For a disc of such
interesting music, the booklet notes
are painfully sparse and do little to
help us understand the composers, their
music, or even their connection with
the Norbotten Chamber Orchestra. The
only obvious link is that all the works
presented here were commissioned by
same. Thus, we are left to hear the
music, judge it on its sound alone and
come up with our own ideas about its
merits or detractions. On the whole,
these works speak very well for themselves,
and in spite of the scant information
provided, this recording gives us a
pleasant hour of rather interesting
if somewhat conservative new music.
Jan Sandström’s
Brian Eno-esque setting of Praetorius’s
famous Christmas carol gets this program
off to a rather new-agey start. The
ambiguous rhythms and dreamy harmonies
are reminiscent of the aforementioned
Mr. Eno’s treatment of Pachelbel’s Canon
from his ambient days in the seventies.
Fredrik Högberg’s
Music for Strings is an object
lesson in contrasts. The outer movements
are far more rhythmic and energetic
in tone, and considerably more jarringly
dissonant. The slow and rather lush
middle section sounds like the kind
of tormented film music one might encounter
in a psychodrama, the kind that intensifies
a dramatic scene by its subtle but very
real building of tension and release.
Anders Hultqvist
contributes a rather fascinating
study in effects with The queen went
into the parlour eating bread and honey.
Tonally ambiguous, this work makes
very effective use of col legno (playing
with the wood of the bow on the string)
and of very high harmonics. At times
rhythmic, at others eerie, this piece
is memorable for the composer’s ability
to get unusual sounds out of the orchestra.
Without question, the
highlight of this program is Jan
Ferm’s Norbotten Rhapsody. A
marvelously worked out piece, the addition
of a strong folk element, ably and even
masterfully played by the folk group
called J.P. Nyströms, this composition
combines both classical and popular
elements for a simply delightful result.
The longest work here, it holds the
listener’s attention from beginning
to end, and the colorful surprises that
are added in by the folk band are simply
wonderful. This piece alone justifies
the purchase.
Two works by Bo
Nilsson round out the concert. One
is a delightful set of miniatures, and
the other, an expressive miniature tone
poem about the Arctic that certainly
sets the right tone and mood.
Overall this is a worthy
effort, and an excellent testament to
the musical efforts of the good folk
up in Norbotten. Long may they live!
Recommended.
Kevin Sutton
Norbotten Chamber Orchestra/Petter Sundqvist
