Sibelius: Complete Works for Mixed Choir / Seppänen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
- Ondine
- March 10, 2015
The fourth album on Ondine by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is dedicated to the composer’s complete works for mixed choir. The award-winning choir, one of the finest of its kind internationally, is conducted here by leading Finnish choir director Heikki Seppänen. Choral music was a genre in which Sibelius showed interest from his student days to the near close of his life. This double-disc set includes patriotic works, works closely connected to the Finnish national epic Kalevala, student works, Christmas songs, works based on Finnish poetry, works written for school (including Three Songs for American Schools) as well as works written for academic promotions, inauguration ceremonies and different official occasions. It also includes two versions of the famous Finlandia Hymn. The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir’s first Ondine release was given an ‘Editor’s Choice’ by the Gramophone Magazine and ‘Disc of the Year’ by German weekly Die Zeit.
REVIEW:
The Finnish choral tradition was rich and active when Sibelius came of age as a composer in the late 1880s, and he wrote choral works all his life. The pieces on this rewarding recording range from folk songs suffused with Finnish character to enigmatic works with sometimes dark lyrics. There are festival and school songs, patriotic anthems, a cantata for an academic degree ceremony and, inevitably, two versions of “Finlandia.” Most of the pieces are a cappella. Many unfold in clear, block-chord settings of the texts. If you want to stump friends with a guessing game, play the beguiling, slightly strange “Glade of Tuoni” from this recording and ask them to identify the composer. You’ll win, as you will by picking up this album.
– New York Times
Product Description:
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Release Date: March 10, 2015 
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UPC: 761195126028 
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Catalog Number: ODE 1260-2D 
-  Label: Ondine 
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Number of Discs: 2 
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      Composer: SIBELIUS, JEAN 
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	Orchestra/Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir 
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	Performer: Seppanen 
Works:
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      Rakastava (The Lover), Op. 14, JS 160c Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Partsongs (6), Op. 18 (excerpts) Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Min rastas raataa (The Thrush's Toiling), JS 129 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Carminalia, JS 51a-c Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Kotikaipaus (Nostalgia), JS 111 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Isanmaalle (To the Fatherland), JS 98a Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Hur blekt ar allt (How pale it all is), JS 96 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Nar sig varen ater foder (When spring once more comes to life), JS 139 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Tanke, se hur fageln svingar (Imagine, see how the bird swoops), JS 191 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Ensam i dunkla skogarnas famn (Alone in the Depths of the Forests), JS 72 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Ack, hor du froken Gyllenborg (Oh, do you hear, Miss Gyllenborg), JS 10 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Tyokansan marssi (Workers' March), JS 212 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Soitapas sorea neito (Play, pretty maiden), JS 176 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Juhlamarssi (Festive March), JS 105 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Aamusumussa (Morning Mist), JS 9a Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Uusmaalaisten laulu (Song for the People of Uusimaa), JS 214a Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Kallion kirkon kellosavel (The Bells of Kallio Church), Op. 65b Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Drommarna (The Dreams), JS 64 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Man fran slatten och havet (People of Land and Sea), Op. 65a Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Songs (9), Op. 23 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Den 25 Oktober 1902: Till Therese Hahl (25 October 1902: To Theresa Hahl) [Two settings] Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Ej med klagan (Not with lamentation), JS 69 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Kansakoululaisten marssi (Primary School Children's March), JS 103 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Kantat till ord av W. Von Konow (Cantata to words by W. Von Konow), JS 107 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Islossningen i Ulea alv (The Breaking of the Ice on the Oulu River), Op. 30 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Cantata for the Coronation of Nicholas II, JS 104: Terve ruhtinatar (Hail Princess) Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Songs (3) for American Schools, JS 199 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Koulutie (The Way to School), JS 112 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Skolsang (School Song), JS 172 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Den hoga himlen (The Lofty Heaven), JS 58a Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      On lapsonen syntynyt meille (A Child is Born Unto Us), JS 142 Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Christmas Songs (5), Op. 1 (excerpts) Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
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      Finlandia, Op. 26 [Two versions] Composer: Jean Sibelius Ensemble: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Conductor: Heikki Seppänen 
 
          
        
 
