Friday 29th April, 10.30pm, Cathedral of St Mary & St Anne (North Cathedral)
Evocations: Sirin Russia
‘’Legends in the world of choral singing and celebrated the world over for their vibrant take on Russian Orthodox music’’ Irish Examiner, 2011
Listen to Sirin - When I Was Young:
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Sirin - Praise the Lord:
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Sirin - The Beatitudes:
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Sirin Ensemble – named after a bird of Paradise from Russian Christian legends – was formed in 1989 by a group of professional musicians, with the ambition of resurrecting Russian orthodox music traditions that had been lost after the church reforms of the 17th century. Sirin’s unique repertoire ranges from the dark, sonorous style of the old church to the haunting songs of spiritual wanderers.
The ensemble has presented its interpretation of Russian church and spiritual folk music on extensive concert tours in Russia and Europe and their repertoire includes a wide range of early musical styles: Znamenny, Demestvenny, monastery styles, Kiev and Bulgarian raspev, and other early forms of Russian polyphony.
Sirin have enjoyed much international success and have competed and performed extensively in Europe and Asia, including appearances at the World Symposium for Choral Music in Rotterdam, Musica Sacra in Germany, Trialogos in Estonia, the Festival of Sacred Music in Fez, Morocco, and the Bangkok Christmas Festival in Thailand. Sirin is particularly pleased to perform again at the Cork International Choral Festival as part of their 2011 Irish tour.
In a special commission for Sirin, acclaimed Russian composer Vladimir Martynov set the Old Testament book The Lamentation of Jeremiah to music. The piece has been performed more than 150 times in Russia, France (in the official programme of Avignon Theatre Festival), Italy, Germany, Estonia and Sweden. It was awarded the Golden Mask, the highest distinction in Russian theatre, as well as being awarded the best theatrical production of the year.
Tonight’s programme presents two major levels of Russian Orthodox musical culture, Orthodox Church Chants and Spiritual Verses.
- Orthodox Church Chants:
These chants are polyphonic or homophonic and originated from early 17th century manuscripts. Russian polyphonic chants, whose tradition goes back to the 16th century, are all anonymously composed, usually set in three parts and are composed in lines totally independent from one another without the occurrence of any harmony in the usual sense. This type of choral genre came into opposition with another that appeared in Russia at about the same period (mi
d-17th century) from Poland, called ‘Partessian chant’. The New Church gradually adopted the imported chants, while the old believers remained partisan to the ancestral chant and fiercely opposed all Western influence.
- Spiritual Verses:
These are an age-old type of sacred folk music. These chants were not sung in churches but were widespread in the monasteries and Christian communities. They have been preserved both in oral and written tradition, the written tradition arising from the monasteries of the 15th century. As the verses were spread out among different communities, they were transformed in accordance with local traditions. During Lent and the seasons of penitence, as well as on the great religious feasts, these spiritual chants constituted the most significant part of the canticles sung among Christians.
PROGRAMME
In the Beginning was the WordDemestvenny chant (17th century)
Parable of the Prodigal Son Spiritual verse
Praise the Lord from the Heavens Old believers’ chant
Verses to St. Theodore the Tyro Spiritual verse
Verses to St. Nicholas Spiritual verse
Christ and the Poor Brethren Spiritual verse
On the Ocean Spiritual verse
I Am the Unfruitful Tree Spiritual verse
The Sinful Soul Laments and Moans Spiritual verse
When I was Young Spiritual verse
Cherubim ChantZnamenny chant (17th century)
The Sinful Man Walked Through the Whole World Spiritual verse
On This Holy Place Spiritual verse
Today Christ is Born in BethlehemStrochnoy chant (17th century)
Theotokon, You are the True Tree of LifePasrtessian chant (17th century)
Verses to the Mother of God Spiritual verse
Glory to God in Highest Spiritual verse
This is Not Just Noise Easter chant
Holy Resurrection Easter chant
The Beatitudes Spiritual verse, harmonized by Vladimir Martynov
Tickets: €20 + Booking Fee
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