Dive into the enchanting and mysterious world of Per Nørgård's "Lygtemaendene tager til byen" (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town) and Bent Sørensen's "Den lille havfrue" (The Little Mermaid) in this captivating 2006 release from Dacapo Records. This album is a mesmerizing blend of neoclassical and avant-garde compositions that will intrigue and delight fans of innovative and thought-provoking music.
Per Nørgård's "Lygtemaendene tager til byen" is a dramatic and engaging work, divided into ten scenes, each telling a part of a larger, eerie narrative. The story, narrated through a chorus, various characters, and the will-o'-the-wisps themselves, is a haunting exploration of folklore and the supernatural. The piece is known for its intricate composition and the way it weaves together different voices and instruments to create a rich, atmospheric soundscape.
Complementing Nørgård's work is Bent Sørensen's "Den lille havfrue," a three-movement piece inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's famous fairy tale. Sørensen's composition is a beautiful and evocative exploration of the story's themes, with the chorus, soprano, and tenor voices combining to create a sense of longing, tragedy, and hope.
The album features the talented performers Thomas Dausgaard, DR SymfoniOrkestret, and a cast of skilled vocalists, including Henning-Jensen, Kihlberg, Gjerris, and Jensen. Their performances bring Nørgård and Sørensen's compositions to life, adding depth and nuance to the already rich and complex pieces.
With a total runtime of just over an hour, this album is a substantial and rewarding listen, offering a deep dive into the worlds created by Nørgård and Sørensen. Whether you're a fan of neoclassical music, avant-garde compositions, or simply appreciate well-crafted and engaging storytelling through music, this album is sure to captivate and inspire.
2006 Dacapo2006 Dacapo
Tracks
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Prolog (Prologue) (Chorus, The Woman, The Man)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 1, "Manden som vidste eventyr" (The Man Who Knew Fairy Tales) (Narrator, The Woman, Chorus)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 2, "Eventyrjagt og skumringstime" (Fairy Tale Hunt and Twilight Hour) (Narrator, Chorus, Marsh Witch)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 3, "Konen der kiggede ind - i 1. sals hojde" (The Woman Who Peered in - Upstairs) (Narrator, Marsh WItch)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 4, "En dyster invitation, 'Kom med'" (An Ominous Invitation, 'Come join us') (Marsh Witch, Chorus)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 5, "Indbrud fra virkeligheden, 'Sa vagn da op, mand'" (A Break-in from Reality, 'Wake up, will you?') (Marsh Witch, Chorus)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 6, "Mosekonens beretning" (The Marsh Witch's Account) (Narrator, Marsh Witch, Will-o'-the-Wisps)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 7, "Da manen stod pa slem" (When the Moon Boded Ill) (Marsh Witch, Narrator, Will-o'-the-Wisps)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 8, "Sa er de her" (Here They Are now) (Will-o'-the-Wisps, Chorus, Children's Chorus, Marsh Witch, The Man, The Woman)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 9, "(U-)morale" (Moral (not!)) (Will-o'-the-Wisps, The Woman, The Man, Narrator)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Scene 10, "Rapport fra eventyrland" (Report from a Fairy-tale Land) (Marsh Witch, Narrator)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town): Epilog (Epilogue) (Chorus, The Woman, The Man)Per Nørgård, Inger Dam-Jensen, Ylva Kihlberg, Helene Gjerris, Gert Henning-Jensen, Bo Kristian Jensen, Jens Albinus, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Children's Choir, Danish National Junior Choir, Sol og Mane, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Den lille havfrue (The Little Mermaid): I. Stormen (The Storm) (chorus, soprano, tenor)Bent Sørensen, Inger Dam-Jensen, Gert Henning-Jensen, Danish National Girls Choir, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Den lille havfrue (The Little Mermaid): II. Stilheden (The Silence) (chorus, soprano, tenor)Bent Sørensen, Inger Dam-Jensen, Gert Henning-Jensen, Danish National Girls Choir, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Den lille havfrue (The Little Mermaid): III. Festen (The Celebration) (chorus, soprano, tenor)Bent Sørensen, Inger Dam-Jensen, Gert Henning-Jensen, Danish National Girls Choir, Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard
Vinylscout
