Composer: Einojuhani Rautavaara
Performer: Helsinki Chamber Choir, Niall Chorell, Tuukka Haapaniemi, Varvara Merras-Häyrynen, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Sampo Haapaniemi, Meri Metsomäki, Júlia Heéger, Tove Djupsjöbacka, Iris Oja, Martti Anttila
Conductor: Nils Schweckendiek
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Release: 2019
Size: 1.11 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Vigilia
01. No. 1, Tulkaa, kumartakaamme meidän
02. No. 2, Alkupsalmi
03. No. 3, Katisma
04. No. 4, Avuksihuutopsalmi
05. No. 5, Avuksihuutostikiira
06. No. 6, Dogmistikiira Jumalansynnyttäjälle
07. No. 7, Ehtoohymni
08. No. 8, Hartauden ektenia
09. No. 9, Litanian stikiira
10. No. 10, Litanian ektenia
11. No. 11, Virrelmästikiira
12. No. 12, Tropari I
13. No. 13, Juhlapäivän tropari
14. No. 14, Loppusiunaus
15. No. 15, Kunnia olkoon pyhälle
16. No. 16, Tropari II
17. No. 17, Tropari III
18. No. 18, Ylistysveisu
19. No. 19, Ylösnousemustropari
20. No. 20, Antifoni
21. No. 21, Prokimeni
22. No. 22, Ylösnousemusveisu
23. No. 23, Irmossi I
24. No. 24, Irmossi III
25. No. 25, Irmossi IV
26. No. 26, Irmossi V
27. No. 27, Irmossi VI
28. No. 28, Irmossi VII
29. No. 29, Irmossi VIII
30. No. 30, Jumalansynnyttäjän kiitosvirsi
31. No. 31, Irmossi IX
32. No. 32, Kiitosstikiira
33. No. 33, Ylösnousemustropari
34. No. 34, Loppusiunaus
In 1971, Einojuhani Rautavaara was asked to compose a Finnish Orthodox church service, an all-night vigil similar to that of Rachmaninov, comprising Vespers as well as Matins. Soon after the first performance he reshaped the music into what we now know as Vigilia, a concert version forming a musical whole. As his inspiration, Rautavaara has himself described a visit to the Valamo monastery in the middle of Lake Ladoga in 1939: ‘The bells began to ring, low-pitched booms and higher, shrill clinks: the world was filled with sounds and colors…’ The music is marked by dark colors, the heady smell of incense and the crepuscular church lit only by small candles. Divided into two parts, Vespers and Matins, the 70-minute work consists of 34 sections, and features prominent parts for a bass and a tenor soloist, as well as a number of solo voices emerging from the mixed choir. The work is enriched by the constantly changing combinations of choir and soloists, the perspective shifting from the personal to the universal. It is here performed by the 21-strong Helsinki Chamber Choir, under its artistic director Nils Schweckendiek – a team that has made several recordings for BIS in recent years. These include Riemuitkaamme!, a Christmas album (‘Schweckendiek’s immaculately blended singers make a glorious noise’, The Arts Desk), as well as a two-album survey of the choral works of Finnish modernist Erik Bergman (‘The Helsinki choir produces a radiant sound throughout’, Choir & Organ).