Jón Leifs - Requiem op. 33b (Score Video)

Skylark Vocal Ensemble conducted by Matthew Guard
Jón Leifs (1899-1968) was an Icelandic composer, probably the most notable from his country in the 20th century. For more about Leifs, see the description in my score video of his "Reminiscence du Nord" for string orchestra: • Jón Leifs - Reminiscen...
While much of his later music has a more contemplative quality, Leifs' Requiem of 1947 is his most poignant work of all, and it has become almost as well known as his famously explosive "Hekla" and "Geysir". Dedicated to the memory of his daughter, who tragically drowned off the coast of Sweden earlier that year before her 18th birthday, it is far from a requiem in a traditional sense; it is quite a short work at five or six minutes long, it is set not to the Catholic Mass but rather to texts from Icelandic folklore and poetry by the early 19th-century writer Jónas Hallgrímsson, and the character of both the text and music is quite reflective of a lullaby. As opposed to the usual somber atmosphere of a requiem, the largely homophonic sound, alternation between A major and A minor, and frequent refrains all contribute to a lingering feeling of youth and innocence.
Text (original English translator unknown, poetic edits by Peter Walker)
Sofinn er fifill
fagr í haga,
mús undir mosa,
már á báru,
lauf á limi,
ljós í lofti,
hjörtr á Heiði
en í hafi fiskar.
Sefr sell í sjó,
svanr á báru,
már í holmi,
maangi au svæfir.
Sofa manna börn
í mjúku rúmi,
bía og kveða,
en babbi þau svæfir.
Sof þú nú sæl og sigrgefin.
Sofðu eg unni þér.
Sofinn er
fifill fagr í haga,
mús undir mosa,
már á báru,
Blæju yfir bæ
búanda lúins
dimmra, drauma
dró nóttúr sjó.
Við skulum gleyma
grát og sorg;
gott er heim að snúa.
Láttu þig dreyma
bjarta borg,
búna þeim, er trúa.
Sofinn er fifill
fagr í haga,
mús undir mosa,
már á báru,
Sof þú nú sæl og sigrgefin.
​Sofðu, eg unni þér.
The fair flower
sleeps in the field,
The mouse under moss,
The mew gull on the swell,
The leaf on the limb,
The light in the lofty air,
The hart on the heath,
And the haddock in the ocean.
The seal sleeps in the sea,
The swan on the wave,
The mew gull on the rock-isle,
With no one to lull them.
The young child sleeps
In a soft bed,
Cooing and prattling,
As a parent lulls her.
Sleep now saintly and sanctified.
Sleep, I love you.
The fair dandelion
sleeps in the field,
The mouse under moss,
The mew gull on the swell,
A veil covers the village
The man is very tired
Dreams drew
dark night from the sea.
We should say goodbye
To grief and sorrow,
And go home to happiness.
May you dream
of the shining city,
Where the souls of the faithful dwell.
The fair dandelion
​sleeps in the field,
The mouse under moss,
The mew gull on the swell,
Sleep now saintly and sanctified.
Sleep, I love you.

[@towardthesea_]

Other works by Leifs on my channel: String Quartet No. 1 "Mors et vita": kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYS3d52Xhcloe68 String Quartet No. 2 "Vita et mors": kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWXLi6ebYqpgpck Saga Symphony: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3O3gqFnhdigoZY Reminiscence du Nord for string orchestra: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jofHkp-YnZt2ja8

[@ABruckner8]

Wow, so simple and effective.

[@MicoAquinoComposer]

Beautiful! Thank you.

[@towardthesea_]

@@MicoAquinoComposer thank you for listening, Mico!