Schola Cantorum - Jeremias` Klagesanger og Via Crucis

Various contemporary music for choir, performed by one of Norway's most talented choirs in the 70s, Schola Cantorum.

JEREMIAH'S KLAGESANGER (JEREMIAH'S LAMENTATIONS) was composed in 1973 and won 1st prize in a competition organized by the "Easter Festival in Oslo". The work is in four parts, and utilizes in addition to the soprano solo and women's choir, oboe, gong, glockenspiel and harpsichord.

Kjell Mørk Karlsen himself said that the instrumentation has been chosen to make the atmosphere of the work as "Eastern" as possible, but at the same time the collection of instruments, is felt to be in accord with the search for new sound combinations.

In the first part, Jeremias cries over Israel's sin, and this comes out through the lead singers plaintive vocalizations that chromatically revolve around tritone intervals. The use of gongs, scattered harpsichord chords and parallel fifths in the choir gives the impression of something ancient, while the static nature of the movement gives the impression of timelessness.

In the second part, Jeremiah complains that the Lord has in his wrath destroyed Israel. Here, the movement is characterized by a freely fabulating oboe that circles around tritone intervals with the help of minor seconds and major sevenths. An Ostiant motif from the choir as well as a deliberately primitive form of polyphony give the movement an Eastern and plaintive feel.

In the third part, Jeremias consoles himself with the thought that the Lord's mercy isn’t gone: "The Lord is good to those who seek him, to the soul that seeks him."

VIA CRUCIS

JON LAUKVIK was a new name in Norwegian church music. He was born in 1952 and after finishing his church music studies, had his organ debut in Oslo. He has also played the organ with Michael Schneider in Cologne. With "Via Crucis" Jon Laukvik presents himself for the first time as a composer. The work clearly bears the stamp of the organ virtuoso as well as great interest and familiarity of recent French organ music. The work had its premiere in St. Mary's Church's organ competition in 1975 and testifies to a Norwegian composer's talent.

"Via Crucis" is outwardly a variation on the chorale "The Lord Christ in the Band of Death". But the chorale steps into the background of what it is really meant to illuminate: the emotional experiences of the people who witnessed Jesus' suffering and death.

(Harald Herresthal)

Conductor: Margrethe Erikstad.

Recorded Grim Church. 

Produced by Per Inge Almås.

Only available digitally