Alfred Bösendorfer: Kap Arkona (Harmonie)

Informatie

In his work “Cape Arcona”, Alfred Bösendorfer portrays Germany’s “North Cape” on the island of Rügen in a colorful way. He shows the beautiful scenery with its white lime cliffs, the unique tree-lined avenues, the thatched cabins of the fishermen and the romantic harbors. He also invites the listener to follow him on an historic excursion.

The majestic introduction shows the calm sea off the cape with a sailing boat in all its splendor.
In the following section – allegro vivo – the composer introduces the so-called Störtebecker-episode. It reminds us of Klaus Störtebecker, one of the most controversial figures of the Middle Ages. He was accepted into the community of pirates near Cape Arcona, and later became one of the most ferocious pirates of the Baltic Sea.
The misterioso section which is to follow conveys yet another impression of the Baltic: somber and alien.
Alfred Bösendorfer uses the slow passage that follows to acquaint us with the history of the cape, when he narrates the story of the legendary fortified temple of the Slavonic population on Cape Arcona and the shrine of their idol Svantevid.
Finally the composer reintroduces the pirate episode and brings “Cape Arcona” to a vivid finale.