The American psalm "Närmare, Gud, till dig" (Nearer, My God, to Thee), arranged here by Mats Bergström, is rumored to have been played by the Titanic's orchestra as it sank in 1912.
Instruments
Mats Bergström plays a theorbo, a type of lute common during the Baroque period, on the track "Tack, Fader, för den dag du gav" (Psalm 500).
Composition History
Mats Bergström and Georg Riedel selected 18 melodies from the 800 psalms in the 1986 Swedish hymnal, with the oldest melody dating back to the 4th century.
Recording & Production
The idea for an album of psalm melodies came from the record company Naxos, and the musicians Mats Bergström and Georg Riedel enthusiastically embraced the proposal.
Album & Artwork
This album, "Psalmer utan ord" (Psalms Without Words), is a continuation of the popular "Sånger utan ord" (Songs Without Words) series by Mats Bergström and Georg Riedel.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The selection of psalms for this album was primarily based on the melodies' inherent musicality and recognizability, rather than their age.
Historical Context
In 21st-century Sweden, the hymnal no longer holds the same prominent role it did in earlier centuries, when it was found in every home.
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