Bára Gísladóttirs NĀT for choir and double bass is written for The Danish National Vocal Ensemble for the choir's traditional Christmas concerts. In 2021 the concerts take place in Copenhagen December 17-19, conducted by Phillip Faber, and the concert programme comprises Danish Christmas music - old and completely new.
The audience can look forward to experiencing an evocative new piece by Bára Gísladóttir, as the composer describes it herself:
"When I was asked to write for the Danish National Vocal Ensemble, I was told they were searching for a short, thoughtful piece which sort-of depicted the nativity scene. More specifically a piece that should portray the quiet stillness that remains after the angels, shepherds, and animals have gone home, and there is just a peaceful meditative calmness, bathed in the strange and mystical light of the star.
These circumstances were something that truly spoke to me and I started to play with different ideas that eventually led to the piece NĀT. The title is in the form of a word stem that can refer to the latin natura and natus (Perfect active participle of nascor - 'I am born'). In Danish, nat means night, which I found especially suitable. From these ideas I went on to write a simple and fragile, but simultaneously a somewhat loaded piece for choir and double bass."
Besides from her work as a composer, Bára Gísladóttir is a double bassist, and she will perform together with the choir for the premiere of NĀT.