"My setting of Shakespeare's sonnet
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day I have arranged for different settings, both with and without singing. What I lacked was an arrangement for singing and strings. Why not choose two more Shakespearean sonnets and compose a three-course suite?
I selected the sonnets no. 71
No longer mourn for me and no. 98
From you I have been absent. I think that the content of these sonnets harmonizes well with the text in
Shall I compare thee... It is of course also fine to present the sonnets each for one.
When I wrote the suite, I had the soprano Margareta Bengtson in mind. We have long had a close collaboration, and she has, among other things, appeared as a soprano soloist in gramophone recordings of my works
Requiem and
A Christmas Cantata . Margareta Bengtson also sang the soprano part in this suite at the premiere in Rättvik's church.
The vocal part of the suite can also be played instrumentally by, for example, trumpet, clarinet or soprano saxophone."
- Nils Lindberg, Gagnef on August 12, 2011
- A solo part in Bb is included in the rental material.
Sound samples:
Margareta Bengtson, Bergslagen Chamber Symphony, conductor. Merete Ellegaard
(live recording)
