Exclusive Interview with Composer Morten Lauridsen

The music of Morten Lauridsen has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. His ability to capture the true beauty and potential of the human voice is unmatched. If you’ve heard his music you understand how powerfully moving it can be. That’s why when his new Light Eternal album showed up in my mailbox, I was thrilled to pop it in my CD player and take a listen. This album contains some of the choral works he’s become famous for – Lux aeterna, selections from Les Chansons des Roses, and O Magnum Mysterium. It also contains several world premiere recordings. Light Eternal has become a favorite and you will notice it on the WGUC airwaves. Not long after adding this new release into our library, I received an invitation to interview Mr. Lauridsen. I jumped at the opportunity to speak with this award-winning composer.

Jessica Lorey: Please tell me how your new album with the Chamber Choir of Europe came about.

Morten Lauridsen:

JL: Were the two world premiere recordings on this album composed at Crum’s Castle?
 **Crum’s Castle is the old general store on Waldron Island that Lauridsen purchased years ago – several of his most well-known works were composed here.

ML:

JL: You once said that you seek to capture in music the “beauty beyond description” that you experienced the summer you worked as a firefighter in a national park. How do you tap into that beauty?

ML:

JL: How do you select a text or know a text would be a good match for what you’re looking for in a piece of music?

ML:

JL: I have your Northwest Journey album at home which includes “Where Have the Actors Gone.” When I first heard this piece, it struck me as being much different than many of the works you are known for – it almost has a jazzy feel to it. Do you enjoy writing other types of music other than the choral music you have become known for?

ML:

After hearing that “Where Have the Actors Gone” was a favorite of mine, he proceeded to share more background on how that piece came to be.

ML:


Interested in owning a copy of Light Eternal? When you pledge your support to WGUC during our fund drive later this month, you can request we send a copy to you. It’s our way of saying “thanks.” Just call 513-419-7155 or go to wguc.org and ask about Morten Lauridsen’s latest album. Thanks!