In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Philomela Female Choir

Group.

The Helsinki-based women's choir Philomela was started in 1984 at the instigation of the Helsinki Chapter of the Finnish Amateur Musicians' Association (SULASOL) and the Culture Board of the City of Helsinki. Philomela has 45 members, half of whom are students and the other half already in working life. Philomela aspires to perform choral music as extensively and ambitiously as possible. The choir aims at mastering both traditional and modern music, sacred masses and light music, singing styles originating from the Finnish national epic, the Kalevala, as well as the works of contemporary composers, many of whom have dedicated works to Philomela. The choir is known for its experimental choreographies and its chameleon-like ability to transform its style and appearance according to each occasion and venue. In spring 1998, the choir appeared in the Helsinki City Theatre production of The Sound of Music. Philomela's goals were set high at the outset. Due to goal-oriented work, the choir has risen to the top of Finnish choral music, and it has also received acclaim abroad. Philomela has produced numerous radio recordings, and in 1991 it received the Amateur Music Award of the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (YLE). In the same year, Philomela was nominated Choir of the Year by the Finnish Women's Choir Association.

Philomela's conductor, Marjukka Riihimaki, graduated from th Sibelius Academy of Music in 1974. Presently she is teacher at the Sibelius College in Helsinki and also conducts the Klemetti Institute's Women's Choir and Grex Musicus Mixed Choir and in 1993 she was the winner of the prestigious Klemetti Prize. She is characterized as one of the most prominent choir conductors in Finland today, a pioneer of female choir singing and inspiring instructor at domestic and international choir seminars.

Discography

Displaying 1-3 of 3 items.

Listen to
Song of Mary

Philomela Female Choir : Midnight Christmas

Review: Renowned for its versatility, Philomela has, ever since it was formed in 1984, adopted an innovative approach to choral expression under its conductor Marjukka Riihimaki. Its many awards have included the Grand Prix in the Chorus Review of Tampere Vocal Music Festival, and in recent years it has regularly been invited to sing at international festivals. Recently Philomela decided to explore the potential for adding new songs to the Finnish stock of Christmas carols without violating the traditional Christmas spirit. It therefore commissioned songs on the Christmas theme from composers it had worked with before and were familiar with Philomela's style. They also included some more traditional Finnish Christmas music as well and this resulting recording is a true a cappella pleasure.

Songlist: The earth is beautiful, Hail to Thee, most blessed, The snowy cottages sleep, A prayer for Christmas night, The Christmas bells, Silence, On Christmas Night, God whispers Christmas, Mary, most lowly of maidens, The sauna seeker, Breathe, my good horse, For God was born, Jesus rocked in a cradle, Cast care aside, Silent night, holy night, Song of Mary

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Listen to
Missa Brevis

Philomela Female Choir : in Dreams

Review: Internationally acclaimed Philomela charms with their release Philomela in Dreams. Included are "Ave Verum Corpus," by Francis Poulenc, "Suite de Lorca, by Einojuhani Rautavaara and "Dreams," by Erik Bergman. Like the title suggests, these pieces are very dreamlike in quality with floating sonorities that seem to melt together. With a variety of rarely heard works, this recordings further enhances the reputation that Finland has earned as a country with a wonderful choral tradition.

Songlist: Ave Verum Corpus, Missa Brevis (Nancy Telfer), Hanget soi (Heikki Sarmanto), "Suite" de Lorca (Einojuhani Rautavaara), Gamelan (R. Murray Schafer), Tapetenblume (Erik Bergman), Dreams (Erik Bergman), Two Nightingales (Witold Lutoslawski), Auf einem Baum ein Kuckuck sass (Alfred Koerppen)

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Samsara

Philomela Female Choir : Mieli

Review: Finland is full of folk traditions and epic poems which are great sources for Finnish music. Philomela performs pieces that draw on their rich literary culture. From the folk poetry of the town of Ilomantsi and the epic poem Kanteletar to the modern poetry of Jukka Itkonen, Viljo Kojo and Unto Kupiainen, composers Anna-Mari Kahara, Liisa Matveinen and others have created striking new music which is infused with the flavor of the Baltic region.

Songlist: Sadelaulu, Kantajani, Lemmennosto, Mieli, Etsija, Samsara, Ikava omia maita, Armahan kulku, Laulu perunoiden kiehuessa, En ma tullut niinkuin ennen, Mykka ero, Minne kauneus katosi, Jo meista ero tulevi, Armaan laheisyys

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