Planeterne Op.80

The Planets, op. 80 for mezzo-soprano, flute, viola and guitar, was composed in spring 1978 and given its first performance on 30 July the same year at the Lerchenborg Music Days. The occasion which led to the composition of the work was the 50th anniversary of the finding of a block book from the second half of the 15th century with texts on the planets. The inspiration came from Louise Lerche-Lerchenborg, who organised the Lerchenborg Music Days, and the work is dedicated to her. In connection with the concert at Lerchenborg, Poul Rovsing Olsen wrote the following about his opus: “The Planets derives from the block book found in Lerchenborg’s library in 1928. Seven fine,coloured drawings tell of the seven celestial bodies which in many European languages have given the weekdays their names. Each drawing is accompanied by a Latin text, under which there is a two-line dictum that briefly – though very concisely – gives an account of the characteristics of the children who belong to that particular celestial body. And these concentrated portrayals form the basis for the music. In the music I have attempted to give indications of my own experience of the particular power and nature characterizing each one of the heavenly bodies, just as I have allowed this cycle of planet songs to pass like a journey through the ethereal realms with motifs that appear, are repeated, are varied and disappear (but only so as to be replaced by new ones), until we finally return to the point of departure. The introduction – Aether – is purely instrumental. Two of the planets – Venus and Luna – are female; in the music written for them small (Indian) cymbals are used that are also present in Aether.”