Finnish Kaija Saariaho and Estonian Helena Tulve, two composers with highly individual voices, both explore instrumental colour as a core element of their work. Saariaho’s vocal works particularly reveal the full expressive richness of her music. Early pieces like Suomenkielinen sekakuorokappale and Nej och inte established her unique grammar of disintegrating sonic and semantic units; later works such as Lumen valosta and Kesäpäiva further develop this approach with extended vocal techniques.

Tulve’s music “grows out from simple primary impulses, being influenced by natural patterns, organics and synchronicity.” I Am a River, based on verses by the 13th-century Persian scholar, poet and mystic Rūmī, explores the connection between choral music in resonant church acoustics and sensorial mysticism. Nächtliche Gesänge, based on texts by exiled German-speaking Jewish poets, draws its sonic material from the phonetic properties of the German language.

These works of unusual beauty are entrusted to the expert voices of the Helsinki Chamber Choir under Nils Schweckendiek. This Grammy-awarded collaboration, previously heralded for their Saariaho album Reconnaissance (BIS2662), promises a profound interpretation of these contemporary works for choir.