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Bonorum Summum Omnium

Commissioned by Lund University/Odeum to Akademiska Kapellet

Soprano, computer and symphonic orchestra

2008

Stefan Klaverdal

 

Score as PDF-file

Recording as mp3

 

 

About the piece

Bonorum Summum Omnium is something of a piece on religion and science. Or perhaps it is about the scientific way of searching for religion or faith. As the lyrics state, the basis for the university is to study to find the best way to worship the Lord. It is interesting how the biblical text from the Gospel of Mathew seemingly contradict the very basis on which the University is founded, and even the short text from the Old Testament says that wisdom comes from God.

 

On a more personal level, this is also a way for me to try to convince myself that everything is well with my family, since my wife has had a serious and potentially deadly illness, but is now cured. The title "everything is good" is in this context very meaningful for me.

 

First performed in Kristianstad, april 26th 2008 by Akademiska Kapellet, Patrik Andersson (cond.) and Agnes WŠstfelt (sopr.)

 

 

 

 

Technical information:

To play the computer part, the patch for MAX/MSP is needed from the composer.

It is self-sufficient, and will guide the player through the performance.

 

One will also need a computer capable of running the MAX/MSP runtime environment.

The patch is only tested on Apple computers, and will run nicely on a G4 867MHz.

A soundcard with one in and two out is also needed. It has to be set to very low latency.

 

Other equipment:

A PA-system with two smaller speakers (Genelec 1029 or equivalent) to be placed as close to the singer as possible.

A microphone for the singer connected to the soundcard

 

 

 


SVENSKA

 

Bonorum Summum Omnium

BestŠllt av Lund Universitet/Odeum till Akademiska Kapellet

Sopran, dator och symfoniorkester

2008

Stefan Klaverdal

 

Bonorum Summum Omnium Šr pŒ flera plan ett stycke om fšrhŒllandet mellan religion och vetenskap. Kanske handlar det om det vetenskapliga sškandet efter religion och tro. I texten (Lunds Universitets Stiftelsebrev) talas det om att grunden fšr Lunds Universitet Šr att studera fšr att hitta det bŠsta sŠttet att Šra Gud. Under arbetet med verket fann jag det fascinerande att se hur texten ur Matteusevangeliet nŠstan motsŠger den idŽmŠssiga grund som Universitetet vilar pŒ. €ven den korta texten frŒn Gamla testamentet talar om att sann visdom kommer frŒn Gud.

 

PŒ ett mer personligt plan var arbetet med ÓBonorumÓ ett sŠtt att fšrsška švertyga mig om att allt Šr bra med min familj. Min fru hade just tillfrisknat frŒn en allvarlig och potentiellt dšdlig sjukdom och titeln ÓDet bŠsta som finnsÓ blir i detta sammanhang oerhšrt meningsfull fšr mig.

 

Uruppfšrt i Kristianstad konserthus, 26:e april 2008 av Akademiska Kapellet, Patrik Andersson (dir.) och Agnes WŠstfelt (sopr.)

 

 


Original lyrics

 

Bonorum summum omnium                                                                                    

Humanae vitae labilis

Vel hoc sit, quod dono dei                                                                  

Assiduum per studium

Mortales adipisci valeant

Scientiae margaritam

(Boetius)

 

 

fšrty uti dem icke allenast vŠgen visas till att mŠrka och iakktaga Guds stora verk och under samt den obegrundliga makt och vŠlde, hvarmed den hšgste Gud denna verldens byggnad regerar och uppehŒller,

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

Ve er ni skriftlŠrda och fariseer,

(Mathew 23:13)

 

utan ock derjemte, erkannerligen  sedan fšrmedelst Guds nŒd den rŠtta christendomens rena ljus i verlden hafver begynt att skina underrŠttas huru den hšgste regerande Herren troligen och rŠtt skall dyrkas, 

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

ni hycklare som stŠnger till himmelriket fšr mŠnniskorna.

(Mathew 23:13)

 

hedras och Šras,                 

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

Ni gŒr inte sjŠlva in,           

(Mathew 23:13)

 

hvarutaf den všrdnad och innerliga gudsfruktan uppstŒ mŒste som en kŠlla och ursprung Šr till all sŒ andelig som verldslig vŠslignelse;

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

och dem som vill komma dit in slŠpper ni inte in.

(Mathew 23:13)

 

 

Omnis sapientia a Domino Deo est:

et cum illo fuit semper, et est ante ¾vum

(The Book of Jesus of Sirach / Ecclesiasticus 1:1)

 


Rudimentary english translation by the composer

 

Of all possessions in frail human life

shurely the highest is this:

that by the grace of God

through zealous study,

mortals may attain

to the pearl of knowledge

(Boetius)

 

 

although to them not only show the way to notice and beware of the great work and wonders of God and the mysterious power and domination by which the highest God rule this building that is the world,

 (regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

(...)woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,

(Mathew 23:13)

 

but also acknowledged since through the grace of God and by his mercy we may find the true light of Christianity in the world understand how the highest Lord possibly and truly should be worshiped,

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men,

(Mathew 23:13)

 

honoured and glorified,     

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

for ye neither go in yourselves,               

(Mathew 23:13)

 

from which that reverence and devout fear of God must rise as a source and well to all but spiritual as well as worldly blessing;

(regarding  the foundation of Lund University by Her Royal Highness Hedvig Eleonora 1668)

 

neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

(Mathew 23:13)

 

 

All wisdom is from the Lord God, and hath been always with him, and is before all time.

(The Book of Jesus of Sirach / Ecclesiasticus 1:1)