Matias Vestergård's work is based on a very well-known Danish hymn, Grundtvig's Lovsynger Herren with melody by Thorvald Aagaard. It is a larger work in 7 movements written for tenor solo, mixed choir, children's choir, trumpet, organ and string orchestra and will be performed by Trinitatis Kantori, Trinitatis Chamber Ensemble, Brønshøj Church Girls' Choir and Frihavnskirkens Ungdomssangere under the direction of Søren Christian Vestergård. Soloists will be organist Kristian Krogsøe and tenor Kristoffer Appel.
In an interview published at nks2024.dk Matias Vestergård explains that the church music tradition has been a strong inspiration behind the work. "I almost lived in Bach's cantatas for several years. The effect that a cantus firmus fits into other music is also present in the work I have written."
With its large cast, LOVSYNGER HERREN is tailored for a celebratory concert, but since Trinitatis Kantori will include the work in the programme of their tour to Germany shortly after the premiere, Matias Vestergård has created an alternative version without a children's choir and with a smaller orchestra. "An important part of church music is that it is not just for the big cathedrals. I have some suggestions for what I think would be nice to do, but there must also be opportunities for the performers to make their own decisions."
Read the interview with Matias Vestergård here.
The world premiere of Matias Vestergård's LOVSYNGER HERREN takes place on 19 September at 18:00 in the concert hall at the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen.