Search - Norgard, Perkman, Athelas Sinfonietta :: Frostsalme / Singe Die Garten / Gaudet Mater

Sing My Heart Indeed!

Christopher Forbes | Brooklyn,, NY | 01/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is worth 6 stars for the first cut alone. Norgard's setting of this beautiful Rilke text is nearly overwhelming in it's loveliness. Add to that seven other pieces for a capella choir that range from the quirky to the sublime and you have a solid CD indeed. Norgard is the leading modern Danish composer of his generation. Steeped in the Danish tradition through his teacher, Vaghn Holmboe, Norgard threw off the overt trappings of that tradition in the 60's when he embraced the European avant-garde. However, he never embraced serialism whole heartedly and in the 70's adapted mathematical techniques related to "the infinity series" (something that seems somewhat akin to Fractal Geometry) to a lushly tonal language. you can hear traces of Ligeti in his use of sonority, but also kinship with Raautavara, Berio, and ultimately Nielsen. In the 80's he started to explore extremes of expression brought about by an interest in a schizophrenic Swiss artist and poet (who's name escapes me at the moment). The works on this disc come out of the 70's and 80's The choral writing is strong, lush and richly tonal. In this context, some of the extended vocal techniques used in Wie ein Kind sound just plain odd. That is probably the intended effect, however I can't help but feel that they spoil an otherwise lovely piece. The real beaut of the set is Singe die Garten, Mein Herz. This is a stunningly lovely work. Based on Norgard's Infinity series, the work seems to grow organicly from it's opening notes. The balances between voice and instruments are sublime. It's a piece that you don't want to end.Having introduced myself to Norgard through these pieces, I'm anxious to continue my aquaintance with the symphonies, especially No. 3. His sound world is one that I won't soon forget."