One of the Swedish composers who has written music with clear links to spirituality is Tommie Haglund, who we meet at the autumn’s first Thursday Talk on the nature of heavenly songs, “Sådan är den himmelska sången” (28 September), with, among others, historian of ideas David Dunér.
Also connected to spirituality is a concert by the Lund University Academic Orchestra and the Lund Cathedral choirs, performing ”David’s Psalm 98” (11 November) by the former cathedral organist and director of music, Wilhelm Gnosspelius.
Cathedral organist Robert Bennesh and director of music Patrik Andersson join music researchers Tobias Lund and Jonas Lundblad for a discussion on music’s spiritual dimensions entitled “Musik som andens och handens språk” (16 November).
In addition to events focusing on spirituality, Odeum also offers a grand jubilee concert in mid- November when the Lund Academic Choir celebrates 75 years (18 November) as a mixed choir, as well as a portrait of composer Rolf Martinsson, one of Sweden’s most performed composers (3 October). And don’t miss “Anna’s Dollhouse” a jazz suite composed by the Danish jazz saxophonist Benjamin Koppel with lyrics by Cæcilie Norby (5 October).
The autumn concludes, of course, with Odeum’s traditional Christmas concerts with the Lund Academic Choir and Lund University Academic Orchestra (9, 12 and 13 December) to create the appropriate atmosphere prior to the impending Christmas festivities, as well as the Palaestra Vocal Ensemble’s concert featuring cantata 4-6 from one of essential works for Christmas, Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Christmas Oratorio” (21 December).
Keep an eye on Odeum’s website during the autumn for updated information. A printed version of the programme can be collected from the foyer of Palaestra et Odeum.