Ib Nørholm: Impressioner I & II (2004)

Ib Nørholm Impressioner I & II

(2004)

Impressions I & II

for mixed choir & orchestra Dur. 20’

Text from H. C. Andersen´s: The Little Mermaid.

Verse commentary by Anne Katrine Nørholm.

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Written with support from the Danish Arts Foundation Skrevet med støtte fra Statens Kunstfond

Edition·S publications are supported by the Danish Arts Council Music Committee / Edition·S udgivelser er støttet af Kunstrådets Musikudvalg

Ib Nørholm Impressioner I & II

(2004)

Impressions I & II

for mixed choir & orchestra Dur. 20’

NOTES

NOTER

The Little Mermaid

Den lille Havfrue

By Hans Christian Andersen Verse commentary by: Anne Kartine Nørholm

Af Hans Christian Andersen Kommenterende digte af: Anne Katrine Nørholm

Impressions I

Impressioner I

Far out in the sea the water is as blue as petals found on the loveliest corn-flower and as clear as the purest of glass, but it is very deep, deeper than anchor-cables ever plunged; many church-towers would have to be piled on each other to be able to reach from the bottom up above water. Down there is where the mermen live.

Langt ude i havet er vandet så blåt, som bladene på den dejligste kornblomst, og så klart som det reneste glas, men det er meget dybt, dybere end noget ankertorv når, mange kirketårne måtte stilles ovenpå hinanden, for at række fra bunden op over vandet.

Dernede bor havfolkene.

They were six little sea-princesses, but the youngest was the most beautiful among them, her fair skin was as clear and pure as a rose-petal, and her eyes were as blue as the deepest of lakes.

De vare seks små havprinsesser, men den yngste var den smukkeste af dem allesammen, hendes hud var så klar og skær som et rosenblad, hendes øjne så blå som den dybeste sø.

Now the youngest was fifteen and ventured to rise above the ocean surface.

Nu var den yngste 15 år og turde stige op over havfladen.

There outside Deep in here, The throb of the heart-beat, You reach out towards red;

Udenfor og inderst, det bankende hjerte.

Du strækker dig mod rødt.

Incomplete and superb, You mature towards light, In the deepest heaven.

Ufærdig og perfekt modnes du mod lys i den dybeste himmel.

Floating On to solid ground, You rise to the ocean roof, Cleaving the smooth expanses.

Flydende på vej mod fast stiger du mod havets blanke flader.

Nu fjernes sløret af blåt for dit øje og blinke må du igen og igen men briste tilsidst. (AKN)

Now veiling blue Is dispelled from your eyesight, And then you must blink Again and again And finally glaze. (AKN)

Her father´s palace she saw: there in the spacious ballroom the torches had all been put out; all were surely asleep in there, but she had not the courage to search for them now she was mute and would be forever removed from them. It was as if her heart was to be torn apart with grief. She stole into the garden, took a flower from each one of all her sisters´ flowerbeds; her finger threw kisses thousandfold towards the palace, and then she rose through the dark blue of the swell.

Hun kunne se sin faders slot; blussene vare slukkede i den store dandsesal; de sov vist alle derinde, men hun vovede dog ikke at søge dem, nu hun var stum og vilde for altid gå bort fra dem. Det var som hendes hjerte skulde gå itu af sorg. Hun sneg sig ind i haven, tog een blomst af hver af sine søstres blomsterbed, kastede med fingren tusinde kys henimod slottet og steg op igjennem den mørkeblå sø.

The Song of the Sea

Havets sang

I swaddled you, Carried you in my flow, Parted the billows in your way, Then gathering them again.

Jeg svøbte dig og bar dig i mit vand.

Skilte bølgerne på din vej og samlede dem igen.

I rock you too for the last time, And roll you on to earth´s firm verge, As gently as can be.

Jeg vugger dig for sidste gang, og ruller dig mod jordens kant så blidt som det er muligt.

A weightless passage, Ceases here.

Farewell, my child.

En vægtløs rejse ender her.

Farvel mit barn

I take my leave, withdrawing.

(AKN)

Jeg trækker mig tilbage. (AKN)

Impressions II

Impressioner II

She drank the burning, the searing drink, and it was as if a two-edged sword went all the way through her delicate body; she fainted at that and lay there as if dead.

- Each step she took felt just the very way the witch had foretold, as if she trod on sharp-pointed awls and razorsharp daggers, but that she suffered gladly; the prince´s hand raised her as light as a bubble.

Den lille havfrue drak den brændende skarpe drik og det var som gik et tveægget sværd igjennem hendes fine legeme, hun besvimede derved og lå som død. - Hvert skridt hun gjorde, var, som hexen havde sagt hende forud, som om hun trådte på spidse syle og skarpe knive, men det tålte hun gjerne; ved prinsens hånd steg hun så let som en boble.

But now the prince must marry and wed the neighbouring king’s lovely daughter!

Each day banquets prevailed; ball and party came in close succession. The little mermaid whirled as she joined in the dancing, there she soared, as does the swallow when it is pursued, and everyone in admiration acclaimed her. Never had she danced so delightfully.

Men nu skal prinsen giftes og have nobokongens dejlige datter!

Hver dag havde en fest. Bal og selskab fulgte på hinanden. Den lille havfrue hvirvlede sig med i dandsen, svævede, som svalen svæver, når den forfølges, og alle tiljublede hende beundring, aldrig havde hun dandset så herligt.

See how she dances In his sphere.

See her there soaring And swaying Like a tear that is straying, Missing an eye to be weeping in.

Se hvor hun danser i hans rum.

Se hvor hun svæver og snor sig som en forvildet tåre uden et øje at græde i.

But even the lofty halls May be oppressive and cramped And deceive with mirrors In flakes in thousands.

And see, they mist up Right where she faces herself In cracked glints. (AKN)

Men selv i høje sale kan pladsen være trang, og snyde med spejle i tusind stykker. og se de dugger der hvor hun mødes i knækkede glimt. (AKN)

That was the night, then, when last she saw the deep sea and the starry blue sky-vault; an everlasting night void of thought and dream awaited her, who had no soul, nor could ever attain it. She looked eastwards for the red morning shimmer; the very first ray of the sun, she knew, was sure to kill her.

Det var den sidste nat, hun så det dybe hav og den stjerneblå himmel; en evig nat uden tanke og drøm ventede hende, som ei havde sjæl, ei kunde vinde den. Hun så mod østen efter morgenrøden, den første solstråle, vidste hun, vilde dræbe hende.

There outside, Deep in here, The first red morning shimmer, Like an open wound.

I raise my bright Pellucid arms Lighter than the wind breathing And rise towards light; Nearly soundlessly, Like a soft purling, The body seeps out. (AKN)

Udenfor og inderst den første morgenrøde som et åbent sår Jeg hæver mine klare arme lettere end vinden og løftes mod lys Næsten lydløst som en stille rislen siver kroppen ud. (AKN)