On April 10, Ørjan Matre’s new work for choir and orchestra Memento receives its world premiere in Tromsø, Norway. Renowned Norwegian conductor Grete Pedersen is directing the Norwegian Soloist’s Choir and the Arctic Philharmonic.
Memento revolves around themes of transience and memory, explored through text, archival recordings, and music. It is based on the biblical text “Memento homo, quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris” ("Remember, human, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return") which is often used in liturgies around Ash Wednesday. The musicians are positioned in galleries and among the audience which creates an immersive sound experience where unsettling signals and comforting tones move through the space. A recording of Ola M. Vanberg (1869–1968) from Stryn is played, featuring him singing the religious folk tune "Alt forvandles skal til støv" ("All shall turn to dust"). The choral music never directly quotes this melody but reflects its contours and harmonic colors, creating a subtle link between tradition and innovation, between the transient and the timeless.
For more information see The Norwegian Soloist’s Choir.
