Life considered as a journey towards an unknown goal, the coming of night (i.e. death), the struggle between faith and doubt in front of the eternal mystery of the Universe are the main themes of the last book (« Aftonland ») of the great Swedish writer Pär Lagerkvist as well as of the song-cycle for medium voice and piano that Gerard Hilpipre composed in 2000 on five poems took from that book.
Pureness of the vocal line, density of harmony and richness of the piano part, all tend, here, to intense expression.
C’est au soir qu’on lève le camp 4'
Un jour tu seras de ceux qui vécurent jadis 2'30''
Ma nostalgie n’est pas mienne 4'15''
Tiens-moi dans ta main inconnue 2'45''
J’écoute le vent 4'30''