Five Vignettes from Norwegian Nature: IV. The Midnight Sun (Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano)

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Clavier Classics

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Published on January 7, 2015 1:53:28 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVCMFyV9GOU

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Vignettes (2017)

Duration: 3:42

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A newly composed sonata (2014) for Alto Saxophone and Piano, by Nikolai Clavier. Here performed using viola in stead of saxophone. Still looking forward to the first full performance with alto saxophone.

The sonata is narrative and paints the scenery of Norwegian nature in five short movements:

I. Views over the Fjord
II. Winter scenery
III. Nora at the farm
IV. The Midnight Sun over the Finnmark Highlands
V. Autumn rain at the southern coast


The fourth movement, "Middnattsol på Finnmarksvidda", is based on the following program:

This long and emotionally loaded movement contains two melodies brought in from external sources. Yet, only one of them is a traditional folk song. The second is a religious chant over religious texts. This opening melody is a prayer from the Bahá’í Writings and is sung by the saxophone alone on a mountain plateau:

"Jeg bevitner, o min Gud, at du har skapt meg for å kjenne deg og tilbe deg. Jeg vitner i denne stund om min maktesløshet og din styrke, om min fattigdom og din rikdom. Der er ingen annen Gud enn deg, hjelperen i fare, den selvbestående."

The middle part is a yoik sung by Per Henderak Haetta and is called ”Hanas Ande”, which is the Sami word for the midnight sun.

"Middnattssolen, alililililaae,
Golililiie, gololololooe"

...

Viola: Nikolai Clavier
Piano: Marit Bjerkreim

For more information and contact: https://www.clavierclassics.com

Score is available on website.

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