Reduced hymn to the sun
Urs Stäuble has arranged Hermann Suter's oratorio "Le Laudi" for performances with a smaller cast.
The oratorio Le Laudi based on St. Francis of Assisi's Canticle of the Sun and composed by Hermann Suter (1870-1926) was premiered in Basel exactly one hundred years ago and made him internationally famous. The popular piece is still performed from time to time, but the large personnel and financial outlay for such a late romantic "ham" often exceeds the possibilities of smaller choirs.
Urs Stäuble, who has already made a name for himself with other reductions, has now published a skillful chamber version with Musikverlag Hug in Zurich. He has reduced the original score to a string quintet, which can adapt to the size of the choir, a percussionist and organ, which takes over the relevant wind parts. The vocal parts remain unchanged so that the existing piano score (also by Hug) can continue to be used. In addition to a suitable performance venue, where a well-positioned organ must be close to the performers, experienced players are needed for the string parts, some of which are very virtuoso.
A highly recommended chamber version that makes this moving work accessible to smaller choirs.
Hermann Suter: Le Laudi di San Francesco d'Assisi (Canticle of the Sun), chamber version by Urs Stäuble, score, Hug Musikverlage, Zurich
