Atlantis 2
seven miniatures for harp
op. 42, 2010
I. Jasmine
II. Wind in April
III. Rose
IV. A Light in the Darkness
V. Love
VI. Ritual Dance
VII. Lulling to Sleep
For harp solo
Duration: 12 min.
Commissioned by Lavinia Meijer
World premiere: 9 May 2010, Sounds New Festival, Canterbury. Soloist: Lavinia Meijer
World Premiere of the revised version on October 12th, 2024, Terras sem sombra Festival, Portugal. Soloist: Elisabeth Plank
Composer’s notes
Atlantis 2, seven miniatures for harp was commissioned from harpist Lavinia Meijer in 2010 and revised in 2024.
Atlantis 2 is my second composition inspired by the lost continent “Atlantis”. Atlantis – which Plato already wrote about – is considered lost, perhaps this continent exists on an invisible level, but Atlantis still remains far away. Has Atlantis actually been seen, or does it only exist in the imagination?
These thoughts were the inspiration to ask further questions, such as what does jasmine or a rose sound like? What is the sound of wind in April? Like what sounds a light in the dark? Does love has a sound? Does a repetition of a theme already form a ritual? Do I dream these questions during a lullaby?
The starting point of the dramaturgy was to put together different fragments of rhythms, melodies and other less defined sound elements and noises in each piece. In each of the seven miniatures, I want to create a certain mood that opens up its own thought-sound space as a burst of energy or like a breeze.
Atlantis 2 is to be performed under an arc of suspense, with short interpretative breathing pauses between the pieces.