Link to YouTube
Written for the installment of the new bishop in Greenland
Duration: 12 min
Premiere performance: Organist James D. Hicks at Nuuk Cathedral, June 6th 2023
The work consists of two movements:
1. Præludium
2. Postludium
The Præludium is based on the hymn:
– Ii, seqernup qaammaringaarluni (Se, nu stiger solen)
The Postludium is based on the hymns:
– Ilassiuk qujanera (Nu bede vi den Helligånd)
– Qutsinneq Guuti kisiat (Aleneste Gud i Himmerig)
– Guutimit aallartitaasartutit (Du, som går ud fra den levende Gud)
and elements from traditional drum singing with qilaat-accompagnement
Grundfjeldslys (Bedrock Light) was commissioned for the induction of the new bishop of Greenland in Nuuk Cathedral in 2021.
“Præludium” was intended for the procession of the old and new bishop, as well as all the bishops of Denmark, and Queen Margrethe II. A canvas in sound it paints the vastness of nature and geographical features hiding on the big island. It finishes with “Look now, the sun rises from the bosom of the sea”, a hymn to be sung immediate after by the choir.
The “Postludium” was intended as sortie for bishops, queen and congregation at the end of the service. Here three other hymns chosen for the service from the Danish and Greenlandic hymnbook are quoted. Præstholm also looks back at the history of Greenland by citing the rhythm of traditional Greenlandic drum song with quilaat accompaniment to a melody that transforms into Aleneste Gud i Himmerig (Allein Gott) – a chorale version of the Gloria. A battle like section in bi-tonality symbolises Greenland’s transition from paganism to Christianity. The piece comes to an end on the words “bind us together by the bond of faith” in unison from the hymn “We ask the Holy Spirit”.