| Libretto
Overture
The first man of Gotland was Tjelvar. At that time dark forces bound Gotland, so that it during daytime sank and stayed up at night. This man was the first to bring a fire to the island and thereafter it never sank again.
Act I
(2) Spoken Word: This Tjelvar had a son named Havde and Havde´s wife was called White star. These two people where the first to live and build on Gotland. During the first night there she dreamt a dream about three snakes interwoven in her chest.
(3) Huita stiernas draum (Havde´s translation of her dream was the following): Everything is bound in circles. This land shall be inhabited and we will have three sons.
(4) Spoken Word: He gave names to his sons before they where born.
(5) Hafthas (Havde´s) Aria: Gute shall possess Gotland, Graiper shall the second son be named and Gunnfjaun the third.
(6) Thria thritiunga (the three parts): Afterwards they divided Gotland into three parts. Graiper the eldest son got the northern part, Gute the middle part and the youngest son the southern part.
(7) Tragical Choral Speech: The number of people descending from the three sons increased so much under such a long time, that the land could not feed them all.
(8) Soprano Aria: They disposed of every third man from Gotland by lottery. Everyone had the right to bring their belongings except their land.
Act II
(9) Mangir kunungar: Many kings where fighting against Gotland when it still was pagan. But every time the gotlandish people won and retained their rights.
Many times the Gotlandish people send messengers to the king of the Swedes, but no one could bring peace until Avair Strabain of Alva parish. He made the first peace negotiations with the king of the Swedes.
(10) Avair Strabains Aria (When the people of Gotland asked him to enter the peace negotiations he answered): You all know that I am now old and fragile. Give me then, if I shall be exposed to such danger of life, three life insurance: the first for myself, the other for my son and the third for my wife.
Because he was a wise and versatile man. He then made a deal with the king of the Swedes.
Act III
(11) Male Chorus Speech: Although the Gotlandish people where pagans they sailed with all kinds of goods to every land both Christian and pagan.
(12) Cristindomj (Christianity): When the people of Gotland saw the customs of Christian men, they started to listen to gods commandment and learned men‘s teaching and took unanimously Christianity by their own free will - and without force - so no one forced them to become Christians. |
Phantasmagoria - Gutasagan
The myth of the creation of gotland
1. Overture: Voice - Karin Höghielm, Clarinet - Lena Thermaænius,
Piano - Johan Ohlsson.
Act I
2. Spoken word: Voice - Karin Höghielm.
3. Huita stiernas draum: Soprano - Karin Höghielm, Tenor -Torgny Centre,
Bariton - Thomas Fröger.
4. Spoken word: Voice - Karin Höghielm.
5. Hafthas aria: Alto - Nandi Vileika, Tenor - Torgny Centre,
Bariton - Thomas Fröger.
6. Thria thritiunga: Alto - Nandi Vileika, soprano - Karin Höghielm,
Tenor - Torgny Centre, Barton - Thomas Fröger.
7. Tragical choralspeech: Alto - Nandi Vileika, Soprano - Karin Höghielm,
Tenor - Torgny Centre, Bariton - Thomas Fröger.
8. Soprano aria: Soprano - Nandi Vileika, Cello - Per Tidstrand,
Clarinet - Lena Thermaenius.
Act II
9. Mangir kunungar: Soprano - Nandi Vileika, Alto - Karin Höghielm,
Tenor - Torgny Centre, Bariton - Thomas Fröger, Percussions - Klas Hjortstam.
10. Avair strabains aria: Bariton - Thomas Fröger, Clarinet - Lena
Thermænius, Karin Höghielm - Dulcimer, Cace-dish, Organ.
Act III
11. Male chorus speech: Tenor - Torgny Centre, Bariton - Thomas Fröger.
12. Cristindomj: leading soprano - Karin Höghielm, Bariton - Thomas
Fröger, High Soprano - Nandi Vileika, Percussion - Klas Hjortstam.
13. Gutland: Soprano - Karin Höghielm, Clarinet - Lena Thermænius,
Piano -Johan Ohlsson.
Short info about the composer
Studies in compositions, classical vocal training, Classical piano, cello, art, dance & movement...
Has created several original musical performances and also composed pieces for dance, theatre, water/light shows, short films and poetry recitals.
The voice is her main instrument and she always try to explore new ways of singing. She has a genuine interest in u sing distinguished language such as old Gotlandish, Gutniska and Latin in her works. During her music performances she also plays the dulcimer, bone flute, mouth organ and percussion.
Her new cd Fabra contains newly-composed chamber music (Särart Productions 2004).
She is performing solo and with ensemble.
Background of Phantasmagoria - Gutasagan
My name is Karin Höghielm and I work as a composer, singer and musician based in Sweden.
As I was born and raised on Gotland, the island of the Baltic Sea, Gutasagan, the creation myth of Gotland, was the obvious choice for me.
My first thought, when I was asked to participate in this OOPPERA-project, was that these compositions would take no time at all to complete.
After several month of composing, rehearsing and finally recording I knew better: It‘s like working with a miniature painting. Every detail must be there to give the whole picture.
The myth is probably written down in the 13th century, but was not printed until the year 1687. How do you transform the creation myth of Gotland, 500 hundred years of adventure with a libretto in old Gotlandish (gutniska), this fascinating but extinct language, into a short opera?
Old Greek dramas, Gregorian music, Swedish folk music-tradition and contemporary music have inspired the musical style. My main goal with Phantasmagoria was to create a feeling of primitive Scandinavia and give voices to my ancestors.
Finally, I would like to thank all singers and musicians for their contribution to this opera. Thank you! |
