Galina Grigorjeva: Music for Male-Voice Choir
The choral music of Galina Grigorjeva – born in Simferopol in Ukraine in 1962 and based in Tallinn, in Estonia, since 1994 – is deeply rooted in the traditions of the Orthodox Church and in ancient Russian and Slavonic folklore. Although clearly by a contemporary composer, her works have a timeless, even hypnotic, quality that seems to reach back through the ages. She has been working with the Estonian National Male Choir – one of the finest in a country full of choirs – for some years now, and some of the works here were composed or arranged specifically for this recording.
Theodor Sink, cello (8, 9)
Aleksandr Mihhailov, bass (3)
Aleksander Arder, tenor (7)
Margus Vellmann, tenor (7, 9)
Grigori Rutškin, tenor (9)
Estonian National Male Choir
Mikk Üleoja, conductor
Listen To This Recording:
- I Nocturno
- II Romance without Music
- III October Myth
- IV Cake-walk on the Dulcimer
- V The Snow is Falling
- I Lord, now let
- II Do not lament me, O Mother
- God is the Lord for cello and male-voice choir
- Prayer for cello and male-voice choir
- Agnus Dei for male-voice choir
- In Paradisum for male-voice choir
Nox vitae for male-voice choir (2006–8)
Diptych for male-voice choir (2011)
God is the Lord for cello and male-voice choir (2014)*
Prayer for cello and male-voice choir (2005/2014)**
Agnus Dei for male-voice choir (2022)*
In Paradisum for male-voice choir (2012/2014)
*FIRST RECORDINGS
**FIRST RECORDINGS IN THIS VERSION
MusicWeb International :
‘[…]Theodor Sink’s cello playing is virtuosic and flawless. […]
The impeccable Estonian National Male Choir sings the whole selection beautifully. Cellist Theodor Sink’s contributions are faultless. Evi Arujärv’s notes are, as I said earlier, excellent. In short, this is a fine release that deserves to be heard.’
—Hubert Culot, MusicWeb International
Planet Hugill :
”Nocturno[…] is strong and rich with a fabulous depth to the sound. […]
This is a terrific disc, partly from the richness and seductive intensity of Grigorjeva’s music, referring to earlier composers and styles yet always creating her own. But also, partly because of the simply stunning performances from the Estonian National Male Voice Choir. Their photo shows around 50 men, and the depth of sound that they are thus able to create is simply phenomenal, and their grasp of the complexities of Grigorjeva’s style is masterly. A slightly surprising yet very definite hit.’
—Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill