#4803, European Choral Music
There's choral music inspired by folk songs and religious sites from around Europe from Estonian composer Veljo Tormis, English composer Joby Talbot, and Canadian Indigenous musician and composer Jeremy Dutcher.
We’ll start our European tour in Estonia. Hear two pieces from the late Estonian composer Veljo Tormis, who was known for writing choral settings of his home country’s traditional folk songs. The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performs his pieces “The Swing Asks For Gifts” from Swing Songs and “Wee Winky Mouse”. Then, you’ll hear a piece inspired by Tormis from another Estonian composer, Tõnu Kõrvits. His work, “Peegeldused tasasest maast” (Reflections from a Plain) features Anja Lechner on solo cello and himself on the Finnish and Estonian table harp known as the Kantele. Plus, there’s more of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in a piece by Swiss violinist, Paul Giger. His “O Ignis” is an arrangement of a piece by Hildegarde von Bingen, the German abbess and composer from the middle ages.
Then, we’ll travel south to Bulgaria for a selection from the 1975 album, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares (The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices). The Bulgarian Women’s Choir sings “Kalimankou Denkou”, which translates to "The Evening Gathering”. You’ll hear the chorus gather around soloist Yanka Rupkina.
We’ll take a trip to the north of the Iberian Peninsula with Path of Miracles by Joby Talbot. Commissioned by London-based vocal ensemble, Tenebrae, this piece was inspired by the famous Catholic pilgrimage route, the Camino Frances, and each movement was recorded in a church along the route.
We’ll make a quick stop in the British Isles to hear The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge perform Pace by Errollyn Wallen. Wallen writes that this piece can be heard as “a single human breath; as a single line; as a world’s long, long journey to light.”
Plus, an extra choral treat from Canada. Jeremy Dutcher is a Canadian Indigenous musician and composer. In his piece “Sakom” he gathers a 12-voice ensemble of friends to sing in the Wolastoqey language. - Laura Boyman
#4803, European Choral Music (First aired 10/16/23)
ARTIST: Veljo Tormis, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tõnu Kaljuste
WORK: Veljo Tormis: Swing songs: The Swing Asks For Gifts [2:03]
RECORDING: Casting A Spell
SOURCE: Virgin Classics
INFO: veljotormis.com/en
ARTIST: Jeremy Dutcher
WORK: Sakom [2:02]
RECORDING: Motewolonuwok
SOURCE: Secret City Records
INFO: jeremydutcher.bandcamp.com/album/motewolonuwok
ARTIST: Tõnu Kõrvits featuring Anja Lechner
WORK: Tõnu Kõrvits: Peegeldused tasasest maast / Reflections from a Plain [3:33]
RECORDING: Mirror
SOURCE: ECM Records
INFO: ecmrecords.com
ARTIST: Tenebrae
WORK: Joby Talbot: Leon [11:44]
RECORDING: Path of Miracles
SOURCE: Signum Classics
INFO: tenebrae-choir.com/recordings
ARTIST: The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices Female Vocal Choir
WORK: Kalimankou Denkou (arr. Filip Kutev) [5:11]
RECORDING: Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares
SOURCE: Disques Cellier
INFO: discogs.com
ARTIST: The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge
WORK: Errollyn Wallen: Pace [6:01]
RECORDING: Peace on Earth
SOURCE: Kings College Recordings
INFO: spotify.com
ARTIST: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
WORK: Veljo Tormis: Wee Winky Mouse [2:53]
RECORDING: Forgotten Peoples
SOURCE: ECM Records
INFO: ecmrecords.com
ARTIST: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir; Paul Giger, violin
WORK: Paul Giger: O Ignis [7:35]
RECORDING: Ignis
SOURCE: ECM Records
INFO: ecmrecords.com
