Bára Gísladóttir's NĀT is composed for choir and double bass and was commissioned by The Danish National Vocal Ensemble.
The audience can look forward to an evocative piece as the composer describes it:
"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."
The concert Jul med DR Vokalensemblet is conducted by Phillip Faber. It takes place in Garnisons Kirke, Copenhagen with four performances 14-17 December.
The first part of the concert is broadcast live on Danish Radio P2 and on 14 additional radio stations across the world on Sunday 17 December, 16:00.
The entire concert is broadcast on 20 December at 19:30.
Find more information about the concerts here.