The sea gives and takes. Since the beginning of time, this mysterious body of water has fascinated humanity. From the sway of the waves to the elusive depths, and from sailing ships to mythological creatures… the sea is also a recurring topos in the arts. 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] receives a central place on the cd. In three verses, the men sing their desire to hoist the sails and once again brave the sea. The powerful and dramatic musical language brings this desire to life brilliantly. 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 calm. The men pray but soon the unrest returns as the storm continues to rage. Boulanger manages to subtly translate this whirlwind of emotions for three-part male choir and piano. With attention to text expression and timbre
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 vocalize seems to translate weightlessly drifting on the spherical depths 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 is simultaneously moving toward the water surface before the mass finally dies out and merges into the wind that glides over the water surface.
The combination of Hillborg's modernist 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 attractive. In addition to a high technical level, the Swedish male choir Lunds Studentsångare thereby displays their versatile character.
4.5/5
- WHO: Lunds Studentsångare conducted by Christian Schultze, Elisabeth Boström [piano], Leif Aruhn-Solén [soloist track 07]
- WHAT: Sea Fever
- RELEASED: Swedish Society Discofil SCD1183 (under NAXOS)
- ORDER: JPC