» The symphonic poem »Cantabile« [mp3 download] (English)

[Frederik Magle]

[UPDATE: The 2nd and 3rd movements of the »Cantabile« suite were performed on June 10th, 2009. Info and MP3 audio excerpts are available here.]


You can now download an excerpt of the first movement of my symphonic poem »Cantabile«. The first movement - »Souffle le vent« (»Cry of the Winds«) - was given it's world premiere performance at the royal gala concert in celebration of H.R.H. Prince Henrik on June 10th, 2004, and it is excerpts of that performance you can now download and listen to.
The MP3-files has been encoded in high quality using LAME v.3.96.1 (--alt-preset extreme).


Click here to download an excerpt (bar 299-387) (4:10 min., 6.8 MB, 227 kbps vbr MP3)
[estimated approximate download time: 56k modem = 16 minutes, 1024Kb DSL/cable = 56 seconds]


Additional shorter excerpts:
Click here to download excerpt 2 (bar 194-277) (3.9 MB, 240 kbps vbr MP3)
Click here to download excerpt 3 (bar 120-164) (3.7 MB, 223 kbps vbr MP3)





Performers:
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra
The Danish National Choir
Sine Bundgaard (soprano)
Bo Anker Hansen (bass-baritone)
Thomas Dausgaard (conductor)




(If you would like to hear the movement in its full lenght, please contact me through "private message" or by email using the Contact Us page).



The symphonic poem »Cantabile« is copyright © Frederik Magle and may not be altered or redistributed in any way without express permission. You are allowed to link freely to this page. You are not allowed to link directly to the MP3 files (hotlinking) without clearly stating the credits and copyright and linking to this page as well. The music has been uploaded to this site for free download with the consent of the copyright holders and in accordance with Danish and international copyright law.

[winkin]

Oh my gosh! Frederik, this is an amazing work, even when heard on my tiny laptop speakers! I'm a sucker for great choral music, and there hasn't been a lot written recently. I would love to hear this performed in person, to be enveloped by the singing. The new Walt Disney concert hall in Los Angeles (45 minutes from my house) has perfect acoustics for this kind of music, with just enough reflection (well, after they tweaked it a lot) to have the voices wrap around the audience and lift them up off of their seats. When can we expect to see Cantabile performed there?

Bravo!

Claire

[Frederik Magle]

Thank you Claire!

I've read about the new Walt Disney Concert Hall and it is indeed a fascinating hall, I will definitely visit it next time I'm in Los Angeles. I also like the fact that they have spend time and resources building a large pipe organ instead of an electronic "replica" organ - a sign of high quality, taste and an uncompromising approach.

So far there are no performances of "Cantabile" planned in USA, but of course I hope to change that when the whole piece is complete (so far only the 1.st movement "Souffle le vent" is ready, but of course it can be performed seperatly).

[jason]

Beautiful. It's been happening a lot to me here since joining MIMF, this is another new genre for me. I wish I could comment on it technically, but I enjoyed it a lot, and that's all that really matters. It's very epic. I can tell it tells a beautiful tale full of emotions, too bad I don't understand the language. Congratulations! I look forward to looking into more of your work.

[Frederik Magle]

Thanks Jason! I'm glad you like it. The language is Danish and French, I'll see if I can post an English translation here (will get back to it).

[Jette]

Just like Jason, this is a new genre for me and I can`t comment on it technically, but I`ll try doing it in my own words. It`s a very beatiful piece and as Jason allready wrote, very emotional, actually the first excerpt (5,7 mb) makes me sad (don`t worry, I won`t start crying ), but at the same time it`s very relaxing listening to. The 2 other downloads makes me happy , it sounds like there is still a battle going on, but there is still hope (difficult to explain, hope you understand what I`m trying to say). I must admit even though I`m danish I don`t understand what they are singer either (hmm maybe I need a hearing aid ). The only thing I wasn`t to crazy about, was in the first excerpt when the female singer, was singing those high notes (I`m not sure that`s what it`s called in english(når hun går op i de helt høje toner)), I probably never get used to that , but I would love to hear the whole piece, if posible

Jette

[Frederik Magle]

Here is the text in the original languages (Danish and French) as it is sung in the work. The poem is written by H.R.H. The Prince Consort of Denmark (The Danish parts are from a re-creation by the Danish writer Per Aage Brandt):

Soufflent les vents de plaine,
pourvu que les amants s'aiment!

Egene vrider sig, bladløse, nøgne,
i grenene hænger min flængede sjæl.
Jeg hører din stemmes forrevne
"Ce n'est plus toi que j'aime",
den skærer sig ind i min pine,
og stormene raser natsorte som løgne.

Var jeg stærk som en eg?
Var dit hjerte en klippe?

Egen faldt fra sin klippe, afmægtig, forvreden,
forpint, uden liv, under vindenes knive -
Hvorfra kommer de, hvad vil de os, er de gribbe,
skæbnens vingede bødler - og kunne vi slippe?

Elskende, elsk, hvis I kan!

Nu flakker jeg hjemløs omkring
på veje så golde, som lejet blev koldt.
Og egenes hvinende klagen forkynder,
at kærlighed visner og dør i min hånd.

Les sanglots de ces chênes
menacés de mort
sous le vent du Nord
qui râle obstinement
et comme moi.

Elskende, elsk, hvis I kan!

Souffle un vent de peine,
pourvu que les amants s'aiment!

Tremblent sous ce rugueux froid
au monde vont aller confier
et la couche des amants.

Pourvu que les amants s'aiment!


---


...and here is my own quick 'n dirty direct English translation (Please excuse any errors in the translation, I must admit I'm not very strong in French ):

The wind of the plains are crying
when the lovers love!

The oak-trees wrenches, naked without leaves
My flensed soul is hanging in the braches
I hear your torn voice:
"I do not love you anymore"
It cuts itself in to my pain
And the storms are raging, pitch-black like lies

Was I strong like an oak?
Was your heart a rock?

The oak fell from its rock, powerless, wrenched,
tortured, without life, slashed by the knifes of the wind
Where are they coming from, what do they want, are they vultures?
The winged executioners of fate - and could we escape?

Lovers, love, while you can!

Now, I drift around, homeless
On roads as barren as the bed became cold
And the whispering moaning of the oaks proclaims
that love withers and die in my hand

The cries of the oaks
threatened by death
under the north wind
which hisses stubbornly
and like I

Lovers, love, if you can!

The wind of pain is blowing
When the lovers love!

Trembling from the icy cold
the world can testify
that love has left
the bed of the lovers

When the lovers love!

[jason]

That's some pretty poweful stuff. The English translation is just a little bit choppy, but in music, lyrics are sometimes just as choppy, even when written/performed in the writers native language. It's better than I expected, and also not quite what I expected. Very poetic, very moving. Thanks Frederik, for translating this for me!

[Frederik Magle]

You're welcome. I'm glad you like the poem(s).

It's a concentrate of both the original French poem by H.R.H. Prince Henrik (The Prince Consort) and the Danish translation, or rather "re-creation" by the writer Per Aage Brandt. Even though the sections are (mostly) in the original chronological order the fact that it in a way is two poems may account for some of the "choppyness" (that, and my somewhat rusty French ). However, when used in the musical context it flows like it's supposed to.

[The Rising]

nice one. really very melodic and touching.

[acciaccatura]

Frederik - you should be proud of this work. It seems to have real purpose and direction coupled with a conviction of style. I find it exciting, like a book you cannot put down before you have read it to the end. I particularly like your play with tonality which makes it sound 'old' and 'modern' at the same time. It is unclear to me if this style is part of a post-modern movement or simply a reaction to music that is so difficult to listen to. You write for anyone rather than the select few who can appreciate serialism and heavy use of dissonance - perhaps yours is a logical conclusion to the situation creative arts are in today. Your work does not, however, sound archaic by any means, and that is quite an achievement.

Thanks for letting us into your tonal universe. What an enriching experience!

[Gareth]

Yeah, I meant to comment earlier, that is an outstanding piece of music, that you have done really well on. I will agree with the tonality that Acciaccatura said, old and modern at the same time, and the Danish really does reflect the style.

Thanks for the listen much appreciated, I wish I could compose like that.

[Frederik Magle]

Thank you very much for your great comments acciaccatura and Gareth. I appreciate them a lot!

it is unclear to me if this style is part of a post-modern movement or simply a reaction to music that is so difficult to listen to. You write for anyone rather than the select few who can appreciate serialism and heavy use of dissonance - perhaps yours is a logical conclusion to the situation creative arts are in today. Your work does not, however, sound archaic by any means, and that is quite an achievement.

I have troubles putting an exact definition on most of my music myself. During the process of composition I rarely consider the style or tonality but concentrate on the musical expression, mostly free from any exterior stylistic bounds. I do not try to please any likes other than my own. So I'm really glad that you think that I succeed in making it sound "natural" and logical. It means a lot to me as that is of course one of the potential pitfalls when not working within a more defined style or genre.

[sondance]

Frederik:
The samples posted have awakened a craving I cannot satisfy until I hear the entire first movement. Tried the e-mail but no luck yet. Is the entire movement still available?

You know I thought composers were supposed to lock themselves in a room somewhere, never eat and treat any interlopers with huge disdain. How is it you invite us into your process and promote having cake!? (my way of saying thank you)

[Frederik Magle]

Sondance, sorry about the slow reply, but I've replied to your email now so you can now hear movemment in its entirety. Hope you'll enjoy it.

And thank you for your encouraging words. It's the kind of feedback that lets me think I'm doing something right with this forum, and keeps me going!