World Renowned Estonian Choir To Perform In Joensuu
Joensuu, Finland – The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, under the direction of Kaspars Putninš, will present a gala concert on Tuesday, 9 June 2015 at the Lutheran Church of Joensuu (Papinkatu 1) Finland. The event, which begins at 19:00 will feature the works of Sergei Rachmaninov, Arvo Pärt, and Georgy Sviridov.
“We are delighted that the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will be participating in this year's 10th Anniversary Conference with a concert devoted to music by contemporary Orthodox composers,” said the Rev. Ivan Moody, Chair of the International Society for Orthodox Church Music (ISOCM), which is hosting the concert. “It is extremely important that contemporary composition in the Orthodox world be given its full due, and there is no better vehicle for this than the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.”
The concert will be the choir's first ever in Joensuu, thanks to the collaboration with and sponsorship by the ISOCM, and the event will be a celebration of the creative musical tradition of the Orthodox Christian world. Father Ivan's own piece, “Thy Fatherly Embrace,” will be performed during the event which is part of this year's ISOCM biannual conference.
This year’s ISOCM conference marks the tenth anniversary since the Society’s founding, and addresses the theme of “Creating Liturgically: Hymnography and Music” with papers being presented musicologists, scholars, researchers, and specialists in Orthodox liturgical music from around the world.
The ISOCM, which is based in Joensuu, provides a venue for international scholars to gather, share their research, and establish connections which increases awareness of Orthodox Christian hymns. “The Society was founded ten years ago, and I can say without fear of contradiction that it has become a beacon in the Orthodox world, bringing together musicians and scholars of all kinds in celebration of the rich artistic heritage of Orthodoxy,” Father Ivan said.
With the Society’s geographical location in Finnish Karelia, it provides a unique and beautiful setting for an event which is truly international in scope. “This has contributed hugely to the study and dissemination of Orthodox church music throughout the world by means of the conferences and its publications,” said Father Ivan.
The concert by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir will also feature music of Arvo Pärt, the Estonian composer who is celebrating his 80th birthday later this year. “The EPCC is of course one of the very finest choirs in the world, and this is an event of tremendous cultural importance not only for ISOCM, but for the public at large, for Joensuu and for Karelia,” Father Ivan noted, adding, “The city of Joensuu forms the community in which ISOCM exists.”
Tickets for the concert can be purchased through Lippupalvelu (http://www.lippupalvelu.fi/event/viron-filharmoninen-kamarikuoroisocm-10-vuotta-arvo-part-80-vuotta-tickets/156075)
The Sixth International Conference on Orthodox Church Music will take place at the University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu Campus, 8-14 June 2015. Sessions are held in the Agora building (Yliopistokatu 4, Philosophical Faculty, School of Theology, auditorium AT100) and are open to the public.