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Nu har Norsk Musikforlag publicerat de 13 psaltarpsalmer som ingår i Matteuspassionen som hade världspremiär förra året, den 3 april 2022 i Maria kyrka, Helsingborg. Psaltarpsalmerna är för blandad kör (SATB) med några få delningar. I utgåvan är det i arrangemang för piano. Originalet är för harpa, cello och slagverk.

Jag uppmärksammas denna vecka i Kyrkans Tidning med anledning av min nyss släppta självbiografi författad av Rasmus Dahlstedt. Dock felciterad: det jag verkligen sa och menade var: “att utan musiken känns det ofta lite fattigare”. Det där med nyanser ligger kanske mer för oss tonsättare…

(ur Kyrkomusikernas Tidning – nr.11 2022)

Here’s a snippet from the rehearsals on GLORIA which will be premiered in Kaiserslautern and Landau, Germany October 2nd& 3rd

October 8th is the release date of my biography called “Valv bakom valv oändligt” (Vault after vault endlessly) by the author Rasmus Dahlstedt. It’s in Swedish and includes also my complete work list for the first time. Over 300 works! It can be pre-ordered here and they ship it world wide.

The book is unique in the way it’s telling my story from early on until now. In a number of “scenes” the reader can take part of important moments in my life that have effected me as a composer and my artistic musical output. It will hopefully contribute to a greater knowledge and understanding of my music.

The book release will take place at Nacka Church, Stockholm, on 6 pm, October 8th starting with a concert, a composer’s portrait, followed by the book release. Read more about the event here!

On The 3rd of April the commissioned work: ST MATTHEW PASSION will have its world premier at St Mary Church, Helsingborg, Sweden. It’s my largest sacred work to this date and have a running time of 90 minutes. It’s scored for 6 soloists, mixed choir and orchestra as follows:

Christ – countertenor

Evangelist – solo quartet (SATB)

Mixed Choir

1 English Horn, 2 Bassoons, 2 Horns, 2 Trombones, Tuba

Harp, organ & Percussion

Strings (4+4+4+4+2)

I have focused on the fact that The Gospel of St Matthew is strongly connected to the Old Testament. It begins with a family saga connecting Jesus all the way back to Abraham and king David. The latter one is seen as the writer of The Book of Psalms. Therefore I have included 13 interludes which consists of verses from this song book commentating the passion story as it unfolds. I also use the scales from the Jewish traditions and the Harp has its special role to play related to king David. The role of Jesus Christ is sung by a countertenor. The reason for this is to make it possible to show the duality of Christ as being both a true human as the Son of God. When Jesus is doubting and showing truly human weakness the solist uses his own original voice, when he is singing with the authority as being God’s only Son he uses his divine countertenor voice. It’s the first time this has been done in a passion. The work also begins with Jesus singing his prophesy of what is about to take place: that he will suffer and be crucified. The same text from St Matthew will return at the end but then also with the final sentence that was left out in the beginning: “and he will after 3 days rise again!”

The Passion is in the Swedish language. Maria Oratorio Choir with soloists and members of Helsingborg’s Symphony orchestra conducted by the former director of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus: Ragnar Bohlin.

You can watch the live-concert with Erik Westberg Vocal ensemble, soloists and Lars Nilsson, organ. Sunday February 27th 7 pm

https://acusticumplay.se/?fbclid=IwAR0cx2vG6yP2ERd3nuDmMcpBlAR-goRCf7Bixz4ekJMhR5-oUtRHBkzbtDg

My piece “There is no rose of such vertu” is represented on the famous international choral conductor’s competition Rudolf Gandoli in Parma, Italy

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Two brand new recordings with a really fine Norwegian ensemble called Bragernes Youth choir and are available on different platforms, among them Spotify:

Rejoice! – SSAA-choir, trumpet and organ

God we praise Thee – SSAA-choir and piano