Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen
solo percussion
The Norwegian Soloists´ Choir
Grete Pedersen
conductor
Release date: August 2020
BIS-2431 SACD (2020)
The Norwegian Soloists´ Choir with artistic leader Grete Pedersen and HKKS have collaborated for more than two decades. The strong and intimate artistic relationship has always provided them with the courage to initiate new daring projects, just like this commission for Lars Petter Hagen to write a new concerto for percussion and choir. Daring, because Lars Petter Hagen is not at all in the mainstream field of what to expect of music from a contemporary composer. For his Lament from 2015, Mr Hagen has chosen to set a short text by E. E. Cummings, written when the poet was 6 years old. The words of the poem are split up and stretched out into pulsating waves of grief, at once mysterious, beautiful and painful. Lament is scored for choir, solo percussion and electronics – elements which are in dialogue yet resigned to remaining at a distance. Lament is commissioned by Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen
Winner of the Norwegian Grammy – Spellemannsprisen – 2022.
“It´s not possible to remain untouched by Lars Petter Hagen´s Lament for solo percussion and choir. This is arguably the finest vocal music I have ever heard”
Trond Erikson, Classic cd-blog
“This is an enormously impressive and touching piece of music, commissioned by the percussionist Hans-Kristian Kjos Sørensen”
Guy Rickards, Klassiskmusikk.com
The collaboration and friendship between The Norwegian Soloists´Choir, Grete Pedersen and HKKS go way back. They have toured together for over 2 decades and are closer now than ever. Grete never shies away from doing it all "wrong" and turning one's perception of the conversation through music upside down. Her personal character is something that Hans-Kristian can identify himself to. Which has led to a close friendship.
