Fougstedt: Complete Songs for Mixed Choir A Cappella

Featuring

Astrid Riska
Jubilate Choir
Nils-Eric Fougstedt

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Composer Biography

Nils-Eric Fougstedt (1910-1961) was a highly versatile and energetic musician, studying conducting in Salzburg and composition in Florence and Berlin.

Compositional Technique

Fougstedt's choral style, as exemplified in 'Björkarnas valv', frequently features peaceful parallel motion in the three upper parts over a steady bass line, along with a sparing use of chromaticism.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Despite experimenting with new compositional techniques, such as twelve-note rows in some orchestral and choral works, Fougstedt maintained a fundamental belief in major-minor tonality.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Fougstedt's songs for mixed choir often reflect a 'jardin secret' (secret garden), characterized by a lyrical atmosphere, beauty, and radiant sonorities, with a preference for a clear and light choral tone.

Performer Biography

The Jubilate Choir was founded in 1967 as a children's choir by its conductor, Astrid Riska, and has since grown into a chamber choir with a repertoire spanning from Gregorian chant to avant-garde music.

Performer Biography

Astrid Riska, the conductor of the Jubilate Choir, was a pupil of Fougstedt at the Sibelius Academy and had the privilege of singing under his baton.

Composer Biography

From 1938 onwards, Fougstedt dedicated a significant portion of his career to Finnish Radio, where he founded the Finnish Radio's 'soloists' choir (later the Finnish Radio Choir) and served as a conductor.