Rautavaara: Missa A Cappella

 

I recently heard the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir's 1999 recording of the sacred music of Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara, also on Ondine. Much of that earlier recording's program is repeated here by the Latvian Radio Choir, so what is there to distinguish the two recordings?

The biggest difference is the presence of the Missa A Cappella, a work finished after that earlier choral recording. It is a beautiful, 30-minute choral work, reminding me some of Frank Martin's Mass, a grand compliment from this listener. There is a mellifluousness to the singing parts throughout, not too far flung from plainchant influences methinks. Rautavaara mainly works with homophonic textures, firmly placing this Mass in his late compositional style, although the constantly moving tone clusters at the very opening of the Kyrie and in the Hosanna of the Benedictus show some of the modern techniques well chosen by the composer.

The other multi-movement work is Rautavaara's Missa Duodecanonica, music based on 12-tone rows. Somehow, the composer makes the off-putting 20th-Century technique sound completely natural and even amenable, although its short runtime (3 minutes!) hardly has a chance to make an impression on the listener.

Of the individual pieces, Canticum Mariae Virginis and Die Erste Elegie bear the longest runtimes. Both sound more modern than the Missa A Cappella, but pleasantly so. The tone clusters of the Canticum are particularly ear catching, and the solos from with the choir are very well sung and well chosen for these pieces. Two excerpts from Vigilia are standard fare for choir, as they remain popular outside of the larger work, and the Ave Maria is here performed in its version for mixed choir, only sung in its male-choir version on the previous Ondine choral recording.

That leaves Our Joyful'st Feast, a sort-of Christmas madrigal, also not included in a previous Ondine recording. It is unusual hearing Elizabethan English coming from Rautavaara's pen, although he rises to the challenge confidently, as if the composer has always written polyphonic choral music.

At the top of this blog post, I asked what there is to distinguish between the two Ondine recordings. Obviously, having the 30-minute Missa A Cappella is the biggest treasure for the listener. Aside from this, both are excellent performances. This 2013 recording from the Latvian Radio Choir makes use of its church acoustic, which works really well for the Missa A Cappella and many of the sacred motets. The Finnish Radio Chamber Choir did not have such a watery acoustic, and managed very well too, so it might come down to listener preference. The only piece which didn't work for me in the Latvian church acoustic was the Christmas madrigal Our Joyful'st Feast, which needs a more dry-cut rhythmic edge, I think. 

In almost every case of parallel programming, Latvian conductor Sigvards Kļava times longer than the 1999 Ondine recording, although I suspect that has more to do with accommodating the acoustic, for I never felt Kļava ever dwelt unnecessarily at any moment in Rautavaara's music. His choices are beautifully realized, finding great power within his 25-member ensemble. I would also say the Latvian group uses much less vibrato than the Finns, so that might sway some listeners one way or the other as well. If done well, I don't mind vibrato in choirs, and often times prefer it. In comparison, though, both are solid in their singing techniques, with a wonderful sense of pulse, lovely tone, and excellent balances. I can't choose, so fine are both performances! Hear both!

While this was the premier recording of Missa A Cappella, since its release, the Helsinki Chamber Choir has also recorded it alongside Our Joyful'st Feast. I have not heard that recording, but I would imagine it would be difficult to outdo the Latvian Radio Choir, a Baltic ensemble which nails such a wide variety of modern a cappella choral literature. The Ondine sound is very natural, which I only wish balanced the basses a little more fully in relation to the more numerous trebles. Song texts and translations are included.

 

 

Works
Missa A Cappella (26.31)
Die Erste Elegie (10.12)
Canticum Mariae Virginis (8.51)
Ave Maria (4.42)
Our Joyful'st Feast (4.39)
Missa Duodecanonica (3.35)
Vigilia
  Psalm of Invocation (2.26)
  Evening Hymn (2.29)

Ensembles
Latvian Radio Choir
Sigvards Kļava, conductor

Label: Ondine
Year: 2013
Total Timing: 63.34

A gorgeous recording of a cappella choral music from Finnish composer Rautavaara, mostly sacred.

While the Latvian Radio Choir is outstanding, I don't think I would want to be without my recording of the Finnish Radio Chamber Choir either, so fine are these two performances.

The main difference comes in the Missa A Cappella, a substantial works, plus the acoustic here shows off the sheer space of the church, whereas the earlier recording is close and upfront. Individual tastes will prevail.

Find more Rautavaara recordings HERE!