The Cantores arrived safe and sound in the US. I had the priviledge to hear them in McLean, Virginia last night and they were wonderful. If you are able to get to an upcoming concert, do so!
I will give you a brief concert review but I can't go into full detail about each piece performed because I got so caught up in the music I did not check off the performed pieces in the program. Suffice it to say, I was enthralled from the first note through the last.
The organist, Tapio Tiitu, began the evening with Bach's Toccata and Fugue in B minor followed by a wonderful procession sung by the tenors and basses. The effect of this was almost ruined by a lady from the church making announcements regarding coffee and cake following the concert as this began but fortunately, she was done before the choir had to trample over her.
If I recall, the choir performed Dominus Regit Me by Nielsen and another piece followed by another organ solo.
Then came the works by the Finnish composers. It is so nice to listen to unfamiliar music! This whole section of works was like receiving a gift - very new and fresh. They performed a very unusual Credo by (Oh boy, I have to check the spelling on this one) Einojuhani Rautavaara. Even more unusual was a very bold piece by a former Cantate choirboy, Jani Kaaria. The piece, titled "Aurinkokasvot" (tr. "Face Like Sun"), is very unique. The translation of all the Finnish pieces was included in the program -- which really helped you understand the emotions of the music better. "Aurinkokasvot" featured a plethora of little dynamic sounds like: "tssssss" which I guess you could call a 'sizzle.' Jani Kaaria is 28 years old and has a very promising future as a composer.
I believe the song "Paimenen Pyha" (tr. A shepherdess' Sunday) was followed by a song that featured only the TB voices but I'm not sure if I'm recalling that correctly. That was followed by Hiljainen ilta. (tr. The silent evening) The last song was by composer Ilkka Kuusisto (Boy am I having fun typing these names!) who also wrote the next piece "The Land of Music." This was sung in English and I thought it had a very American 'feel' to it.
A smaller group of men and boys performed during the evening but the only song I can recall at the moment was "Where you there (when they crucified my Lord)."
Much to the delight of a man two rows behind me, the choir sang "America the Beautiful" and "Amazing Grace." (The man behind me whispered VERY loudly, "Now this stuff I know!")
The choir received a well deserved standing ovation and treated us to two encores. I have to say that "Finlandia" left me breathless. Of course the music is the same as the hymn "Be Still My Soul" which was the message I needed to hear.
The music was glorious! The concert was just over 90 minutes but I could have listened much longer. Of course the poor choristers where singing at 1:30 AM their time! There were a few stiffled yawns from some of the boys but it was understandable!
BTW, this had to be one of the *cutest* choirs I've ever seen! (My 17 year-old niece thought some of the older boys were quite handsome!) I loved all of the fresh haircuts too! Also, they had the BEST program book I have ever seen from a choir. There were individual pictures of each member - in color! Given the number of ads from Finnish companies I would guess there is terrific support for the choir at home. It was nice to see the sponsorships.
Well, I had a great time and I highly recommend to anyone able, go see the Cantores Minores.
What can I say about the Cantores ? Well the short version is that I have quit my job and moving to Helsinki. All I have to do is slip past the border guards!
As far as details, it is no secret that I fell in love with their CDs about a year ago. After hearing them in person, there is no comparison between themselves and the CDs - they are so much better than my stereo speakers.
As Donna listed, they will be in Phoenix, Berkeley, San Francisco, Painsville, OH and Fairport, OH. Their program has a schedule if anyone needs to know the venue.
Before talking about the program, let me say that I have the utmost admiration of them as people. Despite being under a rather heavy schedule (7 hours jetlag to DC, a day later fly to Charleston, arrive 2:30, concert at 7, re-gather the next day at 8 AM) they showed the utmost in professionalism and courtesy. In fact, I was at the airport to help them with their luggage. They were so efficient, that the only help I was able to give was to show where the busses were.
An their mastery of language. They effortlessly and continuously changed from one language to another among at least 4 languages, plus some which I had never heard before.
St. Matthew's Church was a wonderful location as it is built in the old style of high, vaulted ceilings which matched the choir well. Although the original St. M's burned several years ago, they rebuilt in the same style and also installed a very traditional (old time) organ.
The house was full . (And this, despite that the choral society was having a mandatory rehersal that night for an upcoming performance!)
Tapio Tiitu got that organ to do the impossible., extremely technically demanding but done in such a way which made the music seem effortless.
As Donna said, the printed program has a menu of compositions from which they put together the night's meal. Like a fine meal, it was so satisfying that listening to anything today rather than remembering last night seems like a sacrilege; kind of like finishing a fine French meal and immediately going down the street to have a fast-food hamburger . (Not to mention that as Donna mentioned, the printed program is very well done. I've paid $5 for much less and they are giving them out for free).
The CM sound is made of about 80 choristers ranging in age from perhaps 8 to 20. But instead of sounding like most larger choirs that I have heard, they are so well attuned to one another that the sound is strikingly clear and rich. Way back, Martin described the sound as a rich mahogany bass with treble focus tones and a hint of Scandanavian sadness.
Donna mentioned the Aurinkokasvot (Face like sun) which includes many tsss-like sounds. There is a short treble solo in this piece. I didn't get the name of the soloist, but he has one of the clearest, most beautiful treble voices I have ever heard. (Does anyone know his name ?)
With apologies to CS Lewis, hearing them - every blue was bluer, every green greener. It was like tasting an apple and realizing that what up to now was the tastiest, juciest apple was only a shadow of what a true apple is. This is a truly amazing choir.
One big difference between what Donna experienced and here, is that in Charleston all applause was held until the end of the program. I wonder what was going through their mind as to the silence. But that is fairly usual here as listening is emphasized over audience participation unless there is a very clear division in the program. I just hope it wasn't too anxious for the choir.
My only complaint is that they had to leave so soon. I feel somewhat guilty that they gave us such a beautiful gift but didn't have the time to sample the best parts of Charleston (in fact, I only had the opportunity to very briefly say hello to Pasi). I hope that they feel their trip here was worth their time both from the future oppportunity to show them hospitality and also, very selfishly, for the opportunity to hear them again.
First of all, when I had heard that the choir was going to be in Painsville and Fairport, Ohio, I was stunned. I had never even heard of these places which are east of Cleveland, Ohio. Don't bother looking on a map for them, I would doubt you would be able to locate these places. But, that being said, The choir couldn't have been more warmly received if they would have been in New York City. The people of these two communities are a very warm lot. I was even invited to stay the night at one of the host families when they found out how far I had driven to see the choir.
Now, that being said, on to the "good stuff". I got three helpings of Cantores Minores in one weekend trip. At the first 'seating' as Gene eluded to, I ended up so close to them singing at the church I thought I was being spoon fed. I could have held the music for several of the boys and they probably would have politely asked me to hold it a little further away so their eyes wouldn't cross. This happened because I didn't realize that they were not going to go into the sacresty to sing. If I would have been thinking, I would have realized that there was no way that the choir was going to fit into that tiny space. Anyway, I always wanted to be in a boys' choir and now, I can finally say that I was. I merle had a tacit part. ;-)
They sounded beautiful even though I was probably not in the most advantageous spot, although I must say that I think about 250 other people in the church would have loved to be where I was. The other 250 were probably happy with there seats. At 350 seating capacity, the church was jammed. There was nothing in the program that indicated that we shouldn't applaud but, no one did. Well, after all, this was first and foremost a Saturday evening church service. Not all together a service but not a concert, I would call it a program.
We started out singing A Mighty Fortress is Our God, congregation first, boys second in Finnish, Congregation again then the boys and the congregation, us doing the third verse in English and the boys doing it in Finnish. What a cacophony that was. After a reading, the choir did Psalm 11 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy and certain selections from Piae Cantiones (A collection of sacred songs in Finland) This was followed by a reading of scripture again but this time by Mrs. Ruth-Esther Hillila-Bickel PHd. (I called her Dr. Ruth at one point in a conversation and she was quick to point out with humor that her name is hyphenated.) At this point I want to mention that this lady is the reason that the choir was in Painsville and Fairport, Oh. This great and courageous woman started this choir 45 years ago. I believe she was doing missionary work in Finland at the time. Following this psalm reading, the choir performed Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen composed for the choir in 1993 by Jouni Kaipainen.
There were two violin solos done by chorister and violinist Kari Olamaa. Kari is a treble. And I believe a second treble AND an excellent violinist. At this point I want to say this. I wish Kari was a virus that I could bottle and infect our American children with. What a sweetie. It was a little tough to talk with him because English isn't his first language... probably not his third or fourth one either (much like American children here) but, he was communicative in his own way. It was amusing to watch him stuff his violin into his back packer case, sling it over his shoulders and go tearing off in one direction or another as if he were in a hurry to go play soccer. But, what a sensitive violinist. He is very shy about being complemented as were all the boys.
That brings me to another young man by the name of Lauri Korolainen. This poor first treble is going to be ever after known as dimples and his cheeks are not safe from any grandma within 100 feet of him. (There were hundreds of grandmas at the three performances and I am sure he was doing his best to stay at an arms length) The associate pastor of the church with whom chorister Lauri Huima (alto) was staying along with another chorister, upon hearing his name for the first time wondered to the person calling him as to whether both the choristers staying with him were girls. They quickly straightened him out on the common Finnish names.
I should mention that although the Cantores Minores have an excellent organist-pianist on tour with them in Mr. Tapio Tiitu, he in not on tour to accompany them. This choir is a cappella almost exclusively. Tapio doesn't even give them starting notes. This is done by their director Professor Christian Hauschild. Maestro uses a concert "A" tuning fork that he keeps in his right jacket pocket and smacks against his hand (ouch) to derive the starting pitches which he softly sings to the boys before they start. I love his conduction style and when I grow up to be a big choir conductor, I want to be as nearly like him as possible. There is no mistaking what he wants from the boys in tempo, rhythm and dynamics and they understand him perfectly. I could tell as I was so close to him, I almost caught his score as it went sliding off the music stand. (he beat me to it... great reflexes). The trebles are soft and sweet, the altos are the salt and other spices so necessary for the choir. The tenors were beautiful and the basses were well, as a bass, what can I say. I am jealous.
I heard the choir on two more occasions this weekend. The next morning where they did the... are you kidding me, 8:30 AM service. They didn't get home until at least 10:00 PM Saturday night and they had to be back at 7:30 AM to warm up - thank God for the return to standard time and an extra hour of sleep... too bad not all the host families remembered to turn their clocks back... whoops, sorry boys... at least were not late. Even though this was a true Sunday church service... protocol be danged... when Kari Olamaa performed the violin solo, Meditation, by Massenet during offertory... WE APPLAUDED... LOUDLY and with VIGOR and GUSTO. And it felt good... Amen!
They did another church service in Fairport, OH at 11:00 AM which I took a pass on and then they had a joint concert with the Lakeland Civic Chorus at Lakeland College auditorium at 4:00 PM which I did attend... at least the first half. I would like to tell you some of the pieces that they did but unfortunately, almost the entire program was different then what was in the program for the Cantores Minores which took the stage first. Poor Lakeland Singers... I wouldn't want to follow the Cantores Minores on stage. I would rather be their warm up act. The Cantores did end there part of the concert with a floral presentation by young... I mean VERY YOUNG Tommi Sepponen to their founding choir director, Dr. Ruth-Esther Hillila-Bickel.
Many of the host families told me how they were asking the boys if they were excited about being at the end of the tour and looking forward to going home. Much to their surprise, these boys were in no hurry to get back to Finland... probably because they would be returning to school. Oh and they were going to miss the Malls. I should mention that these boys are not from a church choir school or a secular choir school. This is basically a very, very excellent community church choir. If we were all so lucky to have one.
Dr. Ruth-Esther Hillila-Bickel is striving to put together another choir in the Cleveland area. She has tried once already there and it didn't quite take but I think she has found some new vigor and inspiration after this visit by her choir and I think she is ready to try it again. She did say that she has started many boys choirs and it has been very tough to her surprise to get one going in her area. I reminded her that it could be done however. The American Boychoir was originally founded in... Columbus, Ohio.
Thanks for reading.