Ragnar Soderlind(1945-): a Norwegian Symphonist

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Some of you might be interested to learn that Soderlind has split his massive 80-minute Symphony No. 10 into two symphonies.  There is now Symphony No. 10 (2020) lasting almost 30 minutes and Symphony No. 11 from 2021 that is part two of the original symphony lasting nearly 50 minutes.  Symphony No. 10 which was the original first movement seems to be retrospective of some of his recent works...in some ways like Shostakovich No. 15 in the way it recycles motives and instrumental signatures from prior works. 

Symphony No. 10 (subtitled "Corona") references the following works by Söderlind:
Jötunheim (A.O. Vinje) for chorus and orch. op. 122
Hymn to the Earth (Camilla Groth) for chorus and ensemble op. 129
The Lord´s prayer from the opera: Draumkvedet (The Dream Poem) op. 123
The Poacher from A Sparrow in the Eye (Erik Bye) song cycle op. 124
The Love song of Alfred B. Prufrock (T. S. Eliot) op.127
Lullaby from the opera Amalasuintha, Queen of Italy op.121

Symphony No. 11 (subtitled "Corona II") can be considered part two of the same symphony.  Unlike Corona, it is in four separate movements with a passacaglia as the final movement building to a bold finale in a finale unison C. 

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Søderlind's Symphony No. 12 has been completed.  The Voyage – A lyrical symphony for soprano, baritone and orchestra, Symphony No. 12, op. 138 (2023) on poems by Charles Baudelaire (1852).

Baudelaire's poetry often explores themes of longing, desire, and the allure of exploring distant lands for sailor's driven by an insatiable desire for exploration. I read this poem after learning of Søderlind's new symphony and found it captivating and vivid.  I will explore this poet further and hope we'll maybe get to hear this new work.  This composer deserves to be heard!

Instrumentation:
2 Flutes, piccolo
2 Oboes
2 Clarinets, Bass Clarinet
Bassoon, Contrabassoon

4 Horns
2 Trumpets
3 Trombones
Tuba

Timpani
3 percussionists (xylophone, bells, snare drum, two piatti, suspended cymbal, triangle, tam-tam, tambourine, bass drum)

Harp

Soprano solo
Baritone solo

Strings

Duration: 45 minutes