Every cloud has a silver lining. Without the Spanish Inquisition a
lot less art would exist and there are an almost infinite number of other
examples in all fields of human life that prove the validity of the saying.
In music there are many examples and the background to
The
Lamentations of Jeremiah is one such. Following the destruction of
Jerusalem and the First Temple by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar in the
6
th century B.C. (2 Kings 24-25, Jer. 39:1-10, Jer. 52) and the
capture of King Zedekiah, it is said that the prophet Jeremiah hid in a
cavern and wrote the book of lamentations; though there is dispute about its
authorship. Down the centuries many composers have set it to music, among
them Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and Robert White in England, Victoria,
Palestrina, Ferrabosco the Elder, Lassus, Charpentier, Couperin and Jan
Dismas Zelenka in Europe and in modern times Stravinsky, Ginastera, Krenek
and Leonard Bernstein.
With this disc we have a Russian interpretation from composer
Vladimir Martynov. What differentiates his from the many others is the
traditional of Russian Orthodox Church singing. There is a quality about it
that extends even beyond Russia. I was struck by how much the music also
reminded me of that of Giya Kancheli, the Georgian composer - particularly
the opening. What marks this tradition out is how the lowest voices in the
choir are often used as a drone against which other voices sing. If
listeners are unused to unaccompanied singing then this disc will take some
adjusting to but those who enjoy it and Russian and Bulgarian Orthodox
Church singing in particular will find this uplifting and rewarding. Even
then one would not expect to listen to it often.
The singing here is exceptional with the Sirin Choir creating an
otherworldly atmosphere that can bring both inner peace … and goose
pimples. Martynov composed the work especially for this choir having been
spellbound by their undoubted abilities in this special field. It has also
been converted into a stage production that the Sirin Choir has taken to
France, Italy, Germany, Estonia and Sweden. This must have been a
mesmerising experience.
In the 24 years since the choir was formed it has garnered praise
from around the world for its superlative performances. It is almost unique
in its concentration on specifically liturgical works eschewing the romantic
church-inspired music of the likes of Bortnyansky, Tchaikovsky and
Rachmaninov. This is music that, while it may be an acquired taste, is
ultimately rewarding. Anyone who enjoys the music of Pärt, Tavener and
Kancheli will find this a valuable listening experience. Brilliant
Classics’ famously keen prices mean that dipping an aural toe in this
water is easily possible.
Steve Arloff
