EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
Opening Ceremony : Aarhus 2017
One of the largest community participation events ever held in Denmark, Aarhus 2017 and Nigel Jamieson created a procession including several thousand lanterns, six huge Viking ships, almost a thousand choir singers, musicians and several thousand citizens, transforming Aarhus City Centre into a floating sea of people, music and epic spectacle. Basil was the musical director and main composer for the event, working with Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, hundreds of choir singers, musicians from around the world who have made Aarhus their home, and many more. The soundtrack, with extensive notes and credits, is below.
AARHUS 2017 Opening Ceremony.. The Music
The People's Opening is a procession that follows a mythical narrative that takes us from a primeval past, the origins of culture in Denmark, all the way to the world as it is now and beyond, finishing with a question about how Aarhus can lead the world into the future as 2017 ECOC. The music's main function is to help tell that story together with the visual spectacle, to create an atmosphere of wonder, and also showcase some of the best talent in Aarhus and beyond.
There are many local musicians and musical groups that have been invited to contribute to the music for the People's Opening, including the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, composer Jakob Buchanan, and singers Eivör, Luna Bülow Ersahin , guided by the musical expertise and advice of composer and sound artist Marie K. Højlund. The choirs are directed by conducter Carsten Seyer-Hansen. Composer and producer Basil Hogios was invited to weave this musical puzzle together into a complete score for the Opening by working with the local artists, arranging their existing songs and also traditional music such as “Drømte mig en drøm i nat” and “Frydeligt med jubelkor”, and composing and producing new music into a flowing and continuous musical experience.
Musical contributors
Musical Director, Composer, Arranger: Basil Hogios
Musical advisors, Aarhus: Marie K. Højlund and Morten Riis
Composer for Aarhus Jazz Orchestra: Jakob Buchanan
Aarhus Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Søren K. Hansen
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra, conducted by Carsten Seyer-Hansen
Choirs: Concert Clemens, Aarhus Pigekor, MidtVest Pigekor, Herning Drengekor, Skt Clemens Drengekor
Choir Director: Carsten Seyer-Hansen
Choir arrangements: Ingeborg Thisted Højlund, Jakob Buchanan, Basil Hogios
Choir soloists: Ingeborg Thisted Højlund, Nadja Marie Schmedes Enevoldsen
Choir for ‘Skyerne Gråne, og løvet falder’: The Danish National Opera. Conducted by Ole Farschou
"Falling Free" + "Salt" written by Eivör Pálsdóttir, vocals: Eivör Pálsdóttir
“Sounds Like Hope" written by Eivör Pálsdóttir, main vocals: Eivör Pálsdóttir, vocals: Luna Ersahin Bülow, Birk Øster, Marie K. Højlund
"Kus Dili", written by Luna Ersahin Bülow– main vocals: Luna Ersahin Bülow
Kus Dili choir: Walat Issu, Salam Susu, Camilla Dayyani, Ahmad Ghasemi, Marie K. Højlund, Nadja Marie Schmedes Enevoldsen
Kus Dili Musicians: Aske Døssing Bendixen, Jakob Sommerlund Moestrup, Cahit Ece, Benedicte Adrian, Fathi Amouni, Orhan Turan.
Music Editor and mixer: Anders Boll
Music production credits:
Aarhus Symphonic Orchestra recordings Producer: Hjarne Fessel
Orchestrator: Rasmus Bosse
Conducter: Søren K. Hansen
Recording engineer / Mixer : Henrik Winther Hansen Recording operator: Lars Reker
Composition and arrangement: Basil Hogios
Aarhus Jazz Orchestra recordings Producer: Rasmus Bøgelund
Conducter: Carsten Seyer-Hansen Sound engineer: Thomas Qvist
Mixer: Henrik Kjærgaard and Anders Boll Lur soloists:
Brass soloist: Michael Bladt, Cesar Joaniquet, Stefan Ringive
Composition: Jakob Buchanan
Arrangement: Jakob Buchanan, Ingeborg Thisted Højlund
The National Danish Opera recording of "Skyerne Gråner"
Producer: Peter Pade
Conducter: Ole Farschou
Sound engineer / mixer: Anders Boll
Arrangement: Basil Hogios
Choir recordings
Aarhus Pigekor, Midtvest Pigekor, Herning Drengekor, Concert Clemens Koret, Skt Clemens Drengekor
Conducter: Carsten Seyer-Hansen
Recording engineer/ mixer : Henrik Winther Hansen
Recording operator: Henrik Birk Aabo
Composition and arrangements: Ingeborg Thisted Højlund, Jakob Buchanan and Basil Hogios
Regional choir coordinator: Marianne Langberg
