I am trying not to be too effusive here, because this music (and its singing) had a considerable emotional effect for me. Charles Bruffy’s vastly-experienced direction is as usual sensitive and technically assured. “The Phoenix Chorale are on top form here, clearly fully at home with their new composer’s music and delighting in every magnetic moment. It has just the right creamy sound for this music and I cannot imagine it sounding better.” – Fanfare “The Phoenix Chorale is a wonderful ensemble. Click here to read the album booklet here for more information about this CD. Northern Lights includes five world premiere recordings and three pieces which were either commissioned, composed, or dedicated to the Phoenix Chorale. Performed by Charles Bruffy and the Phoenix Chorale, the recording also features The Harrington String Quartet, saxophonist Ted Belledin and the composer himself, Ola Gjeilo, on piano. You can listen to a recording of “Northern Lights” here.Chandos released the first recording of choral works by Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo (Yay-lo), titled Northern Lights: Choral Works by Ola Gjeilo on February 28, 2012. It reminds me that it is wholly unnecessary to be in a religious building to have a deeply spiritual experience. He realised that they have such a powerful, electric quality that must have been both mesmerising and terrifying to people in the past, when no one knew what the lights were, and when munch superstition was attached to these experiences. This is one of the most beautiful natural phenomena that he has ever witnessed. The “terrible beauty” reminded him of the Aurora Borealis. This music came to him as he gazed out of an attic window one Christmas, close to Oslo over a wintry lake under the stars, pondering on the text. In the cover notes, Gjeilo writes that “Northern Lights” is about beauty – a “terrible”, powerful beauty, although the music is quite serene on the surface.
Sweet and beautiful daughter of Jerusalem, Suavis et decora filia Jerusalem, Pulchra es amica mea,
The text is in Latin, taken from the Song of Solomon: Pulchra es amica mea, Other groups at our hotel had been travelling to Lapland for years in the hope of seeing the Lights, but never had.Ī couple of months ago at a Manchester Chorale rehearsal, “Northern Lights” was given out. We had gone for the snow, but were treated to the Aurora Borealis.
We had to be fully present to witness the wonder. It happened again the next night, and the night after that. Flames of pink, green and white danced across the sky for over 40 minutes in an overwhelming Heavenly pyrotechnic display. When word spread around the hotel that the Lights were displaying, we wrapped up and headed out. The days were clear but bitterly cold – the “warmest” was -28’C! The nights were clear and colder, to the extent that our eyelashes froze. Instead there is an eery golden glow that migrates from the east to the west during the very short day. We were there during the winter solstice, during which the sun never rises above the horizon. I was in Saariselka, Lapland, deep inside the Arctic Circle on a ski trip with a large group from Ski Rossendale. In January 2017 I had the enormous good fortune to witness the Northern Lights not just once, but on three consecutive nights.
However, due to a misunderstanding it missed the deadline. This article was intended for publication in the August 2018 issue of our parish magazine.
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