Eric Ericson

Eric Ericson (born 26 October 1918 in Borås), is a Swedish choral conductor and influential choral teacher. He graduated from the Royal College of Music (Kungl. Musikhögskolan) in Stockholm in 1943 and went on to complete his studies abroad, at the Schola Cantorum in Basel, Switzerland, and in Germany, Great Britain, and the United States. Renowned for his innovative teaching methods and the wide-ranging nature of his repertoire, Ericson was the principal conductor of the Orphei Drängar choir at Uppsala University from 1951 until 1991, and choirmaster until 1982 of the Swedish Radio Choir which was established on his initiative in 1951. Also in 1951, he began his teaching career at Musikhögskolan, where he became a legendary and inspirational figure, and he was appointed to the chair of choral conducting there in 1968.

In 1997 Ericson shared the Polar Music Prize with Bruce Springsteen. The citation was for "pioneering achievements as a conductor, teacher, artistic originator and inspirer in Swedish and international choral music". He has also guest conducted many leading vocal groups, such as the Netherlands Chamber Choir, Groupe Vocal de France, BBC Singers, RIAS Kammerchor, Vienna State Opera Choir and many more. On the occasion of his 80th birthday in 1998, the Swedish bank Swedbank endowed an "Eric Ericson Chair in Choral Directing" to Uppsala University.

Discography

Eric Ericson Chamber Choir

Ingvar Lidholm - De Profundis Tomas Jennefelt - Villarosa Sarialdi Sven-David Sandstrom - Ave Maria Jorgen Jersild - Min Yndlingdal Bo Holten - Regn og ruskog Rosenbusk Thorkell Sigurbjornsson - Lofsongur Engla Knut Nystedt - O Crux Einojuhani Rautavaara - Die Erste Elegie

The venerable, renowned 28 mixed-voice EECC brings us a collection of 6 eclectic pieces by avant-garde, contemporary Swedish composers Jan Sandstrom, Anders Hillborg, Anders Eliasson, Thomas Jennefelt and Sven David Sandstrom. Jan Sandstrom's Two Choral Poems is based on words by Harry Martinson, Hillborg's surreal, etheric piece (with an undecipherable, upside-down name) has no words, Elisson's "Breathing Room" is a fascinating, dissonant vocal smorgasbord, Jennefelt's powerful "O Domine" dramatically explores attitudes to death before becoming tranquil and reflective. And finally, Sven Sandstrom's "Etude No. 4, as in E minor" is based on a melancholy poem by Tobias Berggren that uses the waning of summer as a metaphor for similar changes in humankind. A strong, surprising, cutting edge collection from one of Europe's most versatile and innovative chamber choirs.

Swedish Contemporary Vocal Music Vol 1

Laudi (Lidholm) Canto LXXXI ...a riveder le stelle Canzone 126 di Francesco Petrarca Op. 6 (Werle) Trees

Eric Ericson presents contemporary Swedish choral music on a CD of which a noted reviewer wrote: "It’s almost too good! Two of our foremost 20th century composers are each represented by their five foremost compositions, performed by our best choir and our foremost choral conductor - and, moreover, with a quality of sound engineering both bright and beautiful."

Swedish Contemporary Vocal Music Vol 2

Natten är framskriden (Back) Jesus tänk på mig Mörkret skall skilja Gloria (Edlund) Elegi Nenia Succsim (Mellnas) Dream Turba (Maros)

Texture and dynamics are among Eric Ericson’s main tools for this Volume 2 of contemporary Swedish choral music. Sven-Erik Bäck, Lars Edlund, Miklos Maros and Arne Mellnäs are presented - that is to say, some of our most eminent composers, represented by works of which several are classics already. “A superb presentation of the current high standard of Swedish choral music” was one reviewer’s verdict.

Swedish Contemporary Vocal Music Vol 3

Jan Sandsrom - Tva korpoem: Anrop (Harry Martinson) Jan Sandsrom - Tva japanska landskap (Harry Martinson) Anders Hillborg - Anders Eliasson - Breathing Room (Tomas Transtromer) Thomas Jennefelt - O, Domine Sven David Ssanstrom - Eytd Nr 4 som iE-moll (Tobias Berggren)

The venerable, renowned 28 mixed-voice EECC brings us a collection of 6 eclectic pieces by avant-garde, contemporary Swedish composers Jan Sandstrom, Anders Hillborg, Anders Eliasson, Thomas Jennefelt and Sven David Sandstrom. Jan Sandstrom's Two Choral Poems is based on words by Harry Martinson, Hillborg's surreal, etheric piece (with an undecipherable, upside-down name) has no words, Elisson's "Breathing Room" is a fascinating, dissonant vocal smorgasbord, Jennefelt's powerful "O Domine" dramatically explores attitudes to death before becoming tranquil and reflective. And finally, Sven Sandstrom's "Etude No. 4, as in E minor" is based on a melancholy poem by Tobias Berggren that uses the waning of summer as a metaphor for similar changes in humankind. A strong, surprising, cutting edge collection from one of Europe's most versatile and innovative chamber choirs.

A Cradle Song

Hear My Prayer, O Lord April and Silence Etude No 4 as in E Minor A Cradle Song - The Tyger A New Heaven and A New Earth Agnus Dei

The 28-strong mixed-voice, much-awarded Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, founded by Eric in 1945, has continually searched out new music and maintained a central position on the Swedish and international music scene. This and their pure "Nordic" sound has made them the ideal ensemble for several generations of Swedish composers, in this case Sven-David Sandstrom, whose groundbreaking 1978 piece "A Cradle Song/The Tyger" is presented here. There are 6 movements in this eclectic, spiritual work, "Hear My Prayer, O Lord," "April and Silence," "Etude No. 4 as in E Minor" (based on a strange, moody secular poem by Tobias Berggren), the title song, with text by William Blake, "A New Heaven and A New Earth," and "Agnus Dei." The extensive liner notes, in Swedish and English, have all the lyrics, and information about the composers and their sources. Breathtaking and unique material from the EECC.

7781 CD $15.98

Swedish Choral Music From Berg to Bark

Three Latin Hymns: Veni creator spiritus Three Latin Hymns: Miserere Three Latin Hymns: Ave Maria Huru ljuvliga äro icke dina boningar Lär oss betänka huru få vara dagar äro Kyrie Johannes såg så klar en syn De som med tårar så Se, såsom en handsbredd (Motett) Om I vänden om och ären stilla (Motett) Det brinner på en ö som heter jorden (Koral) Det brinner på en ö som heter jorden (Koral) Jag känner dig i nöden (Koral) Den stund är värd att prisa Ty så älskade Gud världen Ty så älskade Gud världen Som sådden förnimmer Guds välbehag Ur Adventsbön Lov vare dig, o Jesu Krist (Koralpartita) Toccata a-moll Psalmus vespertinus Fantasia ostinata

The new musical ideas emerging during the thirties and forties in the Church of Sweden came as a reaction against romantic ideals and dreamlike sound pictures. The focus of attention now turned to earlier music. Authentic performance became de rigeur, and the New Objectivity soon beccame both art form and life-style. The music which resulted seems today amazingly fresh and timeless. Eric Ericson directs his own choir in performances of choral compositions from Gottfrid Berg to Sven-Erik Bäck, many of which he premièred. We hear Rolf Stenholm at the 1949 organ of the Oscar Church, Stockholm.

The Real Group: Stamning

En vanlig gronskas rika drakt (Sommarpsalm) Uti var hage Aftonen I furuskogen Den blomstertid nu kommer Sverige Gladjens blomster Kung Liljekonvalje Forvarskvall Det ljusnar Som stjarnan uppa himmelen sa klar Harlig ar jorden I Seraillets have Och jungfrun hon gar i ringen I denna ljuva sommartid I himmelen, i himmelen Om alla berg och dalar En sommarafton Limu, limu, lima Pingst Stjarntandning Stamning

It always seems much too long between releases of the legendary Real Group, arguably one of the finest a cappella groups of all time and of course one of Primarily A Cappella's best selling artists. "Stamning" is a gem, leaning more towards the choral side of this three-man, two-woman Swedish group. This is their first CD under the direction of Eric Ericson, well-known Swedish director, who first worked with them when they where members of his acclaimed Swedish Radio Choir years before. The twenty two songs are a tribute to the great Swedish composers, featuring a wide selection of folk, religious and traditional songs. With a long and well respected history of vocal harmony singing Sweden has, over the years, produced many great composers and this recording features some of the best of them all. Touching, hauntingly beautiful songs with polished, perfectly blended harmonies sung by the most beautiful of ensembles. Amazing!
Listen to "Sverige" in Real Audio.

Rundrunkchor Stockholm / Stockholm Kammerchor:
Eric Ericson Conducts 500 Years of European Choral Music

Fest - und Gedenkspruche, op. 109 O Tod, Wie Bitter Bist Du, op. 110 Friede Auf Erden, op. 13 Deutsche Motette, op. 62 Elegi Vier Slowalische Volkslieder Ungarische Volkslieder Morgen Nacht Lux Aerterna Itene O Miei Sospiri Amor Vittorioso Ecco Mormorar L'onde I Gonolleri Toast pour Le Nouvel An La Passehiata Nonsense Due Composizioni Corali Gyro Trois Chansons De Charles D'Orleans Trois Chansons Bretonnes Trois Chanson Figure Humaine Ariel - Chrousus From Shakespeare's The Tempest The Sweet And Merry Month What If I Never Speed Fire! Fire! Spem In Alium Hymn To St. Cecilia

Beginning in 1950 with the Swedish Radio Choir and later with the Stockholm Chamber Choir, Eric Ericson has produced a series of unsurpassed chral ensembles and outstanding recording. In the 1970s, Ericson's two multiple-LP sets on EMI records (Virtuoso Choral Music and Five Hundred Years of European Choral Music) were not only the pinnacle of recorded choral art, but also very hard to come by. Now once again widely available on CD, these treasures can be enjoyed and wondered at anew.

Eric Ericson Chamber Choir: Khoros

Laudi (1947) for mixed chorus The Pillar of Time (Tidens pelare) The Sea (Havet) Breaking Up (Uppbrott) Afterwards (Efteråt) Tre Visor Canto LXXXI The Persians Libera me Motto Two Greek Epigrams Greek Gravestone Three Strindberg Songs A Dream Play ...a riveder de stelle

Ingvar Lidholm has composed some 25 works for choir a cappella and the majority of these were given their inaugural performance by Eric Ericson and his Chamber Choir. For sixty years this collaboration, firm as a mountain ridge, has been central to Swedish postwar music: liberate music for professional choristers based on literary texts and aiming for powerful and rich sonorities and expressivity.

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