Description
Skærur Vindur
Sunleif Rasmussen’s music is very expressive. Usually it is related to nature, and probably for this reason his works are often described as “a piece of nature”. Sunleif has accomplished a lot already, his principal pieces being 1. strúkikvartett (1st string quartet) (1989-90), The Naked Destruction (1990) for flute and chamber ensemble, Grave, in memoriam Karsten Hoydal (1990) for 22 strings, clarinette and percussion, Tid, ild, baglæns (The Backward Flow of Fire and Time) (1991-92) for 12 singers, mezzo soprano solo and tape recorder, Landið (The Land) (1992-93) for soprano and orchestra, and Eitt ljós er kveikt (A Light has been Lit) (1993) for organ and tape recorder. Some of his most recent works to be mentioned are the windinstrument quintet Cantus Borealis (1995) and Tilegnelse (Dedication) (1995) for mezzo soprano and chamber ensemble. In the summer of 1997 Sunleif’s first symphony will be performed for the first time, a work commissioned by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Nordic House in the Faroes.
This album presents an anthology of choral pieces. The composer has made a selection according to the quality and difficulty of the pieces, ie. some may be sung by amateurs, some by skilled amateurs and again others by professionals. The works fall into two main groups: more traditional compositions with harmonized melody, and works in which the parts are equally important.
Sig mær, hví er foldin føgur, Syngjandi grót og Sóljurnar og náttin are all melodies composed in a more or less traditional manner having beginning, climax and end that have been arranged for choir. Blátt and Kvøldvísa um summarmála are small compositions with plain musical language.
Tracklist:
1. Sig mær, hví er foldin føgur
2. Kvøldvísa um summarmála
3. Syngjandi grót
4. Sóljurnar og náttin
5. Blátt
6. Fyrsti sálmur Dávids
7. Vár
8. Skærur vindur
9. Tid, ild, baglæns
Total length: 45:45
Released on the following formats:
LP, CD and digitally on all major platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.).
You can check it out by using this link: https://bfan.link/skaerur-vindur
1. Sig mær, hví er foldin føgur
1. Sig mær, hví er foldin føgur
Words: Karsten Hoydal
Music: Sunleif Rasmussen
Translation: Jette and Gunnar Hoydal
Sig mær, hví er foldin føgur, hví er ljósagrønur bøur, tá ið summarsól sær heitt?
Hví í tøgn man blóma mæla, hví man eingin urtin tala? Harrin hevur deyðum veitt sælan frið og leiðir leitt.
Hvat kann vakrari tær fjala, tá tú liðugur ert at tala og tá deyðin nemur teg, enn tær blómur, smáar, rættar, sum á foldum standa tættar, lið um lið og níga seg fram við deyðans dapra veg.
Tell Me Why the World is Pretty
Tell me why the world is pretty, fields all green outside the city. when the summer’s sun is bright, why in silence flowers sing, why no sounds from herbs do ring. God has given death its might, restful peace to lead us right.
What more lovely as a blanket, when you finished have life’s banquet and when death puts out his hand, than the many simple flowers bending softly to the powers of the wind along the land, path to darkness where they stand.
2. Kvøldvísa um summarmála
Words: Karsten Hoydal
Music: Sunleif Rasmussen
Translation: Jette and Gunnar Hoydal
Yvir royðufjallið stavar bláhvíta ljósið frá nýmána bleikum á brá.
Út fyri brúnari fjøru vestfallið spælir í lognini ljósu á hørpu í djúpum sjógv,
hørpu sum leikar undir várkvølds slørdansi dapurt og glaðlynt í senn.
Moldin døkka sum goymir lík av týndum blómum blómum sum hond tín nam frísk.
Aftur er hon fjálg
og skýming fellur á eygu kvøldsins
og onnur bláari eygu
handan fyri horvin vár
verða til eitt, renna saman kvøldið
og mynd tín still og vøkur sum eitt minni
rein og hvít sum ein bøn.
Evening Tune in April
Blue-white light is falling
on the redstone mountain
from the new moon’s pale complexion.
Off the darkish brown shoreline
in the shining calm
the currents are playing
on harps in the deep, deep sea harps played so lightly
under the springtime dance of veils in sadness mingled with joy.
Soil so black is now hiding corpses of withered flowers
flowers once touched by your hand soil again so mild and fresh.
Twilight falls on the eyes of the evening and other eyes beyond springs gone by unite, melt into one
the evening and your image calm and lovely like a memory pure and white as a prayer.
3. Syngjandi grót
Words: Karsten Hoydal
Music: Sunleif Rasmussen
Translation: Jette and Gunnar Hoydal
Meðan tú bíðar tolin og tómur, dvølur í tøgn sum sáōkyknan rein, syngjandi fuglar og grøs og blómur fjølgast í lívd við gráan stein.
Røkkur himin at vátum gróti, sólbjørt glæman úr hellu slær, heimurin skínur tær undir fóti, sólin úr deyðum fær aftursvar.
Ótolið bróstið stendur á tambi, búgvið við máli, alspent hvør spong,
– hevði nú niðan at hægsta kambi grótið vaknað og skorið í song. –
Loysir tú tøgn, fært steinin at svara, eigur tín songur anda og mót,
tá kanst tú laða ein livandi varða: fuglar blómur og og syngjandi grót.
Singing Rocks
While you are waiting patient and empty, dwelling in silence, a seed on your own, birds and the grass and flowers in plenty gather for rest by the sheltering stone.
Sky and water and rock combining glittering strokes from the stony ground, under your feet the world is shining, flashes of sun make all dead things resound.
Deep in your chest the hidden fountains ready and ripe for language and tongue,
– if from the shore to the highest mountains stones could wake up and burst into song.
If but your song has force and entices tones to give answer and silence unlocks, then from your hands a living cairn rises: Birds and flowers and singing rocks.
3. Sóljurnar og náttin
Words: Karsten Hoydal
Music: Sunleif Rasmussen
Translation: Jette and Gunnar Hoydal
Millum sóljukoppar
rann hvør kovi fullur
av tí bláu nátt.
Nú er tímin komin,
bonskir blómutoppar
fingu bundnan mátt.
Tryggast sóljuveitir nú
ið náttin tamdi dagsins gylta ris
–løgd í bláan farra ljómandi gull-heitir,
tálmað í turkis,
glógva ikki longur við ovdýrum litum meðan dimmið er.
– Ógvisligi drongur, genta tín hon grætur
– sóljur henni ber.
Marsh Marigolds and the Night
Flooding through the marshes
filling every flower
ran the blue of night.
Now the time has come
when tops of simple flowers
get their hidden might.
Marigold in ditches
safe now night has softened daylight’s golden eye,
in the haze of evening all the burning colors tamed in turquoise lie.
They no longer glowing with too precious fervor while the dark unfolds. –
oh young boy, impetuous,
hear your girl
crying,
bring her marigolds.
5. Blátt
Words: Steinbjørn B. Rasmussen
Music: Sunleif Rasmussen
Translation: Birgit Remmel
Himmal og hav møtast í bláum sjónarringurin
hitt svarta bergið er blátt
tær grasgrønu líðirnar
eru aftanfyri eitt blátt tám viðhvørt.
Blue
Sky and sea meeting in blue the horizon
the black cliff is blue
the grass green slopes
are behind a blue haze sometimes.
Steinbjørn B. Jacobsen (b. 1937) Transl. Birgit Remmel
6. Fyrsti sálmur Davids
Sælur er maður
ið ei fylgir vondra manna ráði. Sælur er maður,
ið ei stendur á syndara vegi.
Sælur er maður, ið ei situr í spottara lagi.
Psalms, Book 1, 1
who does not take the wicked for his guide nor walk the road that sinners tread nor take his seat among the scornful;
