The unwieldy title of this disc refers to the ancient name given to the seven main stars of the Ursa major constellation, one of the most distinct constellations in the northern hemisphere. In a co-production with YLE, the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Opus 111 has ventured to the lands of the far north for this recording of 21 liturgical works and hymns from across Scandinavia (with one selection hailing from the Baltic nation of Estonia). Although many of the liturgical works find their melodies rooted in Germany or France, they retain a strong Nordic flavor. Under the direction of viola da gamba and vielle player Markus Tapio, the choral ensemble Retrover splendidly illuminates music not often heard outside its respective native lands, an enterprise these singers are clearly passionate about.
The singing is magnificent, with crystalline clarity and pure tone. Each selection is a little diamond polished to perfection, yet sung with the utmost simplicity and restraint. Some of the strongest performances come from folky-sounding congregational hymns, including the haunting “Ah Herra Christ” (with soprano Anneliina Koskinen and traditional singer Pia Rask) and “Sun tykös turvaan Jumala” (both selected from an early 18th-century Finnish hymnal), and the Swedish “Gläd dig du Kristi brud”. I’m sure that these would sound quite different sung by a congregation during Sunday-morning services, but they glimmer with an unmistakable warmth and humanity. More, please!
