PROGRAM NOTES

Les Chansons Des Roses
Notes by composer
In addition to his vast output of German poetry, Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) composed nearly 400 poems in French. His poems on roses struck me as especially charming, filled with gorgeous lyricism, deftly crafted and elegant in their imagery. These exquisite poems are primarily light, joyous and playful, and the musical settings are designed to enhance these characteristics and capture the delicate beauty and sensuousness of the poetry. Distinct melodic and harmonic materials recur throughout the cycle, especially between Rilke's poignant "Contre Qui, Rose" (set as a wistful nocturne) and his moving "La Rose Complète." The final piece, "Dirait-On," is composed as a tuneful chanson populaire, or folksong, that weaves together two melodic ideas first heard in fragmentary form in preceding movements.

Les Chansons des Roses was premiered and recorded in 1994 by Portland, Oregon's celebrated chamber choir Choral Cross-Ties, conducted by Bruce Browne. The complete cycle has been widely performed since then and has also been recorded by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Chamber Singers, Nordic Chamber Choir, and the Donald Brinegar Singers.

Choral Cross-Ties Performs Breathtaking Show

The Oregonian     April 25th, 1994
         When some concerts end, they send us back to the world in such a state of exhiliration, we want to jabber about it all the way home. Other concerts can trigger bitter complaints.
   And then there is the concert that reaches down to something deep and mysterious, sending us home mute.
   That is what happened at a concert by Choral Cross-Ties Sunday at St. Philip Neri Church in Southeast Portland.
   Rare is the concert that puts listeners in a state of grace. But that's what Morten Lauridsen's "Les Chansons des Roses" did.
   The cycle of five songs began with the choir singing a cappella to the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke: "I breathe you, rose, as if you were all of life..." But with the fifth song, the piano made its presence softly known.
   The moment was probably even more magical for the choir, which had been praying that its pitch would match the piano's.
   It did.
   This final song shimmered with reverence. Lauridsen asked the choir to repeat one ravishing phrase after another. The Beaverton-born composer sat in the audience with his eyes closed -- a fitting way to absorb the music's extravagant beauty.
   "Les Chansons des Roses," which Choral Cross-Ties has recorded on a compact disc, was the most memorable work of the afternoon.

Diverse Closing to Chorale Season

     Los Angeles Times, Chris Pasles     June 1st, 1998
   [Conductor Paul Salamunovich] opened the program with Morten Lauridsen's exquisite “Les Chansons des Roses” and closed it with Carl Orff's hypergymnastic “Carmina Burana.”
   Settings of five late Rilke poems in French, the 17-minute Lauridsen work is almost a study in pianissimos, mercurial tempos and blended and ravishing colors. The composer calls for an a cappella chorus (here about 40 singers) until the final poem in which delicate piano arpeggios contribute to a folklike directness, simplicity and appeal...
   Composer-in-residence with the Chorale since 1994, Lauridsen was on hand to take bows from an appreciative audience.

Master Chorale Gives Enlightening Concert

     Los Angeles Times, Daniel Cariaga      April 30th, 1996
   Of a haunting but substantial beauty, Morten Lauridsen's recent "Les Chansons des Roses," to five poems in French by Rainer Maria Rilke, constituted the climactic moment in this event.
   ...Deceptively uncomplicated in line and melody, these songs hold the listener in a mystical grip from beginning to end. Salamunovich's 48 gifted singers... performed these gems exquisitely, delivering both words and feelings without misstep.
   Building up to this high point, the Master Chorale predictably distinguished itself in varied music by Jacob Handl, Morales, Palestrina, Duruflé and Barne Slëgedal.

A Liberal Helping of Conservatism

Los Angeles Weekly March 12-18, 1999
...and two sets of Lauridsen songs. Lauridsen teaches at USC; his Lux Aeterna, recorded on RCM by the Master Chorale, made it to a Grammy nomination last month: good, solid choral writing, old musical languages put to new and lively use. On the Brinegar program I liked best of all Lauridsen's elegant, witty Chansons des Roses of 1993, settings of fragrant Rilke poetry about roses, including thorns.

Choral Cross-Ties Performs Breathtaking Show

Diverse Closing to Chorale Season

Master Chorale Gives Enlightening Concert

A Liberal Helping of Conservatism

Short Takes