Composer

:

Ingvar Lidholm

Average_duration

:

2:38

Ingvar Lidholm's "Madonnas vaggvisa" is a choral work that was composed in 1952. The piece was premiered in Stockholm, Sweden, on December 14, 1952, by the Swedish Radio Choir under the direction of Eric Ericson. The work is divided into three movements, each with its own unique characteristics. The first movement, "Lugnt och stilla" (Calm and Quiet), is a serene and peaceful lullaby. The choir sings in unison, with a simple melody that is repeated throughout the movement. The harmonies are sparse, with only a few chords used to create a sense of tranquility. The text is a poem by Swedish author Pär Lagerkvist, which describes the Virgin Mary rocking her child to sleep. The second movement, "Sorgsen" (Sad), is a stark contrast to the first. The choir sings in a dissonant, atonal style, with jagged rhythms and harsh, angular melodies. The text is also by Lagerkvist, and describes the sorrow of Mary as she watches her son die on the cross. The music is intense and emotional, with the choir conveying the pain and anguish of the scene. The final movement, "Lugnt och stilla" (Calm and Quiet), returns to the peaceful lullaby of the first movement. However, this time the choir sings in a more complex, polyphonic style, with overlapping melodies and harmonies. The text is a repetition of the first movement's poem, but with a slight variation in the final line. Instead of "so sleep, my child, so sleep," the text now reads "so sleep, my child, so sleep, and dream of the day when you will rise again." This change in text adds a sense of hope and redemption to the piece, as the choir sings of the resurrection of Christ. Overall, "Madonnas vaggvisa" is a powerful and emotional work that showcases Lidholm's skill as a composer. The contrast between the peaceful lullaby and the intense sorrow of the crucifixion creates a sense of drama and tension, while the final movement's message of hope and redemption provides a satisfying conclusion to the piece.

More....