a cyclus of songs among which a group of songs was called Japanische Frühling (Japanese spring). These are Japanese poems translated into German. In 1956 he revised this work. The new edition for solo and orchestra is among the most performed works of his. Lyrics for this song is by the Norwegian poet André Bjerke (1918-85). Do not believe in the frost when the snow is falling peacefully on your head. Somewhere on the earth there is always an early spring. Do not believe in the darkness when the sun sets in the twilight. Somewhere on the earth there is always a sunrise. Ludvig Irgens Jensen: Dagvise (Morning song) Lyrics are by Arnulf Øverland (1889-1968). The song describes the human life from birth to death with emphasis on three stages: the youth, the prime of life, and the old age. I greet the early morning star in the south. I greet the early slow breeze in the leaves and the nature awakens. Oh, these new created moments. The long day of blessed work starts when everything that has a power in itself can develop into something great. If my duties are dull and tiresome I put all my efforts into them. Once I shall also greet the autumns evening fire and wait for those who will harvest my field, they own it. And when the hard autumn storms have destroyed all what I have made, then I welcome the quiet snow. Halfdan Kjerulf: Brudefærden (The bridal procession) Lyrics are by Andreas Munch (1811-84). The poem was written to a theatre performance in Oslo in 1849 and is inspired by a famous painting with the same title. Both the poem and the painting are considered as the main works of the national romantic period in Norway. Our choir was the first one to perform the song. There is blowing a scintillate summer breeze across the Hardanger fiord where the bluish mountains stretch into the sky. You can see the shimmering from the glacier, the green colour from the valley sides, the nature has put on its Sunday dress because a bridal procession of boats is gliding on the green waves. They go forward with happiness and joy and boat after boat join in with happy guests. From the church by the shore the guests are greeted with church bells. Halfdan Kjerulf: Norges Fjelde (The Mountains of Norway) Lyrics are by Henrik Wergeland (1808-45). Wergeland is considered as the greatest poet in Norway. Our choir`s first public appearance was in his funeral. The song has historic references to the Kalmar war and a battle in Kringen in Norway 1619 when the farmers defeated a Scottish battalion by making a slide consisting of timber and earth at a narrow part of the valley. The best defence of Norway are the old mountains where death is hiding in the caves. The beacons on the peaks are watching day and night. The slides await on the slope on the mountain and the farmers watch out whether they can loosen it upon the enemy. But he can see no enemy, so put your rifle away. Old bear hunter – empty a glass for the mountains! Interval Knut Nystedt: ( 1915 – 2014 ) I will praise Thee, o Lord Nystedt was one of the most important composers and conductors in Norway especially for choir music. He has conducted some of the best choirs in Norway. I will praise thee, O Lord my God with all my heart; and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (Psalms 86,12) Jean Sibelius: ( 1865 – 1957 ) Sortunut ääni (What has broken the power of song) Sibelius is the most famous Finnish composer with a large production also for choirs. He has also been an icon for Finnish independence. The lyrics are from a collection of folk poems called Kanteletar, collected by Elias Lönroth in 1840. What has broken the power of song, what has broken the sound of my voice, and condemned my song to silence? The song earlier flowed like a river, like a roaring current, rocking like the song of the sea. The sorrow has broken the power of song; the sorrow has destroyed my clear voice and taken my good voice. It does not flow like a river and is not like a roaring current and does not rock like the sea anymore. Carl Nielsen: ( 1865 – 1931 ) Aftenstemning (Evening) Lyrics are by Mathias Claudius (1740-1815) a German poet who lived south of the Danish border and who has written some old Danish songs. Translated into Danish by Carsten Hauch and Carl Nielsen composed the tune 1908. When the wood darkens the golden star twinkles in the sky clean and good. The nature demands its right and over the fields a white cloud of moisture floats by evening time. How peacefully the earth rests behind the veils of the night and smiles mild and summer warm like a quiet chamber where today`s troubles can be forgotten in your sleep. Andrew Smith: ( 1970 - ) Sonnet no. 130 Andrew Smith is a British composer, conductor, and organ player living in Oslo. The last 15 years he has mainly composed for choirs and vocal groups.