Notes and Editorial Reviews
LUNDBY-JÆGER
Offertorium.
1
7 Stages to 3 Chinese Texts.
1
Trio in 2 Movements. Elements in 3 Movements. 3 Songs
•
Danish C Players; Helene Gjerris (mez)
1
•
da capo 8.226533 (64:47
Text and Translation)
What
does
a composer do these days? When there are no limits, where does
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one go, how does one get there, how does one know one has arrived there? Is there even a “there” there? The Danish composer, Bo Lundby-Jæger (b. 1964), has approached this problem mostly through the composition of highly controlled chamber music, including a chamber opera,
Orfeus Remix
(2007). Though he does not have a prodigious output, this conspectus of a decade (1996–2006) reveals a fairly consistent modernist style, often combining standard forces.
Elements
, for instance, is essentially a three-movement flute sonata, while
Three Songs
is a kind of violin sonata with new playing techniques (bent notes for the flute). In the sense of using traditional materials and forces only, this music is conservative.
To judge by the newest piece on this disc,
Three Songs
(2006), Lundby-Jæger has been simplifying his materials. This piece is less frantic than
Elements
(1998). This is partly due to a considerable scaling-down of the piano part from the earlier piece. The often-angry, slashing, piano in
Elements
is generally more subdued and has more of an accompanying role in the later piece. In fact, the annotator, Henrik Friis, even suggests an incipient Romanticism here.
Offertorium
(1997), for mezzo-soprano, violin, percussion, and piano, uses verses from Psalms 121 and 39 for its text (the booklet misses the first). This is a fine piece, and Helene Gjerris sings it with tender feeling. I would like to hear it in a church service sometime. Mercifully,
Seven Stages to Three Chinese Texts
(1996–2005) does not attempt to pretend it is Chinese, though it uses Chinese texts translated into Danish. This piece has a clear movement from one “stage” to another and, I would guess, works well in a concert.
Lundby-Jæger is also an organist, and recent larger works have led him to combine organ with electronic music, and he has also recently done a sound-installation in Copenhagen. It is not clear from this disc where his music is going, but the compositions here evidence skill and a clear voice. It will be interesting to see if there is a “there” there.
FANFARE: Alan Swanson
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Works on This Recording
1.
Offertorium by Bo Lundby Jaeger
Performer:
Helene Gjerris (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish Chamber Players
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1997
Length: 9 Minutes 13 Secs.
2.
7 Stages to 3 Chinese Texts by Bo Lundby Jaeger
Performer:
Helene Gjerris (Mezzo Soprano)
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish Chamber Players
Length: 12 Minutes 9 Secs.
3.
Trio in Two Movements for Clarinet, Cello and Piano by Bo Lundby Jaeger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish Chamber Players
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1996
Length: 11 Minutes 18 Secs.
4.
Elements in 3 Movements by Bo Lundby Jaeger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish Chamber Players
Period: 20th Century
Written: 1996
Length: 15 Minutes 22 Secs.
5.
Songs (3) for Violin and Piano by Bo Lundby Jaeger
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Danish Chamber Players
Written: 2006
Length: 16 Minutes 21 Secs.
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