The Symphonic Suite »Cantabile«

The second movement, Cortège & Danse Macabre, was composed from 2005 to 2008 and is based on the poem Cortège funèbre, with the subtitle Danse Macabre (Funeral Procession and Dance of Death). Only the original French version is used. Duration: approx. 10 minutes.

The full text from Cortège & Danse Macabre

The Cortège & Danse Macabre begins with the "Cortège", followed by a "Danse Macabre" from bar 115, then returning to the Cortège at bar 202. The main theme of the Cortège is partly stated by the solo flute at the beginning (Click to enlarge):

The Danse Macabre part starts out in 7/8 with a solo for marimba accompanied by strings, pizzicato. The Danse macabre-theme is then introduced by the English Horn at bar 121 while the marimba continues, now as the accompanying part in duet (Click to enlarge):

At bar 141 an unusual instrument is heard; The thigh bone from a giraffe. The score does not specify that the bone must be a giraffe bone but only that is has to be a real thigh bone. Frederik Magle chose a giraffe bone for the premiere performance after spending a whole day trying out many different bones at the Zoological Museum in Copenhagen (Read more about the quest for the bone).

The climax at the center of the Cortege & Danse Macabre marks the first entrance of the pipe organ in the suite (at bar 173).

The third and final movement of Cantabile; Carillon was composed in 2008-2009 and is based on the poems L'Angelus and Lacrymae mundi (Angelus and Tears of the World). Both the original versions, in French, and the Danish translation by Per Aage Brandt are used. Duration: approx. 8 ½ minutes.

The full text from Carillon - Finale

The Carillon is the only movement with piano but it plays a large role throughout the movement, including some soloistic passages (e.g. from bar 85).

Towards the end, at bar 172, the basses of the choir are required to decent to contra-A (the A below the bass-clef), one of the deepest notes ever written for choir in a symphonic work (Click on the picture with the score detail to hear an excerpt (mp3). Bar 172 begins at 00:38):

At the very end of the movement (bar 227), the main theme from Souffle le vent is reprised leading up to the conclusion of the work with the full forces of the symphony orchestra and choir.

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