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Located in the USA
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- Per Nørgård
Libra (integral version) (1973)
(Libra)- Edition Wilhelm Hansen Copenhagen (World)
- 2vib.gtr [Wind Instrument ad lib.]
- 2 choirs
- Tenor
- 30 min
- Rudolf Steiner & David the Psalmist
Programme Note
LIBRA (1973) – for tenor-solo, guitar, 2 mixed choirs, two vibraphones
(and other instruments ad lib.)
LIBRA was originally a commission-work for guitar, but during the compositional process a vocal part was liberated from the musical material, a part that could be provided with words from the Rudolf Steiner´s poem “Libra”. Gradually two choruses and ten movements were created around this part and texts from David´s Psalms were added.
LIBRA is a characteristic example of my “hierarchical music” works: Slow and rapid versions of the same melodies, series of accords are coupled in continuously new constellations but always based in harmony, as expressed in Steiner's poem “Die Welt erhaltet welten" (“The world contains worlds”). David Psalms (sung in German) are also included in the work.
Die Welt erhalten Welten.
In Wesen erlebt sich Wesen.
Im Sein umschließt sich Sein.
Und Wesen erwirket Wesen
Zu werdendem Tatergießen,
in ruhenden Weltgenießen.
O Welten, traget Welten.
(Rudolf Steiner, „12 Stimmungen” (in „Wahrspruchworte”, Dornach 1969)
Hör mein Beten, wenn ich rufe
Du mein viel gerechter Gott,
in Drangsal schaffest Du mir Raum.
Sei mir gnädig und höre mich.
(David-Psalm 4:2)
Singet dem Gotte ein neues Lied,
singet dem Herrn alle Welt!
Singet dem Gotte, lobet ihn
Und singt die Erdlösung jeden Tag.
(David-Psalm 96:1-2)
Lobt den Herren, Ihr Seine Engel!
Ihr, die Herrlichen an Kraft.
Ihr hört auf Sein geringstes Wort,
gleich Sein Wort zur Erde niederschallt.
(David-Psalm 103:20)
Lobt Ihn, Ihr Himmel der Himmel
Und Wasser hoch über ihm!
Sie singen Seines Namens Lob!
Da Er sprach, so wurden die Gestalt.
(David-Psalm 148:4-5)
From this, one hour long, integral version it is possible, from the score, to design other versions for other instrument combinations and of shorter duration, for instance: for Tenore, Guitar, or for Tenor, Guitar and (Psal-) Choir (movement 1-2-4-5-8, ending with mov. 6), or for 2 (Mixed) Choirs, 2 Vibraphones (movement 2-5-7).
Per Nørgård
(and other instruments ad lib.)
LIBRA was originally a commission-work for guitar, but during the compositional process a vocal part was liberated from the musical material, a part that could be provided with words from the Rudolf Steiner´s poem “Libra”. Gradually two choruses and ten movements were created around this part and texts from David´s Psalms were added.
LIBRA is a characteristic example of my “hierarchical music” works: Slow and rapid versions of the same melodies, series of accords are coupled in continuously new constellations but always based in harmony, as expressed in Steiner's poem “Die Welt erhaltet welten" (“The world contains worlds”). David Psalms (sung in German) are also included in the work.
Die Welt erhalten Welten.
In Wesen erlebt sich Wesen.
Im Sein umschließt sich Sein.
Und Wesen erwirket Wesen
Zu werdendem Tatergießen,
in ruhenden Weltgenießen.
O Welten, traget Welten.
(Rudolf Steiner, „12 Stimmungen” (in „Wahrspruchworte”, Dornach 1969)
Hör mein Beten, wenn ich rufe
Du mein viel gerechter Gott,
in Drangsal schaffest Du mir Raum.
Sei mir gnädig und höre mich.
(David-Psalm 4:2)
Singet dem Gotte ein neues Lied,
singet dem Herrn alle Welt!
Singet dem Gotte, lobet ihn
Und singt die Erdlösung jeden Tag.
(David-Psalm 96:1-2)
Lobt den Herren, Ihr Seine Engel!
Ihr, die Herrlichen an Kraft.
Ihr hört auf Sein geringstes Wort,
gleich Sein Wort zur Erde niederschallt.
(David-Psalm 103:20)
Lobt Ihn, Ihr Himmel der Himmel
Und Wasser hoch über ihm!
Sie singen Seines Namens Lob!
Da Er sprach, so wurden die Gestalt.
(David-Psalm 148:4-5)
From this, one hour long, integral version it is possible, from the score, to design other versions for other instrument combinations and of shorter duration, for instance: for Tenore, Guitar, or for Tenor, Guitar and (Psal-) Choir (movement 1-2-4-5-8, ending with mov. 6), or for 2 (Mixed) Choirs, 2 Vibraphones (movement 2-5-7).
Per Nørgård