Again & Again

"The Little Match Girl" is among the most famous as well as saddest fairy tales from the pen of the Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen (1805-1875). Over the course of more than one and a half centuries this fable has inspired the imagination of many artists, including the American composer David Lang. In his work "The Little Match Girl Passion", which was awarded the 2008 Pulitzer Prize in music, Lang contrasts the sufferings of this poor little girl with the sufferings of Jesus, inspired by Bach's St. Matthews Passion. The score also requires the a-capella singers to operate a variety of percussive instruments. On this album titled "Again and Again" the Company of Music with choir master Johannes Hiemetsberger also present other Christmas-related choir songs like "First Snow" by Bo Holten, John Tavener's "The Lamb", "Again and Again" von David Lang and "Lullay, My Liking" by Gustav Holst.