Filia Sion Vox Clamantis & Jaan-Eik Tulve

• 1Ecce venit / Psalm 9409:37
• 2Virgo prudentissima / Magnificat04:59
• 3Gaudeamus02:47
• 4Rex virginum03:35
• 5Gloria03:31
• 6Beata viscera08:20
• 7Audi filia05:22
• 8Prelustri elucentia02:43
• 9Ave Maria06:09
• 10O ignis spiritus06:25
• 11Agnus Dei01:07
• 12Exulta filia Sion03:05
• 13O Maria04:46
• 14Salve regina02:51
• 15Ma navu05:45
• Total Runtime01:11:02

Info for Filia Sion

Estonian ensemble Vox Clamantis brings together singers and instrumentalists who share an interest in Gregorian chant as the basis of all European art music. Their interpretation of medieval music is never purely ‘historical’: while always remaining true to the spirit of this repertoire, the approach to the work and the selection of pieces is contemporary. On the present disc, drawing upon the rich tradition in music history on the theme of „Filia Sion“, Vox Clamantis presents medieval music from Gregorian chant to works by Perotinus, Hildegard von Bingen and Petrus Wilhelmi de Grudencz. In the Old Testament, 'Filia Sion' – the Daughter of Zion – refers to both the holy city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people who built the Temple on Mount Zion. In medieval Christian tradition, Holy Mary became the incarnation of the Daughter of Zion as the personification of the church.

“Filia Sion” is the first ECM New Series disc devoted entirely to the Estonian vocal group Vox Clamantis. From the beginning of its history, Vox Clamantis has focussed on Gregorian chant as the foundation of European music, but has also maintained strong connections to contemporary composers including Arvo Pärt, Helena Tulve and Erkki-Sven Tüür (members of the ensemble previously appeared on Tüür’s “Oxymoron” album, singing his composition “Salve Regina”). Their interpretation of medieval music is never purely historical. While always remaining true to the spirit of this repertoire, the approach to the work and the selection of pieces is contemporary, with sound and texture and the blending of voices as a focus.

As leader Jaan-Eik Tulve explains, “Gregorian chant is monophonic music which remarkably emphasizes the blend of voices. Working on sound and colour of voices has been one of the constant priorities of our ensemble.” This emphasis is the thread that connects its repertoire through the centuries: “I started with Gregorian chant and later moved on to the contemporary music for multiple reasons: firstly, my personal interest in certain contemporary music that draws attention to the sound and is centred on the horizontal musical phrase and melody in its deeper sense. On the other hand, our ensemble has been lucky and several Estonian composers have composed pieces for us, as they have appreciated our approach to the sound, phrase and to the entire musical expression…”

On the present album, drawing upon the rich tradition in music history on the theme of “Filia Sion”, Vox Clamantis sings medieval music from Gregorian chant to works by Perotin, Hildegard von Bingen and Petrus Wilhelmi de Grudencz. In the Old Testament, “Filia Sion” – the Daughter of Zion – refers to both the holy city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people who built the Temple on Mount Zion. In medieval Christian tradition, Holy Mary became the incarnation of the Daughter of Zion as the personification of the church.

Jaan-Eik Tulve: “The repertoire for the CD emerged naturally from our concert activity. We are specially focussing on the theme of Virgin Mary, who is for me personally a very important figure, who is equally honoured in medieval music. We have had different collaborations with various musicians from a number of traditions. The last piece on the CD – ‘Ma Navu’ – derives from a program around Jewish traditional music. Most of our arrangements are born in the rehearsals while improvising. For instance, when a couple of our singers started to explore overtone-singing, we tried to incorporate it into our repertoire and the pedal-notes in Perotin, on this recording, seemed for us an appropriate use.”

From the liner notes by Klára Jirsová: “The Gospels do not reveal all of Mary’s feelings to us; the mystery of the Incarnation is only briefly presented. Relying on a few phrases and returning endlessly to the sacred words and setting them in different contexts, the musical tradition shows their inexhaustible richness. Medieval compositions meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation in all its aspects. They display different shades of joy: explosive, superabundant joy which wells up like a source, as well as the shimmer of peaceful, meditative wonder before ‘the miracle never seen, the joy never known’”.

Vox Clamantis are:
Eve Kopli
Kadri Hunt
Mikk Üleoja
Taniel Kirikal
Tõnis Kaumann
Sakarias Jaan Leppik
Endrik Üksvärav
Erik Salumäe
Mikk Dede
Riivo Kallasmaa
Markus Järvi
Anto Õnnis

Soloists:
Kadri Hunt (track 1, 9)
Mikk Üleoja (track 1, 6, 8, 9, 15)
Tõnis Kaumann (track 6)
Taniel Kirikal (track 8, 9)
Eve Kopli (track 10)


Jaan-Eik Tulve, conductor

Recorded September 2010
Dome Church of St. Nicholas, Haapsalu Tonmeister: Igor Kirkwood
Editing: Margo Kõlar
Recording supervision: Helena Tulve Liner photo: Taniel Kirikal
Cover design: Sascha Kleis
Executive producer: Manfred Eicher

Vox Clamantis is an Estonian ensemble which was formed in 1996. It brings together singers, composers, instrumentalists and choir­ masters who share an interest in Gregorian chant as the basis of all European art music. The group often sings this repertoire, but also performs contemporary music. Many Estonian composers, including Arvo Pärt, Erkki_Sven Tüür and Helena Tulve, have written pieces for them. Their interpretation of medieval music is never purely historical; while always remaining true to the spirit of this repertoire, the ensem­ ble tries to engage in a dialogue with contemporary music; even programmes consisting entirely of medieval music are contemporary in their selection of pieces. The ensemble has worked with numerous musicians of international standing, such as the organists Jean Boyer, Werner Jacob, Jon Laukvik, the Catalan soprano Arianna Savall, the French pianists Brigitte Engerer and Jean_Claude Pennetier, The Cello Octet Amsterdam, the early music group Hortus Musicus, the con­ temporary ensemble NYYD Ensemble and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Their artistic director and choirmaster is Jaan_Eik Tulve.

Booklet for Filia Sion