Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi

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Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi (also known as " Le Laudi " for short ) is the title of an oratorio by the Swiss composer Hermann Suter (1870–1926), which was premiered in 1924. The work, published as op. 25, is one of Suter's most important works and is performed regularly, especially in his home country.

Emergence

Hermann Suter composed the oratorio Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Basler Gesangverein , to which the work is dedicated. It was created in the summer of 1923 in Sils in the Engadine , where Suter spent his holidays. The Italian text is based on the Cantico del Sole (Canticle of the Sun) by Francis of Assisi (1182–1226).

Cast and duration of performance

According to its original subtitle Cantico delle creature per coro, soli, voci di ragazzi, organo ed orchestra - the work is set for 4 solo voices (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), choir, children's choir, organ and orchestra. The performance lasts about 70 minutes.

Structure and music

Suter divided the Canticle of the Sun into nine movements:

  1. Altissimo, onnipotente bon Signore ; Tenor solo, choir and children's choir
  2. Laudato sia, mi Signore, per sora luna e le stelle ; Solos and choir
  3. Laudate sia, mi Signore, per frate vento ; Solos and Choir (Fugue)
  4. Laudato sia, mio ​​Signor, per sor 'acqua ; Solo quartet
  5. Laudato sia, mi Signore, per frate foco ; Choir (Passacaglia)
  6. Laudato sia, mi Signore, per sora nostra matre terra ; Alto solo
  7. Laudato sia, mi Signore, per quelli, che perdonano ; Tenor solo and female choir - soprano solo and a cappella choir
  8. Laudato sia, mio ​​Signore, per sora nostra morte corporale ; Bass solo, choir and children's choir
  9. Laudate e benedite mi Signore ; Children's choir, choir and solos

The work is in the late Romantic tradition, especially the New German School . In its tonal structure, it is unaffected by the twelve-tone technique that emerged at the time of its creation . Suter used a colorful palette of musical means, ranging from Gregorian chant to Impressionism and also including sound painting elements (the twinkling of the stars in the 2nd movement, the roaring of the wind in the 3rd movement, the gurgling of the water in the 4th movement and the The fire flames and the sparks flicker in the 5th movement). Polyphony and counterpoint are skillfully used (including quadruple fugue in the 3rd movement, Passacaglia in the 5th movement).

World premiere and reception

The world premiere of Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi took place on June 13, 1924 in Basel under Hermann Suter's direction. In the same year it was published by Hug Verlag under opus number 25 . In addition to its violin concerto , the oratorio in particular made Le Laudi Suter's name known beyond Switzerland. Wilhelm Furtwängler conducted the work on January 20, 1926 in Vienna , eight years later the Thomaskantor Karl Straube performed it in Leipzig . To this day, there is a continuous tradition of performance, especially in Switzerland. The work has been recorded several times on phonograms, for example in the early 1990s under the direction of Theo Loosli for the Ars Musici label and under András Ligeti for the MGB label.

literature

  • The New Grove, 2nd edition
  • Jens Markowsky: CD supplement to AM 1015-2 (Suter: Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi , Berner Bach Choir, Berner Symphonieorch., Conducted by Theo Loosli)

Web links