Kim André Arnesen
Magnificat*

Leroy Anderson 
A Christmas festival

• Kim André Arnesen’s Magnificat, composed in 2010, has in just a few years become one of the most beloved works of the new Nordic sacred-music repertoire. The Norwegian composer succeeds in uniting tradition and modernity with remarkable naturalness: his music is luminous, accessible, and deeply evocative, capable of giving new life to the celebrated text of the Canticle of Mary.

Conceived for choir, chamber orchestra, and soprano soloist, the work—approximately forty minutes in length—follows the Latin text from the Gospel of Luke (1:46–55), articulated in seven movements, each introduced by an expressive indication that shapes its spiritual atmosphere:

1. Magnificat (with wonderment)
2. Ecce enim (with devotion)
3. Qui fecit (piously)
4. Et misericordia (with thankfulness) 
5. Fecit potentiam (with humbleness)
6. Suscepit Israel (with compassion)
7. Gloria patri (with hope)
    

The opening unfolds in a climate of serene wonder: the choir intones broad, singable melodic lines supported by a transparent orchestration that favors gentle timbres and bright colors. The soprano soloist—symbol of Mary’s inner meditation—emerges with delicacy and at times intertwines with the choir in a dialogue that alternates intimacy and radiance.

Arnesen displays remarkable attention to sonic detail: modal harmonies, calm pulsations, and vocal phrases that seem to rise upward create an atmosphere of tranquil spirituality.

The Magnificat has achieved wide international success also thanks to the recording by the Nidaros Cathedral Girls’ Choir with Trondheim Solistene, nominated for the 2016 Grammy Awards in the Best Surround Sound Album category. Since then, the work has found a place in the programs of numerous choirs around the world, appreciated for its accessibility, melodic richness, and profound spiritual expressiveness. With its fusion of lyrical simplicity and contemporary sensibility, Arnesen’s Magnificat offers a meditative and compelling listening experience, capable of moving even those who approach sacred music with a fresh perspective.