Características
Following the surprise success of “Musica Sacra”, his first release on Opus 3 Records, Erik Westberg presents a slightly modified concept on his new album: instead of a soprano saxophone and an organ, he uses the nyckelharpa, a Swedish fiddle strung with steel strings. In addition to a choir and vocal soloists, members of Anders Ärstrand's Global Percussion Network also participate. The title song, “Across The Bridge Of Hope,” was premiered during Advent 2000 in memory of 12-year-old Shawn McLaughlin by more than 8,000 choir singers in 310 different choirs from 56 nations. Shawn McLaughlin, who had written the poem of the same name, “Across The Bridge Of Hope,” with some friends after the so-called “Good Friday Agreement” in 1998 in Northern Ireland, was killed just a few months later, along with 29 other victims, in a bomb attack in Omagh.
The outstanding Multichannel Hybrid SACD from Opus 3 Records contains a booklet with detailed information about the recording technology and microphones used.
MUSICIANS: Choir: The Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble / Conductor: Erik Westberg / Anders Åstrand: ceremonial drum, vibraphone, udu, log drums, marimba, cymbal / Alexander Lintott: treble vocals / Torbjörn Näsbom: key fiddle / Anna-Karin Öquist: soprano vocals
/ Rolf Landberg: bass drum, tom tom, cymbal, crotales / John Best: gong, steel drums, marimba / Fredrik Dermer: octabans, crotales, log drums, Glockenspiel / Anders Eriksson: tenor & baritone vocals
1. Jan Sandström: Across The Bridge Of Hope
2. Lars Näsbom: Kyrkpolska
3. Thomas Jennefelt: Claviante Brilioso
4. Anders Åstrand: Touch
5. Eskil Hemberg: Thou Who Art Over Us
6. Oskar Lindberg (1887-1955): Pingst
7. Johan Märak Biegga Louhte (Introduction)
8. Jan Sandstrom: Biegga Louhte
9. Jan Ferm: I Carry Your Heart
10. Jan Ferm: I Carry Your Heart
11. Johannes Johansson: Cherubim Hymn
12. Jan Sandström: Surge Aquilo
13. Anders Åstrand: Bagatell
14. Otto Olsson (1879-1964): “Psalmus CXX”
15. Otto Olsson: “Canticum Simeonis”
16. Otto Olsson: “Rex Gloriose Martyrum”