Helsinki Chamber Choir & Nils Schweckendiek - Arvo Pärt: Passio (2021) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Composed in 1982, Arvo Pärt’s Passio has retained its place as one of the foremost works of sacred music of the late 20th century. It has been called a minimalist masterpiece, and is a seminal work in the composer’s oeuvre – the culmination of his so-called tintinnabuli style, and the first in a line of large-scale choral works on religious themes. Passion settings have a long history, with polyphonic settings for choral performance beginning in the 15th century and continuing up until the high baroque and the monumental works by Johann Sebastian Bach.

In his Passion, Pärt looks back to an older tradition, however – the medieval one of a single voice chanting the text. As a result, the narrative – chapters 18 and 19 of the Gospel of St. John – becomes the basis for sustained spiritual contemplation rather than the drama of Bach’s Passions. Another important distinction from earlier Passion settings is Pärt’s treatment of the Evangelist, who narrates the story. Rather than a single voice, he employs a quartet: soprano, alto, tenor and bass, accompanied by an ensemble of four instruments. The only other instrument used in the work is the organ, again in contrast to the larger instrumental forces of the Bach Passions. This contemplative work is here performed by the Helsinki Chamber Choir under Nils Schweckendiek.

Tracklist:
1. Helsinki Chamber Choir, Jan Lehtola & Nils Schweckendiek – Passio: Passio Domini Nostri Jesu Christi (01:15)
2. Sampo Haapaniemi, Mikko-Pekka Svala, Nils Schweckendiek, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Marko Ylonen, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi & Jan Lehtola – Passio: Haec cum dixisset Jesus (05:29)
3. Sampo Haapaniemi, Jan Lehtola, Nils Schweckendiek, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi, Marko Ylonen & Mikko-Pekka Svala – Passio: Jesum Nazarenum (06:02)
4. Sampo Haapaniemi, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi, Marko Ylonen & Mikko-Pekka Svala – Passio: Quia expedit, unum hominem mori (10:54)
5. Martti Anttila, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi, Marko Ylonen & Mikko-Pekka Svala – Passio: Numquid et tu ex discipulis ejus es? (06:16)
6. Sampo Haapaniemi, Mikko-Pekka Svala, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, Martti Anttila, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi & Marko Ylonen – Passio: Et vocavit Jesum, et dixit ei (14:13)
7. Sampo Haapaniemi, Mikko-Pekka Svala, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, Martti Anttila, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi & Marko Ylonen – Passio: Crucifige, crucifige eum (08:46)
8. Martti Anttila, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi, Marko Ylonen & Mikko-Pekka Svala – Passio: Erat autem Parasceve Paschae (06:35)
9. Sampo Haapaniemi, Mikko-Pekka Svala, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir, Nils Schweckendiek, Martti Anttila, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi & Marko Ylonen – Passio: Noli scribere, Rex Judaeorum (07:05)
10. Sampo Haapaniemi, Linnéa Sundfær Casserly, Sirkku Rintamäki, Mats Lillhannus, Jussi Linnanmäki, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir & Nils Schweckendiek – Passio: Postea sciens Jesus quia omnia consummata sunt (02:52)
11. Laura Vikman, Anni Haapaniemi, Marko Ylonen, Mikko-Pekka Svala, Jan Lehtola, Helsinki Chamber Choir & Nils Schweckendiek – Passio: Qui passus es pro nobis (01:37)


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