Saariaho / Tulve: I Am A River

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and Estonian composer Helena Tulve, two artists with very distinct voices, both engage with instrumental timbre as a central element of their work. Saariaho’s vocal compositions, in particular, reveal the full expressive richness of her music. Early pieces such as “Suomenkielinen sekakuorokappale” and “Nej och inte” established her method of dissolving sonic and semantic units, while later works like “Lumen valosta” and “Kesäpäiva” further develop this approach with extended vocal techniques. Tulve’s music ‘emerges from simple primary impulses and is influenced by natural patterns, organic elements, 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 church acoustics and sensory mysticism. “Nächtliche Gesänge,” based on texts by exiled German-speaking Jewish poets, derives its sound material from the phonetic characteristics of the German language. These works of extraordinary beauty have been entrusted to the expert voices of the Helsinki Chamber Choir, conducted by Nils Schweckendiek. Together with the choir, he received a Grammy and many other awards for his previous album “Reconnaissance,” featuring works by Kaija Saariaho.