| ‘Song of the Fiords’ is a tender song that describes the love felt by a couple separated by a long fiord (hence the sub-title ‘The Far Shore’). It is of an undefined place, but could refer to the Scandinavian coast or equally to Scotland, Ireland or Galicia (north-west Spain). The music holds a certain air of ancient Celtic feel, which becomes almost modal in the intimate songs of the central part. This is flanked by some most delicate string writing, with each individual part displaying a tender and sensitive writing. However, technically this is not at all a difficult work, and certainly can be approached with confidence by youth and pre-Conservatoire orchestras, as well as by amateur orchestras, however modest they might be! There will obviously be a need for stable intonation in this slow-moving piece, but also an opportunity for expressiveness that has already endeared itself to the concert public. The work also exists in a string quartet version, though with a number of small, but important, changes. The work is dedicated to Alfonso Ortiz, a choral conductor from the Navarre region of Spain, and the duration, when taken at a relaxing pace (as it truly needs!), is of nearly seven minutes. |
