

Kjell Mørk Karlsen Symphonia Fennica
Organ Symphony No. 8 Opus 230
Kjell Mørk Karlsen
SYMPHONIA FENNICA
Organ Symphony No. 8
Opus 230
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Symphonia Fennica – Organ symphony No.8 is based on melodies from the songbook Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et Scholasticae veterum episcoporum (Pious ecclesiastical and school songs of the ancient bishops).
This songbook contents a collection of late medieval Latin songs first published in 1582. It was compiled by Jacobus Finno, at clergyman who was headmaster of the cathedral school at Turku. Publication was undertaken by Theodoricus Petri Rutha of Nyland, who lived from about 1560 to about 1630. He came from an aristocratic family in Finland, and was educated at Rostock.
The collection Piae Cantiones was published in Greifswald, duchy of Pomeriana, Germany, and includes 74 Latin and Swedish/Latin songs that were sung at the time in Finnish cathedral schools, most notably in the cathedral school at Turku. Most of them are religious in nature but some, for example Tempus adest floridum, are secular school songs. The lyrics in the collection testify to the moderate nature of the Protestant Reformation in Sweden. Although some Catholic nuances have been purged, many songs still carry strongs traces of the cult of Virgin Mary (e.g. Ave Maris Stella). Although published as late as 1582, the melodies of Piae Cantiones are medieval by nature. The origin of the songs and melodies varies. Many originate from Central Europe but quite a few seem to have been written in Nordic countries. In 1625 the collection was re-published with 13 further songs.
(From Wikipedia)
Following three melodies from Piae Cantiones are used in Symphonia Fennica.
Melody source:
Den Danske salmebog (The Danish Hymnal) No.721
Det. Kgl. Vajsenhus' Forlag, København 2005
Melody source:
Suomen Evankelis-Luterilaisen Kirkon Virsikirja (The Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church Hymnal) No.97 Sley-Kirjat Oy, Helsinki 1987
Melody source:
Suomen Evankelis-Luterilaisen Kirkon Virsikirja (The Finnish Evangelical-Lutheran Church Hymnal) No.3 Sley-Kirjat Oy, Helsinki 1987
Symphonia Fennica Organ Symphony No.8
Phantasia Fennica
Kjell Mørk Karlsen













