Third in our series introducing our spring programme works and composers.
I have written a great deal of chamber music and solo piano music, but I’m very interested in vocal music, so I start out thinking songs. In fact, I went to Los Angeles initially thinking that perhaps that I would become a songwriter because I was raised upon the great music of Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers and Cole Porter.
Morten Lauridsen, in Bruce Duffie interview 1999
Born in Washington State in 1943 still lives in partly in the San Juan Archipelago (almost in Canada) and partly in Los Angeles, Morten Lauridsen is a much lauded composer of choral music of whom a great deal has been written such as
“The only American composer in history who can be called a mystic, whose probing, serene work contains an elusive and indefinable ingredient which leaves the impression that all the questions have been answered. “
Nick Strimple, musicologist
My only credentials for creating this post are that, as a Strathaven Choral alto, I have sung ‘Sure on This Shining Night’ and whatever our programme, I always have a desire to discover more about the people and stories behind our music. In this case, though, I am far from the best qualified to write about Lauridsen: while studying at Aberdeen University and again in California, our M.D., Christopher Barr, had the opportunity to work with the composer – no doubt explaining why he sets such high standards when rehearsing SCS as we prepare to perform ‘Nocturnes’ on 11th May in Stonehouse. Look out for an update to this post with a comment from Christopher about his experience of studying with the composer.
My posts don’t copy or paraphrase, I offer instead links to some carefully selected sources and this transcription of an interview of the composer for US public radio by Bruce Duffie is worthy of a read.
Poetry is important to Lauridsen’s life and his music:
When I find a poem, for which I have visceral reaction…to see if it will allow itself a setting to music, and I look for the use of language, I look for the overall thematic content…
Morten Lauridsen: Connecting Poetry and Music
My second recommendation is this YouTube video of Lauridsen speaking of his love of poetry and how he uses it in his work. If you cannot spend 15 minutes to view the complete video, Lauridsen’s reading of an English translation of ‘Soneto de la Noche at 2’45” is worthy of a listen.
You will, of course, find Lauridsen on Wiki and his website is very stylish: https://mortenlauridsen.net/