LIGHT OF LIGHT – BRIGHT, SHIMMERING
for children’s choir and chamber orchestra
Children’s voices and symphony orchestra – what en exciting combination!
It should give oportunity to a wonderfully bright and intense timbre.
This was my first thought. But also characterwise I wanted to do something bright and filled with hope, a Song of Praise. A praise to the wonderfulness in our existence, to life, to nature.
The child’s voice has lots of spesific qualities in expression and sound that is incomparable with anything. There is an inspiration of traditional folkmusic; in the melodic and ornamental phrases and even in the voice technique. The characteristics are a clear use of chest voice and a sort of shouting voice called “kulning”.
The texts are collected from the Swedish book of Psalms..
Throughout the times, some of our greatest poets have created some of the lyrics for the psalms with an unfailing perception of the language’s potential of melody, a fine sense of simplicity and beauty.
Karin Rehnqvist,
Texts:
1.
Gently o’er the earth the sky
Sends its rays of light to cry
Shining close to God on high
Sun eternal our reply
Slowly, kindly seeking wisdom
My heart opens to the Lord
Taking in his hidden word.
The sun ascends all robed in light
To paint the heavens gold.
She climbs the cliffs and shines so bright
Reflects on young and old.
She rises from the distant west
Where Paradise once lay
She shines upon the children best
Her splendid light each day.
She’s glorious,
She’s glorious now…
Light of Light – Bright, Shimmering is a piece of its own, derived from the longer Light of Light.
