Discover the deep-rooted meaning of the countryside through the centuries-old tradition of folk music. The VU Chamber Choir takes you on a journey past the vast fields of Estonia and Latvia to the wild mountains of Georgia and Armenia, and via the rolling hills of England back to the Frisian farm ditches. Come listen to songs that sing about the idyll of the countryside, but also show the cracks in this dream image.

In addition to arrangements of old folk songs, the VU Chamber Choir premieres two new compositions. Composer Imre Ploeg wrote Brutsen Loften on a text by Tsead Bruinja, about his connection with the Frisian countryside. With Bacchanalia, composer William Knight brings a contemporary perspective, in which romantic rural life cannot escape the maelstrom of modern times.⁣

Programme

British

• Edward Bairstow (arr) – The Oak and the Ash
• Imogen Holst (arr) – A Sweet Country Life
• William Knight – Bacchanalia

Dutch /Fries

• Jetse Bremer (arr) – Ain boer wol naor zien noaber
• Jetse Bremer (arr) – Springt op en toogt uw schoen
• Jetse Bremer (arr) – Schoon lief, hoe ligt gy hier en slaept
• Imre Ploeg – Brutsen loften

Georgian /Mingrelian

• Anoniem – Asho Chela
• Anoniem – Ocheshkvei
• Anoniem – Batonebo

Armenian

• Komitas Vardapet (arr) – Lorva gutanerg
• Komitas Vardapet (arr) – Yel, Yel

Polish

• Henryk Górecki – Wysla burzyckm bandzie desc (from 5 Kurpische Liederen op. 75)

Estonian

• Veljo Tormis – from 9 Estse Oogstliederen
  1. Lõpe, lõpe põllukene
  6. Lähme uuele eele
  8. Lõikuse lõpetus

Latvian

• Jēkabs Graubiņš – Skaista Mana Brala Seta
• Laura Jekabsone (arr) – Dindaru Dandaru