current performances:
THE TESTIMONY OF MELANGELL

8 performers - duration 1 hour

fotomusic:
Hanne Tofte Jespersen
© 2011

 

 

 

text:
Mike Harris © 1989
 

 

Bent-Erik Rasmussen, general secretary of the Franz Schubert Society Denmark says about Hanne Tofte Jespersen's music after the premiere of The Testimony of Melangell during the Schubertiade 2011:

 

"- She makes use of individual singers both as soloists and in solochoral parts in a most refined way, letting them appear with simple clarity, but at the same time in very refined coherence with the text. The way the accompanying instrumental parts are composed also relies on a very thorough knowledge of the potential of the instruments - and of the musicians - as to expression, without ever falling into the pitfall of pastiche or stylistic imbalance."

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for mezzo alto, bass baritone, soprano and tenor,
violin, contrabass, piano, recital and percussion.

2 VERSIONS possible:

1) as total artwork staged in visual artist
Alison Michell's scenography

2) as concert performance

LISTEN...

 

4 of the movements may also be performed
together with mixed choir (SATB).
In 2010 Music for the Mysteries did a project with Faroese choir singers during the festival Summartónar at the Faroe Islands.
read more .....
 
LISTEN to version of 7.movement with choir from the Summartónar festival 2010:
7.sats A time before fear

 

OTHER CURRENT WORKS:

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"The Seven Natures" combines music from 2007 to a chapter of the Creation Myth
according to Enoch
with a Celtic manus by Mike Harris (UK)
LISTEN...
read lyrics...
"Vision of Enoch" - scroll text of Essene origin, that is more than two thousand years old, yet so modern in its poetic clarity, is set into a music which bridges past-present-future. It includes 2 balaphones, that is Ghanaian xylophones, which Hanne has combined with a lyric theme for contrabass and scordatura violin
LISTEN...
read lyrics...

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fotoThe programme  also includes two works by Anders Hvidberg-Hansen, Danish composer and percussionist.

His transparent music reflects years of world music inspiration paired with a deep interest in ancient rhythms and what could be termed “Nordic tone”.

LISTEN to iINSTRUMENTAL MUSIC by Anders

LISTEN to VOCAL MUSIC by Anders

Swedish born singer Agnethe Christensen adds medieval songs which she performs solo with cantele. These include liturgical angelic songs from 12th century.

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The group has also arranged medieval magical ballads of folkloric origin -
some for two voices, cantele, violin and others for the whole group.

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photo from performance of the group's version of "Tam Lin" at Malergården, Odsherred's Art Museum

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