Nils Schweckendiek - Spring Will Come - Import CD

Credits:

Nils Schweckendiek

Description:

A rare collection of choral works from the Grand Duchy of Finland, composed during the period from 1809 to 1917—when Finland was a grand duchy under Russian rule— and written in the late Romantic style, which gradually fell into obscurity as the music of Sibelius and National Romanticism became the mainstream This album follows the Helsinki Chamber Choir and Artistic Director Nils Schwekendick’s *The Choral Works of Erik Berman, 1936–2000* (BIS2252) and *Rejoice and Be Glad!—A Finnish Christmas* (BISSA2322). These choral works, composed during the period from 1809 to 1917 when Finland was a Grand Duchy under Russian rule, belong to the late Romantic style that gradually fell into obscurity as the music of Sibelius and National Romanticism became the mainstream. The theme of the album is “Spring.” It draws a parallel between the “Finnish Spring”—liberation from the “Winter Period” as an autonomous territory of the Russian Empire—and the musical works themselves. The album features *Spring Morning* by Persius, who composed the Finnish national anthem; *Blessed Be Thou, O Noble North!* by Kruusel, known for his clarinet concerto and quartet; *The Waiter* and *Revenge* by Karl Johan Mörling, who founded the mixed-voice choir “Sylvia Club”; *Song of the Harvesters* by Gabriel Linsén and *To the Singing Bird* by Henrik Bolenius, both of whom sang in Mörling’s choir; “The Girl Joins the Dance Circle,” a folk song arrangement by Martin Wegelius, who founded the Helsinki Music School (now the Sibelius Academy at the University of the Arts Helsinki), and three pieces by Melartin, who succeeded him as director. To recreate these popular songs in the style of the era, the lyrics were replaced with Finnish ones amid the ongoing process of “Finnishization”; with the exception of a few songs, the original Swedish and German poems are sung. Since the sheet music with the original poems could not be found for Ehlström’s “The Swan” and Kolla’s “Morning Song,” the lyrics were reconstructed from the Finnish versions into Swedish and German, respectively. For Borenius’s “To the Singing Bird,” since Topelius’s poem was lost, the sheet music with the Finnish lyrics from the first published edition was used. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Aamulla, song for chorus
2.Morgenlied, for chorus
3.Laulajaparille, song for chorus
4.Den Vantande, for chorus
5.Hamnden, song for chorus
6.Hell Dig, Du Hoga Nord!, song for chorus
7.In Vernali Tempore, for chorus
8.Varmorgonen, song for chorus
9.Iltalaulu, song for chorus
10.Svanen, song for chorus
11.Serenad, for chorus
12.Iloa Ja Surua, folk song for chorus
13.Metsassa, song for chorus
14.Punkaharjun Laulutytto, song for chorus
15.Kevatyhtion Polska, for chorus
16.Och Jungfrun Hon Gar I Dansen, song for chorus
17.Hiljaa!, song for chorus
18.Nain Unta Kesasta Kerran, song for chorus
19.Ins Stille Land, song for chorus
20.Orpo Ja Lintu, song for chorus