Song Descriptions
The song lyrics are originals and newer versions of ancient prayers, intercessions and songs of praise in Sanskrit, a language which is no longer spoken today. The original texts are mostly from the Vedas – the holy scriptures of Hinduism – and are between three and six thousand years old. Eliana Fe became acquainted with the texts on various trips to India and set them to music. She spontaneously created the melodies from improvisations while practicing at the piano, which she then wrote down afterwards with a simple piano accompaniment. The songs are comparable to European classical songs. Because of the many repetitions, they also refer a little to the Kirtan and Bhajan tradition.
Piano arrangements and choral songs
Since Eliana Fe wrote her songs with a very simple piano accompaniment, she commissioned two experienced pianists and arrangers who, in collaboration with her, arranged the simple piano accompaniments into a more complex sound, both in terms of harmonics and pianistic possibilities.
- Munich pianist, composer and university lecturer Daniel Scholz www.daniel-scholz.de arranged all 10 songs of the CD Surrender to the Divine
- For the two songs Nada te turbe and Tryambakam and for the three four-part choral songs she commissioned the experienced pianist, composer, arranger and accompanist Manuela Dominguez-Cadisch, who works at the Zurich Opera House and at the Salzburg Festival: www.korrepetition.org
The choral songs were created in 2018 from the two songs for soprano and piano Nada te turbe and Tryambakam. In addition, a third song for four-part choir was created: Ave Maria after a prayer by Niklaus von der Flüe. Manuela Dominguez-Cadisch not only created the four-part choir arrangements, but also the piano arrangements
Interested choirs and conductors can take a look at the sheet music here