May 17th celebrations 2021

Dear members and friends,

This newsletter is all about the May 17th celebrations 2021.

Monday 17th May, 7PM
Online celebration of 17. Mai / 17th May – Norway’s National Constitution Day
Email to let us know you are attending (free for members): contact@welshnorwegian.org

17. May / 17th May

As usual this time of year we are looking forward to 17th May! Unfortunately the Norwegian Church in Cardiff will not be reopening any time soon, so we have been working hard to make the online celebration something special.

It was such a joy last year, and this time we are better prepared. We already have quite a lineup ready to go including the official 17th May speech by Cato Syversen, live poetry readings and official greetings from Norway and Wales. Our highlight of the event will be a pre-recorded concert by Marita Lervik made at the Norwegian Church during the last lockdown. This concert has been made especially in celebration of our Welsh-Norwegian connection and cultural heritage (see below for info).  WNS is delighted to welcome our Scottish sister societies and the Anglo-Norse Society to join us as well.

Please send us a quick email to let us know you are joining the celebrations online (free for members): contact@welshnorwegian.org

St. Hans midsummer camp out will not be going ahead at its usual venue. We are very optimistic that both May 17th and St. Hans will go ahead face to face next year!

17th May concert

Marita Lervik is a soprano from Bergen, Norway, currently in the final year of her MMus degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

As a special treat for our members we have had a concert with Marita professionally recorded in the main room of the Norwegian Church in Cardiff.

Through the concert she explores the journey of the Norwegian seafarers who came to Wales, through music by Norwegian and Welsh composers. Accompanied by pianist Sharon Richards, this concert is recorded in the 151 year old Norwegian church in Cardiff, which served as place of worship for the Norwegian sailors and a home away from home. The programme is a musical representation of the seafarers’ journey starting in Norway, travelling past England and arriving in Wales.

It consists of a variety of classical pieces for voice and piano by Norwegian, Welsh and English composers.

Edvard Grieg:
 
Norge (Norway) Op. 58
1 Hjemkomst (Homeward)
2 Til Norge (To the Motherland)
3 Henrik Wergeland
4 Turisten (The Shepherdess)
5 Udvandreren (The Emigrant)
 
Roger Quilter: 
 
4 Songs of the Sea Op. 1
1 I have a Friend
2 The Sea-Bird
3 Moonlight
4 By the Sea
 
3 Songs of William Blake Op. 20
1 Dream Valley
2 The Wild Flower’s Song
3 Daybreak
 
Morfydd Owen:
 
Spring
 4 Flower Songs:
1 Daisy’s Song
2 Speedwell
3 To Violets
4 God Made a Lovely Garden