Northern Lights - Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977)
Bienen Contemporary/Early Vocal Ensemble
Dr. Donald Nally, Conductor
Filmed December 2, 2013
Pick-Staiger Concert Hall at Northwestern University
Evanston, IL
Davee Distance Learning Initiative
Video Director: Richard Van Kleeck
Tenor: Ryan Townsend Strand
Cik naksnīnas pret ziemeli
Redzēj' kāvus karojam;
Karo kāvi pie debesu,
Vedīs karus mūs' zemē.
(How many nights against the North wind
I saw the Northern Lights fighting;
Fighting in the sky, the Northern Lights
Bring wars to our land.)
It was night, and I had gone on deck several times.
Iceberg was silent; I too was silent.
It was true dark and cold.
At nine o'clock I was below in my cabin,
When the captain hailed me with the words:
"Come above, Hall, at once! The world is on fire!"
I knew his meaning, and, quick as thought,
I rushed to the companion stairs.
In a moment I reached the deck,
And as the cabin door swung open,
A dazzling light, overpow'ring light burst upon my startled senses!
Oh, the whole sky was one glowing mass of colored flames, so mighty, so brave!
Like a pathway of light the northern lights seemed to draw us into the sky.
Yes, it was harp-music, wild storming in the darkness;
The strings trembled and sparkled in the glow of the flames
Like a shower of fiery darts.
A fiery crown of auroral light cast a warm glow across the arctic ice.
Again at times it was like softly playing, gently rocking silvery waves,
On which dreams travel into unknown worlds.
Text: Latvian folksong, Charles Francis Hall, Fridtjof Nansen