Artist Detailed Info: Eversmiling Liberty

Jens Johansen and Erling Kullberg kept classical music form – oratorio – and composed music specific for its rich melody and rhythm. Rock Oratorio therefore combines old baroque form with modern instruments and expressive means of nonartificial music (rock, jazz, swing, blues). The entire composition was composed in 1990 for mixed choir, alt and tenor solos and instrumental accompaniment including piano, percussions, electric guitars, violins and trumpets.

Rock Oratorio deals with the story of Judas Maccabaeus, the leader of Jewish revolt in 167 BC, who stood against the Seleucid Empire and forced Hellenization of the Jews. Judas, together with his army, finally won the battle against the army of his King Antiochus IV Epiphanes, who forbade Jewish religious practices in Jerusalem.

Authors of rock Oratorio Eversmiling Liberty, Jens Johansen and Erling Kullberg (Denmark) used libretto by Thomas Morell of Oratorio by Georg Friedrich Handel Judas Maccabaeus (1747), In the text of Oratorio is emphasized the determination of Maccabees forever worship the Lord, determination to fight for their right, freedom and people. There are parts describing feelings of despair and sadness (eg. Mourn, Oh wretched Israel) parts describing the bravery of the fighters (eg. Disdainful of danger, Sound an alarm, Never, never bow me down) and parts of longing for freedom and peace, which is eventually achieved (eg. With pious hearts, We worship God, Oh Lovely peace, Come eversmiling liberty) Next to the choir of Israelites and the character of Judas Maccabaeus, there is also a woman (in Handel’s oratorio there is a woman and a man from Israel), who speaks as a voice of Israel’s people, states important facts and emotional movement.

← Go Back