Nils Schweckendiek, Helsinki Chamber Choir - Rautavaara: Vigilia (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

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).

Tracklist:
1. Niall Chorell - Vigilia: No. 1, Tulkaa, kumartakaamme meidän
2. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 2, Alkupsalmi
3. Varvara Merras-Häyrynen;Sirkku Rintamäki;Mats Lillhannus;Sampo Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 3, Katisma
4. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 4, Avuksihuutopsalmi
5. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 5, Avuksihuutostikiira
6. Niall Chorell - Vigilia: No. 6, Dogmistikiira Jumalansynnyttäjälle
7. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 7, Ehtoohymni
8. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 8, Hartauden ektenia
9. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 9, Litanian stikiira
10. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 10, Litanian ektenia
11. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 11, Virrelmästikiira
12. Meri Metsomäki;Sirkku Rintamäki;Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 12, Tropari I
13. Niall Chorell - Vigilia: No. 13, Juhlapäivän tropari
14. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 14, Loppusiunaus
15. Niall Chorell - Vigilia: No. 15, Kunnia olkoon pyhälle
16. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 16, Tropari II
17. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 17, Tropari III
18. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 18, Ylistysveisu
19. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 19, Ylösnousemustropari
20. Niall Chorell;Sampo Haapaniemi;Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 20, Antifoni
21. Sampo Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 21, Prokimeni
22. Júlia Heéger - Vigilia: No. 22, Ylösnousemusveisu
23. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 23, Irmossi I
24. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 24, Irmossi III
25. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 25, Irmossi IV
26. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 26, Irmossi V
27. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 27, Irmossi VI
28. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 28, Irmossi VII
29. Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 29, Irmossi VIII
30. Tove Djupsjöbacka;Varvara Merras-Häyrynen;Iris Oja;Martti Anttila;Niall Chorell;Tuukka Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 30, Jumalansynnyttäjän kiitosvirsi
31. Sampo Haapaniemi - Vigilia: No. 31, Irmossi IX
32. Júlia Heéger;Niall Chorell - Vigilia: No. 32, Kiitosstikiira
33. Niall Chorell - Vigilia: No. 33, Ylösnousemustropari
34. Helsinki Chamber Choir - Vigilia: No. 34, Loppusiunaus