Context
The Spheres from Sunrise Mass
Ola Gjeilo (b.1978) is a Norwegian composer based in the United States. Ola’s compositional style is described in his biography as “cinematic and evocative, with a lush, harmonious sound.”
The Spheres is included in the album: Northern Lights, which the composer was inspired to write after watching the aurora borealis on a wintry night in Norway.
Listen For
- Fluid sense of pulse perhaps reflecting the unpredictable nature of the natural phenomenon.
- Overlapping vocal lines accompanied by strings create moments of dissonance.
- At about 01:24 strings are more prominent now mirroring the layered texture of the voices.
- From 02:32 the strings build momentum through an ascending scalic figure, dissonance and use of crescendo.
- At 3:01 the voices re-enter with a diminished version of the opening idea. Now we can hear the text more clearly: Kyrie Eleison.
As you continue listening think about how the music portrays the beauty and majesty of the Northern Lights. Do you think the instrumentation works? Did you notice any moments of silence – how do these contribute to the overall atmosphere created by this music?
Things To Consider
- How can you use this piece as a starting point for your own Northern Lights composition? Think about the instruments/timbres you might use. Could you explore these on a DAW or keyboard?
- Although this piece begins with a slow tempo, the excitement builds gradually, maintaining the listeners’ interest. How would you structure the themes for your piece to balance both continuity and contrast of musical ideas?