What does ‘light’ mean in music? In Lux Natalis, Vlaams Radio Koor explores how composers have expressed the concept in music through the centuries. In Bruckner, it is a slow unfurling of harmonies. In Poulenc, celestial inspiration grates against earthly practicalities. Lauridsen seeks stillness; Jackson makes layers of sound sparkle above the electric guitar. Peter Dijkstra guides the singers through a far-from-traditional Christmas story, carefully building the suspense. Renaissance, Romanticism and contemporary choir sounds mirror each other. Between the choral works, guitar intermezzi brighten the palette. Forget the type of muzak you’re force-fed throughout December: this promises to be a time to shelter together in music.
Program
Music by A. Bruckner, M. Lauridsen, F. Poulenc, J. Eccard, G. Jackson and others
Performers
Vlaams Radiokoor | Peter Dijkstra, conductor | NN, guitar