SVANHOLM SINGERS from Lund, Sweden
Conductor: Sofia Söderberg
INCANTATIO MARIOS AESTUOSI, Veljo Tormis (1930)

FROM GUEST CURATOR CECILIA RYDINGER

VELJO TORMIS: INCANTATIO MARIS AESTUOSI

The Estonian composer Veljo Tormis is famous for his choral compositions, including many for mens’ choir. Incantatio maris aestuosi (“Incantation for a Stormy Sea”), written in 1996, was commissioned by Orphei Drängar and the Finnish YL male voice choir, in remembrance of the victims of the MS Estonia ferry that sank on September 29, 1994. The words are from the 18th and 42nd songs of the Finnish national epic Kalevala, in Latin translation. This is one of the most touching pieces I’ve ever performed, foremost because of the Estonia ferry tragedy, but also because of the strength of emotion expressed in the music. Starting with a calm sea we soon hear the approaching storm. “Then the winds arose in fury, and the tempests raged around them.” We’re caught by the inevitable catastrophe, facing death in the white eye, with no possibility to escape. “Water, now restrain thy children, and, O wave, do thou restrain them.” Ending with a prayer: “Rise, O wind, aloft to heaven, and among the clouds disport thee, to thy race, where thou wast nurtured, to thy family and kindred!” The Svanholm Singers are a well-known Swedish male-voice chamber choir, here expressively conducted by Sofia Söderberg.

– Cecilia Rydinger, Conductor and Artistic Director, Orphei Drängar