Saariaho / Kurkikangas / Helsinki Chamber Choir - Reconnaissance - Import SACD Hybrid

Credits:

Saariaho / Kurkikangas / Helsinki Chamber Choir

Description:

SACD hybrid disc of choral works by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho was born in 1952. She studied at the Sibelius Academy with Paavo Heininen, a pioneer of Finnish modernism, and formed the progressive group "Korvat auki! (Open Your Ears!)" with Magnus Lindberg. She began her studies at IRCAM in Paris in 1982, and has continued to work in France as one of Finland's leading composers with a series of commissions, including the opera "Faraway Love" for the Salzburg Festival. In Finland, her 70th birthday will be celebrated with a concert series "Kaija Saariaho 70" in October 2022, featuring a wide range of her works, including stage works and world premieres. Reconnaissance" by the Helsinki Chamber Choir and artistic director Nils Schwekendijk is an album of works from the concerts held as part of this series. Nuits, adieux," performed in two versions, "with electronics" and "a cappella," is not so much a lullaby for a sleeping child as for an elderly person saying goodbye to the world. Horloge, tais-toi! (Mr. Clock, shut up!)" was inspired by a children's chorus. (Shut up, Mr. Clock!), which came to him from a children's chorus. Echo! is composed to a poetic text by Alexis Barriere based on the myth of Echo and Narcissus, and uses electronic "voices" as "echoes". Tag des Jahrs (Days of the Year)" on a poem by Helderlin, which expands the "sound world" to include human voices, birds, wind, and other natural sounds. Uberzeugung (Conviction)" in the sense of medieval music, commissioned by the festival staff as a tribute to Gérard Mortier, who is leaving his post as general director of the Salzburg Festival. Reconnaissance," whose name means both "reconnaissance" in English and "reaffirmation" in French, is a "science fiction madrigal.In all of the works, the texts were freely arranged and used to create her own unique musical expression. With the exception of "Nuits, adieux" and "Tag des Jahrs," these are world premiere recordings. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~1. Nuit I
2.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~2. Adieu I
3.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~3. Nuit II
4.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~4. Adieu II
5.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~5. Nuit III
6.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~6. Nuit IV
7.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~7. Nuit V
8.Nuits, adieux for four singers and electronics~8. Adieu III - V
9.Horloge, tais-toi for female choir and piano
10.Echo! for eight voices and electronics~1. Dolce energico
11.Echo! for eight voices and electronics~2. Calmo, espressivo
12.Echo! for eight voices and electronics~3. Libero, intenso
13.Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~1. Der Fruhling
14.Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~2. Der Sommer
15.Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~3. Der Herbst
16.Tag des Jahrs for SATB chorus and electronics~4. Der Winter
17.Uberzeugung for three female voices, crotales, violin and cello
18.Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~1. The First Martian in a Long Time
19.Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~2. Count Down
20.Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~Interlude
21.Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~3. Green House
22.Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~4. Desert People
23.Reconnaissance for SATB chorus, percussion and double bass~5. Requiem
24.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~1. Nuit I
25.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~2. Adieu I
26.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~3. Nuit II
27.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~4. Adieu II
28.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~5. Nuit III
29.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~6. Nuit IV
30.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~7. Nuit V
31.Nuits, adieux for four soloists and choir (a cappella version, 1996)~8. Adieu III-V