for Soprano Solo, SATB Chorus (divisi) unaccompanied
By Cyril Deaconoff
"A Northern Tale" explores the expressive possibilities of words from an old folk legend through various forms of text painting and colorful harmonic combination. The text, which I adapted, is an interpretation of epic ballades from northern Russia by Nikolay Kliuev, a poet who suffered for his Christian faith at the hands of the Communist regime. The themes of the beauty of nature and Russian folk festivities are combined with the motive of resistance and spiritual perseverance.