Sibelius: Complete Works for Mixed Choir / Seppänen, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
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
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Label: Ondine
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Number of Discs: 2
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Period: 20th Century
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Composer: Jean Sibelius
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Conductor: Heikki Seppänen
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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