Ved Rondane

Program Notes:

One of Grieg’s intimate songs originally scored for voice and piano, here the poet finds renewal, hope, and abundant memories in the snowy mountainous wilderness of his childhood days.

Conductor Notes:

This lyrical gem in SSAA a cappella voicing is published in “En Grieg-Bukett”, a compilation of five Grieg solo songs arranged for women’s choir. Norwegian conductor Maria Gamborg Helbekkmo introduced us to it in 2013 when she guest-conducted Elektra in Vancouver. I find the combination of the nostalgic and noble text and this gorgeous music totally captivating – possibly one of my desert island compositions for adult treble voices.

Text:

No ser eg atter slike Fjell og Dalar,
Som deim eg i min forrste Ungdom sag,
Og sama Vind den heite Panna svalar;
Og Gullet ligg pa Snjo, som for det lag.
Det er eit Barnemal, som til meg taler,
Og gjer meg tankefull, men enda fjag.
Med Ungdomsminne er den Tala blandad;
Det stroymer pa meg, so eg knapt kan anda.

Ja, Livet stroymer pa meg, som det stroymde,
Nar under Snjo eg sag det grone Stra.
Eg droymer no, som for eg altid droymde,
Nar slike Fjell eg sag i Lufti bla.
Eg gloymer Dagsens Strid, som for eg gloymde,
Nar eg mot Kveld af Sol eit Glimt fekk sja.
Eg finner vel eit Hus, som vil meg hysa,
Nar Soli heim til Notti vil meg lysa.

Translation:

Now I see the same mountains and valleys,
As those I, in my young childhood, saw,
And the same wind cools my heated brow,
And gold lies on the snow, as before it lay.
There is a childlike voice, which speaks to me,
And makes me thoughtful, but still full of joy.
With childhood memories is this speech blended;
It streams over me, so I can barely breathe.

Yes, life streams over me, as it streamed,
When under the snow I saw the green straw.
I dream now, as once I always dreamed,
When such mountains I saw in the blue air.
I forget the day’s stress, as once I forgot it,
When I, towards night, a glimmer of sun did see.
I will well find a house, that will shelter me,
As the sun, home for the night, will light my way

Text Source

Aasmund Olavsson Vinje