Veljo Tormis: Laulu Algus (The Beginning of Song) Hando Runnel Downtown Voices http://DowntownVoices.net Stephen Sands, Conductor http://StephenSands.net TRANSLATION: Listen! Faraway centuries, on the shores of Estonia there once began a ...  moreVeljo Tormis: Laulu Algus (The Beginning of Song) Hando Runnel Downtown Voices http://DowntownVoices.net Stephen Sands, Conductor http://StephenSands.net TRANSLATION: Listen! Faraway centuries, on the shores of Estonia there once began a song. In the language of mothers, the spirit of fathers it was carried across to us. In sonorous language, in the spirit of a million it lives on. This song began in a dusky time and was born from the work of voiceless ones. This song was born in a lowly house and it rose as an oath in the night. . A powerless clan began listening, the song was good for the soul, for it spoke a heavenly story, that freedom must come to them. And the powerless clan awoke, and felt the heads on their shoulders. This song will not die, nor this story, this song for us is good. I stepped out to start my voice, ringing on the rocky hillside, lifting up the celebration, cheering up the ring of friends. I know my friend...    less

Suomen Laulu ("Song of Finland") is one of the oldest mixed choirs in Finland. Founded as a male choir in 1900, it became a mixed choir in 1907. The choir was conducted for more than four decades by its founder, the renowned choir conductor and ...  moreSuomen Laulu ("Song of Finland") is one of the oldest mixed choirs in Finland. Founded as a male choir in 1900, it became a mixed choir in 1907. The choir was conducted for more than four decades by its founder, the renowned choir conductor and composer Heikki Klemetti. The current artistic director, Esko Kallio (b. 1974), has conducted Suomen Laulu since 2002. The choir's repertoire consists both a cappella works and compositions works for choir and orchestra. Since 1921 the choir has maintained the tradition of performing the St. Matthew Passion by J.S.Bach every Maundy Thursday in St. John's Church in Helsinki. Suomen Laulu has made five recordings, the most recent of which was published to celebrate choir's centenary in 2000. The choir also has its own series of publications, the "Suomen Laulun ohjelmistoa", which contains several of the finest pieces of Finnish choral music.  less