FROM GUEST CURATOR CECILIA RYDINGER

DAVID WIKANDER: KING LILY OF THE VALLEY

“King Lily of the Valley” by David Wikander is one of the most beautiful examples of the Swedish national romantic era, and is often sung by male choirs as well as by mixed choirs. This piece has followed me through many concert programes through the years. It has been close to my heart all the way back to the 1980’s when I was a student of and choir singer with professor Eric Ericson, the choir master of all times. Wikander’s piece is rich sounding and emotionally very touching. The Gustaf Fröding poem, in close connection with Wikander’s music, tell of the little spring flower, King Lily of the valley, mourning the death of his bride, the Princess. The words from the middle section to the end tell of the fragrance of Swedish nature. “Around the bier there hovers the fragrance of flowery incense fair. And vapors floating skyward now fill all the forest air. Through treetops mournfully swinging, where wind is rocking the leaves on high, a sad lament is winging: The forest is filled with a sigh. The message is carried o’er woodland, each leaf whispers tidings of woe. Till vale and forest echo the grief of the King in the grove below.”

– Cecilia Rydinger, Conductor and Artistic Director, Orphei Drängar