Birgitte Næslund Madsen (DK)
EXPLORING THE NORTH
- Voices: SSA(A)
- Age: 12-20y
- Difficulty: level C
In this atelier we will explore folklore music from the Nordic countries and emerge ourselves into the musical sounds and languages. Birgitte Næslund Madsen is ready to guide you on this trip to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland. The music from these countries is rich and varied, but just as the countries have close ties, so does also the music, which you might discover. You will attend a Norwegian wedding, ride an Icelandic horse (Raudi Riddarin by H.I. Thorsteinsson), dance in the Danish midsummer night on a beautiful arrangement of Uti vår hage and sing a Finnish yoik. For most of the pieces we will also add movements and choreographic elements.
It may sound like an dangerous adventure where we might get lost in lots of difficult lyrics in many different languages, but fear not! The folksong tradition sometimes have many lyrics but also some very singable parts consisting only of syllables.
Repertoire
| Rauði Riddarinn | Hreiðar Ingi Þorsteinsson |
| Velkomna med æra | Geirr Tveitt & Linn Andrea Fuglseth |
| Bruremarsj fra Våga | Folksong, arr. Tone Krohn & Birgitte Næslund Madsen |
| Urtegården | Folksong, arr. Birgitte Næslund Madsen |
| Pseudo-Yoik Lite | Jaakko Mäntyjärvi |
Conductor
Birgitte Næslund Madsen has degrees in Music and English and as a conductor she has specialised in choral work with children and young people. She is the founder of several junior and youth choirs, and today is the conductor of 5 choirs, among them EVE and Aarhus Girls Choir. Her interest in performance aspects has led her to work with the youth talent program at The Danish National Opera for several years and her broad interest in music is reflected in the choral repertoire for her groups, including genres such as contemporary, classical and folk music as well as pop music and improvised music. As a conductor, she also gives workshops for choral organizations in Denmark and abroad.
Video's
A linden tree stands on my father's land
Der star en lind i min faders gard is part of a trilogy of Danish folksongs arranged for EVE.
A deluge of angels
A Deluge of Angels was written for the Danish girls choir EVE to perform on the 50th anniversary of World Earth Day.
Ave generosa
Aarhus Pigekor performs Ave Generosa (Ola Gjeilo).
Let my beloved come into his garden
Let my beloved come into his garden is part of a trilogy. All the songs are connected to cherished love from the female perspective towards a lover, a role model and a child.
- In this atelier we will explore folklore music from the Nordic countries and emerge ourselves into the musical sounds and languages. Birgitte Næslund Madsen is ready to guide you on this trip to Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland.