The sea gives and takes. Since the beginning of time, this mysterious body of water has fascinated humanity. From the swell of the waves to the elusive depths, and from sailing ships to mythological creatures… the sea is also a recurring topos in the arts. So the Swedish male choir Lunds Studentsångare under the direction of Christian Schultze brings together a selection of choral works under the name Sea Fever.
The title of the album is taken from the composition of the same name by Amy Beach (1867-1944). Sea Fever, op.126 [track 06] takes a central place on the cd. In three verses the men sing their desire to hoist the sails and brave the sea once more. The powerful and dramatic musical language renders this desire brilliantly audible. The melody is simple but the rich harmonies give it color. After a harmonic and dynamic climax, calm returns and the sighing words of the sailors fade away.
The dramatic depths of the basses also come into their own in Pendant la tempête [track 08]. This work is by the only other female composer on this cd, none other than Lili Boulanger (1893-1918). The threatening storm that approaches brings fear to the sailors. The contrasting middle section is like a beacon of peace. The men pray but soon the unrest returns as the storm continues to rage. Boulanger knows how to subtly translate this whirlwind of emotions for three-part male choir and piano. With attention to textual expression and tone color
Perhaps the most subtle work on this cd is Mouyayoum [track 09] composed by Anders Hillborg (°1954). This work has no text but is instead a wordless sound cloud. This vocalise seems to render the weightless swaying on the spherical bed of the sea. The small, dense changes are reminiscent of the micropolyphony in Ligeti's Atmosphères. The mass or sound cloud grows as if it gradually moves towards the water surface before the mass eventually fades away and merges into the wind that glides across the water surface.
The combination of Hillborg's modernistic work with traditional sea shanties such as High Barbary [track 02] and romantic songs such as Mendelssohn's Wasserfahrt [track 04] makes this cd all the more appealing. In addition to a high technical level, the Swedish male choir Lunds Studentsångare thus demonstrates their versatile character.
4.5/5
- WHO: Lunds Studentsångare cond. Christian Schultze, Elisabeth Boström [piano], Leif Aruhn-Solén [soloist track 07]
- WHAT: Sea Fever
- LABEL: Swedish Society Discofil SCD1183 (under NAXOS)
- ORDER: JPC