The Slow Spring

The Slow Spring is a short and unusual choral setting of the writing of Tom Kristensen, impatiently yearning for the coming of Spring. Kristensen's evocative and stirring poetry, translated to English by Martin Allwood, are employed as both song and accompaniment as the choral group is split into two factions. An set of SATB soloists are set against an SSAA chorus to provide a compelling variety of textures, and the plosive possibilities of the words themselves are fully explored with whispers, held vowels and dramatic percussive consonants.