medieval.org
allmusic.com
2007
Alba ABCD 237
2002-2006
Soome, Taani, Saksamaa erinevates kirikutes
medieval.org
allmusic.com
2007
Alba ABCD 237
2002-2006
Soome, Taani, Saksamaa erinevates kirikutes
It is a genuine brain drain just to make out
Heinavanker's intentions in its debut album for Finnish label Alba. It
is an Estonian vocal group, led by Margo Kölar, specializing in
traditional Estonian sacred folk choruses that sound inevitably folksy,
with uneven rhythms and close harmonies sometimes voiced in fifths,
unisons, and even seconds. In this program, Heinavanker contrasts this
highly interesting folk material with bits of Gregorian chant and mass
movements from fifteenth century Flemish master Johannes Ockeghem, and
the booklet is vividly illustrated by Hieronymus Bosch's painting The
Haywain, from which the group takes its name.
The singing, by Heinavanker, is fabulous, quite unlike anything you
have ever heard; these are professional singers who bring to the
Estonian folk choruses a sense of purity and vocal blending you are
unlikely to encounter out in the field. It brings much of the same
qualities to Ockeghem, certainly more familiar territory for most fans
of choral music, but if any common elements between the sophisticated
polyphony of Ockeghem and the rough-hewn harmonies of Estonia's towns
and churches exist in this program, then they are not readily apparent.
In addition, most of the traditional pieces show signs of arrangement
and, according to the notes, are "semi-improvised" yet "exist in oral
tradition and the improvisation inherent in traditional music can
always be heard in performance." The clunkiness of this quote is
exemplary of the booklet note, given in Estonian, Finnish, German, and
English. Only one vocal text is given in English, and the texts, both
epistolary and sung, is rendered in a manner that is messy and largely
inchoate.
That is a shame, as this is stunning, even life-affirming, music. No
matter to what degree these pieces may be arranged, the singing of the
folk choruses is genuinely moving, harmonically rich, inventive, and
quite different from the norm. While the Ockeghem is nice, you might
gladly trade the four movements listed under his name here for four
more folk choruses! Unless you are fluent in Estonian, the listener is
advised to set aside the booklet -- its layout and content are a
disaster area anyway -- and just to enjoy this album without trying to
grasp the contextual thrust behind the program. The runic,
pre-Christian folk chorus "The Creation," with its drones and
micro-intervallic harmonic shifts, is one of many highlights. Those
devoted to music made by small, expert choral groups will find much to
savor here; as would conceivably any music lovers who would find
themselves at Heinavanker's door. Overall, everything here but the
booklet is sublime.
1 - Veni Creator Spiritus / Oh Jumal Looja, Püha Vaim (Oh God
Creator, Holy Spirit)
[3:50]
Lääne-Nigula
2 - Johannes OCKEGHEM: Missa Pour quelque paine – Kyrie
[3:57]
3 - Mu süda, ärka üles (Awake, my heart) [2:56]
Hiiumaa
4 - Mu mano tulge latse (Come, children, unto me)
[3:23]
Otepä
5 - Johannes OCKEGHEM: Missa Sine Nomine (De Village) – Credo
[6:56]
6 - Rahva Õnnistegija (Saviour of the People) [2:41]
Suur-Pakri
7 - Johannes OCKEGHEM: Missa Cuiusvis Toni – Sanctus
[5:52]
8 - Ma olen maa peal võõras (A visitor on earth am I)
[3:57]
Vormsi, Halliste
9 - Johannes OCKEGHEM: Missa Cuiusvis Toni – Agnus Dei
[4:03]
10 - Kas sureb nii mu kõige armsam elu? (Oh will my life so
precious die?) [4:10]
Vormsi
11 - Loomine (The Creation) [5:52]
Kadrina
Heinavanker
Margo Kõlar
Eve Kopli • sopran
Kadri Hunt • alt
Anto Õnnis • tenor
Margo Kõlar • tenor
Taniel Kirikal • bariton
Vambola Krigul • bass
Joel Vahermägi • bass
Bosch: Hooiwagen, c. 1480-1500
Museo del Prado