BACKGROUND AND IDEA The existence of the Arctic ice cap is a continuisly debated subject. Speculations about how life for homo sapiens will change in effect to the climate changes, demographic aswell as geographic, has turned into an everyday topic. This project emanates from this guilt-ridden global threat but wants to illuminate it from a new and different perspective. The presence of dystopias in modern time has set the framework for this analytical and yet suggestive look into the future. Thanks to the human insight that the world, life and the evolution goes on regardless human participation, arises a hollow space that can fit dreams, fantasy and contemplation. This science fiction oratorio of the future is set in that philosofical space

Example from the World premiere in the Baltic Sea festival in Stockholm, Berwaldhallen. Performed by The Swedish Radio Symphonic Orchestra, Choir and the mezzo soprano Malena Ernman conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen.

holocene example 1

holocene example 2

holocene example 3

holocene example 4




THE MUSIC
Dystopias, utopias, creativity and destructivity. All these human expressions and activities has inspired to a heterogen music wich changes between euphoric and anxiety-ridden motions. Transforming from brutal energy and howling emptyness to happines and pride of what we have achieved. The choir is the link between these different musical modes and represents humanity aswell in horror as in calm insightfullness towards her finite nature. All these modes constitutes this profane oratorio for full orchestra, mixed choir and mezzo soprano. The music has influences from film music and rock aswell as classical western art music. Suggestive pulse mixed with unpaved rythmical patterns creates a kind of eclectic aestethic in the context of modern art music.

Jonas Bohlin



THE TEXT
To write about the polar ice means that you have to write about the history, the present age and the future. What only a century ago was described as a frozen hell on earth, a place you could not go to without calculating death as a way home, has now turned into a paradise under direct threat of extinction. One of the few places where you actually can get a feeling of being outside the world. When the ice is melting and the glaciers are calving there is reasons to think about who we are, us who achieved this, and how our dystopias and our view on what we regard as holy affects humans.

Majgull Axelsson



In december 2008 Holocene Oratorio was broadcasted in swedish television together with video art by Lars Siltberg.

In 2009 Holocene Oratorio win the prize for the most interesting vocal and choral piece from "Musikföreningen i Stockholm".