Album

Baltic Voices 3 presents eight highly varied and provocative contemporary pieces by leading composers from Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, and Poland, all enthusiastically performed by Paul Hillier and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet, and various guest artists. Lest this album seem like a collection of chaste a cappella choral works for meditation or "chilling out," it takes off with a bang in Vaclovas Augustinas' boisterous The Stomping Bride (1994) for choir, harpsichord, viola da gamba, recorders, and percussion, and goes on to tweak the ear with such curiosities as the eerie Nuits, adieux (1991, 1996) by Kaija Saariaho, Erik Bergman's raucous and grotesque Vier Galgenlieder, Op. 51b (1960), and Erkki-Sven Tüür's memorably microtonal and haunting Meditatio (2003). But even the quieter pieces, such as Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen's matter-of-fact Statements, Rytis Mazulis' agitatedly chanted The dazzled eye lost its speech (1992), and Algirdas Martinaitis' joyfully dissonant Alleluia (1996), are far from serene—only Henryk Górecki's mild 5 Kurpian Songs (1999) qualifies for that description—so seekers of peaceful background music would do well to listen elsewhere. This album is too interesting and challenging for relaxation, but perhaps just the right thing for fearless ears. Harmonia Mundi's reproduction is excellent, particularly in Tüür's iridescent and multidimensional work. Highly recommended.

© Blair Sanderson, All Music Guide

CD 1
Vaclovas Augustinas Composer Treputé Martela, for voices, 2 recorders, and percussion Work Iris Oja Percussion, Madis Metsamart Percussion, Ene Nael Harpsichord, Kaia Urb Percussion, Neeme Punder Recorder, Tõnu Jõesaar Viola da Gamba, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir, Paul Hillier Conductor, Leonora Palu Recorder, Tiit Kogermann Percussion
1	Treputé Martela, for voices, 2 recorders, and percussion	4:23			$0.99
Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Composer Konstateringer (Statements) for chorus Work Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
2	Konstateringer (Statements) for chorus	5:54			$0.99
Kaija Saariaho Composer Nuit, adieux, for vocal quartet and chorus Work Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
3	Nuit, adieux, for vocal quartet and chorus	11:33			Album Only
Rytis Mazulis Composer Apstulbusi akis prarado ama (The Dazzled Eye Lost Its Speech), for chorus Work Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
4	Apstulbusi akis prarado ama (The Dazzled Eye Lost Its Speech), for chorus	4:53			$0.99
Erik Bergman Composer (4) Galgenlieder, for 3 speakers and speaking chorus, Op 51b Work 6:18 Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
5	1.Das große Lalula	1:20			$0.99
6	2.Tapetenblume	1:04			$0.99
7	3.Igel und Agel	2:07			$0.99
8	4.Unter Zeiten	1:47			$0.99
Algirdas Martinaitis Composer Alleluia, for chorus Work Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
9	Alleluia, for chorus	4:01			$0.99
Erkki-Sven Tüür Composer Meditatio, for chorus Work Rascher Saxophone Quartet Orchestra, Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
10	Meditatio, for chorus	17:55			Album Only
Henryk Górecki Composer 5 Songs from Kurpie, Op.75 Work 23:22 Paul Hillier Conductor, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir Chorus/Choir
11	1.Hej, z góry, z góry!	3:53			$0.99
12	2.Ciamna nocka, ciamna	3:07			$0.99
13	3.Wcoraj, dziwcyno, nie dzisiaj	4:50			$0.99
14	4.Z Torunia ja parobecek	2:24			$0.99
15	5.Wysla burzycka, bandzie desc	9:08			$0.99