A song inspired by the martyrdom of Saint Lucy (Sankta Lucia). It's said that the detail about her eyes being gouged out may very well be historically inaccurate - something added by monks in the Middle Ages (reflecting the morbidity of that era) - but the story has stuck, so I thought I'd write something that both acknowledges that horrible aspect, but at the same time inspires hope. The entire lyric in Swedish is "De tog dina ögon/men de släkte ej ditt ljus" which means, "they took your eyes/but they couldn't douse your flame."

In Sweden, Saint Lucy is celebrated all over the country, especially in schools, on December 13th, normally with a "Luciatåg" (literally, Lucia train) - a choir which walks into a room (or a church) singing Sankta Lucia, and then a concert of around 10 songs before they walk out again, repeating the Sankta Lucia song. There are many "standards" but also some more unusual songs which make their way into the repertoire. 

This piece may be a bit morbid for the youngest, but I think it could work for middle school and up.

Lucias Ögon

Piece for strings, marimba, percussion and choir.
Nathaniel Glasser and Elin Jakobsson, vocals
mixed by Jonathan Segel

Rise Up!

When I was 16, I won a local piano competition in the town where I went to high school. I had studied from 6 years old with Benita Rose, then in high school I started with Patricia Bellingham. They both taught me everything I needed to know in order to win, I was and am grateful to both of them!
1st prize meant you got to play something with the local orchestra, the Willimantic Philharmonic, known lovingly as "The Willy Philly." 
Barbara Vaughn, my first violin teacher, was (and is??) concert master, and her husband David Vaughn conducted. I was always mesmerised David's conducting. My mother Irene played bassoon there. Nice memories!
Thanks to Jonathan Segel for removing most of the buzz on the track which was recorded with a tape cassette recorder.

Piano Concert in D minor, K. 466, 2nd movement, Romance

Canon written upon the so-called Andalusian cadence which use the harmonies Am-G-F-E. 

It's a 3-part canon originally intended for recorder, but recorded with violin instead. 

If you're interested in the sheet music, please write to diipak@diipak.org

copyright 2021 @Nathaniel Glasser Skog

Spanish Canon

Musician, composer, educator.
Born and raised in Connecticut, USA, to a musical family, studied music education at UMass, Amherst, situated in Stockholm, Sweden since 2004.
Here are some of my musical ideas, works in progress, and recordings.

Nathaniel Glasser Skog

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