Song of Solomon
for 2 soloists (soprano and baritone), mixed choir and orchestra
Orchestration
2 voices(SBar), choir(SATB), orch: 2(2)-2(1)-2(1)-1 2-2-0-0 timp perc org str
Duration
40 minutes
First performance /Commissioned by
First performance in Korskirken in Bergen, 2010
Commissioned by Collegium Musicum
Press
"Song of Solomon, the most poetic of all the books of the Bible, has rarely been explored by composers, but in Norway Knut Nystedt and Knut Vaage have created unique works that explore the rich symbolism of the text and the metamorphoses of love." "Vaage's music takes the poem's repetitions as its starting point and creates a mosaic of modern tones, inspired by oriental sounds. He ties together the poetic sections of the text and the more dramatic elements, and gives the work a uniform timbre." "Song of Solomon, placed in the Bible, explores the transformations of love without a clear external action. Vaage's musical interpretation closely follows the movements of the text, creates an atmosphere of archaic-oriental beauty, and gives listeners the opportunity to rediscover the poetic drama."
