Kyrkomusik för 2000-talet. Sven-David Sandström i Bachs fotspår

Abstract

Church Music for the Twenty-First Century. Sven-David Sandström in the Footsteps of Bach

For three years, from 2008 to 2011, Sven-David Sandström was composer in residence in two churches in Stockholm: Stockholm Cathedral and Hässelby Church. His commission was to write two pieces of liturgical music every month, seventy-two compositions in all. Moreover, the compositions were to provide music for every Sunday and feast day of the liturgical year. The article delineates Sandström’s biography and provides background information on the project. Then it goes on to describe some 30 of these very varied compositions, written for a variety of combinations of choir, soloists and musical instruments. The article ends with some reflections on the situation of church music today and the reception of this huge project by the Church of Sweden. The author is former Cathedral organist in Stockholm and was the originator of the commission.