“It is honest music, written from the heart.” (Journal Star, 29.06.03, USA)
Christmas oratorio The Hand Of God | ||
1 | Peace, Peace, Peace | 5:02 |
2 | The Birth Of The Saviour | 4:25 |
3 | The Journey To Bethlehem | 7:09 |
4 | The Fields Of Bethlehem | 7:30 |
5 | Gloria | 2:37 |
6 | At The Manger | 4:31 |
7 | Peace, Peace, Peace | 5:15 |
Symphony No 1 for orchestra and trombone (1998) | ||
8 | Andante sostenuto | 8:12 |
9 | Larghetto | 5:25 |
10 | Con moto e pensiero | 7:39 |
Symphony No 2 for orchestra and piano (1999) | ||
1 | Sostenuto e tenebroso | 17:15 |
2 | Vivo | 11:33 |
3 | Largo | 15:27 |
4 | Sonata for piano No 2 (2002) | 13:04 |
CD I #1–7 performed by Girls’ choir Ellerhein, conductor Tiia-Ester Loitme, narrator the Very Reverend Gustav Piir, Dean of Tallinn, Grete Koik (Mary, sopr), Taavi Tampu (Joseph, bar), Marianne Jõgi (Angel, sopr), Neeme Punder, Jaanika Vilipo (recorders), Katrin Kuldjärv (piano), Igor Garshnek (keyboards), Kristjan Mäeots, Kaspar Eisel (perc)
CD I #8–10 performed by Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Paul Mägi, Heikki Kalaus (trombone)
CD II #1–3 performed by Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Paul Mägi, Mati Mikalai (piano)
CD II #4 performed by Bruce Polay
CD II, #2, Symphony No 2, Vivo, fragm, 79 sec, mp3, 160 Kbps
Engineered by: Priit Kuulberg
Recorded: in 2003 at Estonia Concert Hall, the Hall of Merchants’ Guild, Studio Chicago Inc
Edited by Marika Scheer / Estonian Radio
Photos by Nadezhda Bruk, private collections
Designed by Piret Mikk according to the ideas of Nadezhda & Fridrich Bruk
Produced by Peeter Vähi (#1–10, CD I; #1–3, CD II) and Studio Chicago Inc (#4, CD II)
© 2003 ERP
Manufactured by Sony DADC Austria
503
Fridrich Bruk, born in Kharkov, the Ukraine, 1937. At the age of 6 his mother became a victim of tragic events of the WW II, leaving Fridrich at the custody of grandparents. 1956 Bruk graduated with a silver medal from the Music College of Kharkov Conservatory and in 1961 with honours from Leningrad Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory as composer. He is married to choral conductor Nadezhda Bruk. Since 1974 the couple have been living in Finland.
Fridrich Bruk has composed opera, 9 symphonies, chamber music, music for theatres and films and teaching repertoire as well as popular songs. He has been awarded the Cross of Merit of the Order of the Lion of Finland, 1988; the artists’ supplementary pension of the Finnish state, 1998; different Finnish grants and scholarships.
Symphonies by Bruk in many ways further develop the line of Alban Berg – Dmitri Shostakovich. His creative interest in Jewish folklore makes him close to Shostakovich and Prokofjev.
Discography: Compositions by Fridrich Bruk, 1993; Lyrical Images, 1994; From Kalevala, 1994; The Snowdrop, 1996; Dialogues, 1996; Artist Chagall, 2002; A Wandering Minstrel; Nordic Legends, 2007.
Christmas oratorio The Hand Of God was commissioned for the Nokia town in 2002 and had its premier performance by the students of the music classes in the church of Nokia on November 29, the same year. The libretto was written by pastor Pertti Luumi (1939) who has worked for many years as the general secretary of the youth centre in Finnish Evangelic Lutheran Church.
Download the vocal parts of the oratorio (the full score available on ERP).
I Peace, Peace, Peace
Rauha, rauha, rauha
jo tullut päälle maan!
Taas tulkoot taivaan enkelit
rauhassa laulamaan!
Rauha, rauha, rauha
jo tulkoon päälle maan
Taas tulkoot taivaan enkelit
rauhasta laulamaan!
Kuin paimenien keto
on koti jokaisen.
Myös siellä kuulla voimme
sanoma enkelten.
Siis laula, sydämeni,
nyt laula elämän.
Et ole enää yksin,
vierelläs’ kulkee Hän.
Toivo, toivo, toivo
jo aamu valkenee.
On uusi päivä päivältä
pimeys pakenee.
Kun sydämesi avaat
nyt Joulun Lapselle.
Niin rakkaus ja lämpö
annetaan sinulle.
Usko, usko, osko!
Saat nähdä Jumalan!
Jo taivaan Herran kunnia
kaikuvat ääret maan.
Siis laula, sydämeni,
laulua Elamän.
Et ole enää yksin,
vierelläs’ kulkee Hän.
II The Birth of the Saviour
Syntymää Vapahtajan
oljille halvan majan
tulemme katsomaan.
Syntymää Vapahtajan,
alkua uuden ajan,
nyt käymme kaikki
juhlimaan.
Äitinsä ensimmäistä,
pilttiä pienimmäistä
seimessä hoidetaan.
Sä karitsa ja aasi,
nyt katso Jumalaasi:
Hän nukkuu olkivuoteellaan.
Maria äiti armain,
ja Joosef, isä parhain
valvovat pienoistaan.
On äidin mieli hellä
ja isan sydämellä
soi ilo, ilo lauluaan.
Syntymää Vapahtajan
oljille halvan majan
tulemme katsomaan.
Syntymää Vapahtajan,
alkua uuden ajan,
nyt käymme kaikki
juhlimaan.
III The Journey To Bethlehem
In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was Governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.
Miten pitkä on matka?
Miten raskas on tie?
On kaukana Betlehem,
Missä se lie?
Minä jaksanko kanssasi
kulkea tien?
Jos lapseni syntyy,
Mihin hänet mä vien?
Minä kanssasi kuljen
näytän sinulle tien.
Ole rauhassa rakkain,
sinut perille vien.
Tule, yhdessä kuljemme
Betlehemiin,
Betlehemiin et sinä,
ei lapsi jää vaikeuksiin.
Sinä lupaathän, Joosef,
sinä lupaathän sen:
Tuot takaisin minut,
tuot pienokaisen?
Mikä lieneekin kotinsa
tuntematon,
nyt lähdemme matkaan,
nyt kiire jo on.
Tovin jaksathan vielä
tuolla kaupungin näät.
Pian saavumme sinne
sinä lepäämään jäät.
On syntymäpaikka
myös pienokaisen
tämä kaupunki sukumme
Kuninkaiden.
Pidä kiirettä, Joosef,
minun aikani on.
Hae yösija meille,
vaikka vaatimaton.
Älä hellitä! Kolkuta!
Vaadi sä vain!
kohta jo iloita
pienosestain.
IV The Fields of Bethlehem
While they were there, the time came for Mary to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. In that regio there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Tähdet kirkkaat loistaa yössä.
katsoo taivaaltanasa kuu.
Paimenet vain ovat työssä,
nukkuu lampaat, luonto muu.
Mikä rikkoo öistä rauhaa?
Miksi tähdet kalpenee?
Soitto ihmeellinen pauhaa,
sitä kaikki kuuntelee.
Päivä paistaa kesken yötä,
valo silmät häikäisee.
Loiston kirkkauden myötä
Enkel’ ääni helisee:
Turhaa pelko! Rauha Teille!
Kuunnelkoon nyt koko maa!
Annetu on työksi meille
viesti suuri kuuluttaa.
Tänä yönä Vapahtaja
maailmaan on syntynyt.
Kotinansa karjamaja,
siellä nukkuu lapsi nyt.
Äidin hellät kädet laittoi
hänet seimeen nukkumaan.
Isä peitoksensa taittoi
lämpimiä vaatteitaan.
Nouskaa, menkää kiiruhtakaa!
Teitä hän jo odotaa.
Mennessänne julistakaa
tätä ilosanomaa.
V Gloria
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of heavenly host, praising God and saying,
Jumalamme kunniaa, kunniaa, kunniaa
Avaruudet kuuluttaa, kuuluttaa, kuuluttaa.
Ihmisiä rakastaa, rakastaa, rakastaa,
Rauhan maahan rakentaa, rakentaa, rakentaa.
Hallelujaa, laulakaa, laulakaa, laulakaa
Jumalalle koko maa, koko maa, koko maa!
VI At the Manger
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.
Katsoo äiti onnellinen
katsoo isä poikaansa.
Rauha, hyvyys ihmeellinen
loistaa lapsen kasvoista.
Katselevat härkä ja aasi,
pienokaista seimessään.
Eivät muista ihmeissänsä
heiniänsä, einestään..
Paimenien kertomusta
tallissa nyt kuunnellaan.
Vaikka yhä yö on musta,
aamu tekee tuloaan.
Aamuun asti valvoo äiti.
Sydän hellä aprikoi:
„Mitä kaikki, minkä kuulin
tullessansa tuoda voi.
Iloa ja kärsimystä
kuuluu joka elamään.
Anna herra ymmärrystä
tehtäväni täyttämään.
Enkeleitä olkoon aina
ympärillä lapseni.
Herra, sydämeeni paina
usko, toivo, rauhasi“.
Katsoo äiti onnellinen
katsoo isä poikaansa.
Rauha, hyvyys ihmeellinen
loistaa lapsen kasvoista.
Katselevat härkä ja aasi,
pienokaista seimessään.
Eivät muista ihmeissänsä
heiniänsä, einestään.
VII Peace, Peace, Peace
The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
Rauha, rauha, rauha
jo tullut päälle maan!
Taas tulkoot taivaan enkelit
rauhassa laulamaan!
Rauha, rauha, rauha
jo tulkoon päälle maan
Taas tulkoot taivaan enkelit
rauhasta laulamaan!
Kuin paimenien keto
on koti jokaisen.
Myös siellä kuulla voimme
sanoma enkelten.
Siis laula, sydämeni,
nyt laula elämän.
Et ole enää yksin,
vierelläs’ kulkee Hän.
Toivo, toivo, toivo
jo aamu valkenee.
On uusi päivä päivältä
pimeys pakenee.
Kun sydämesi avat
nyt Joulun Lapselle.
Niin rakkaus ja lämpö
annetaan sinulle.
Usko, usko, osko!
Saat nähdä Jumalan!
Jo taivaan Herran kunnia
kaikuvat ääret maan.
Siis laula, sydämeni,
laulua Elamän.
Et ole enää yksin,
vierelläs’ kulkee Hän.
Symphony No 1 (1998) has been inspired by tragic events in the Civil War of Finland and is at the same time an ode to the beauty of Finnish nature.
Symphony No 2 (1999) expresses the joy of human life and multitude of emotions using elements of jazz as well as virtuosity.
Sonata for piano No 2 (2002) is dedicated to an American pianist Bruce Polay who has also done the recording of it. This romantic work in the form of sonata-allegro is dashing with virtuosity. According to the composer’s own words he tries to revive Liszt’s tradition with the concert piece in the modern musical language.
Tiia-Ester Loitme, chief conductor of Ellerhein, graduated from Estonian Academy of Music in 1965 under the supervision of Prof Gustav Ernesaks. For her contribution to Estonian music culture she has been awarded several Orders of Merit. Grammy Award 2004 for the CD “Jean Sibelius: Cantatas”.
Girls’ choir Ellerhein was founded on Sep 14th, 1951 by Prof Heino Kaljuste. Later it was renamed Ellerhein. Today its chief conductor is Tiia-Ester Loitme. Especially during the recent years the choir has won several international competitions.
The Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (ERSO) traces its roots back to December 18, 1926, to the first concert broadcast by Tallinn Radio. The ensemble’s ranks grew steadily, and by 1939 the Radio Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra included 39 performers. In 1939, one of Estonia’s most outstanding musical figures of the day, Olav Roots, accepted the role of orchestra director. With Roots as director, the orchestra continued to perform symphonies in Tallinn throughout the WW II period. In 1942 a sinfonietta was formed of those musicians mobilized to Yaroslavl. It was with this sinfonietta that the distinguished conductor Roman Matsov began his career. In Autumn 1944, having returned to Tallinn, the sinfonietta united with the Radio Symphony Orchestra. In the post-war years, the orchestra was directed by Leo Tauts, Sergei Prohhorov and Roman Matsov, who was principal conductor from 1950–63. By 1956 the orchestra had 90 members. Neeme Järvi joined the Estonian Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1960, where he continued as principal conductor from 1963–79. Under Neeme Järvi’s direction, the orchestra’s repertoire expanded markedly, as did its activities. In 1975 the orchestra was renamed the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. One year later, the ERSO co-operated with Estonian TV and Radio to present the regular concert series “Studio Hour with the ERSO” featuring classics as well as new works by Estonian composers. From 1980–90, Peeter Lilje was appointed principal conductor. From the season 2001/2002 the principal conductor and music director of the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra is a renowned performer of St Petersburg’s new school of conductors, Nikolai Alexeev. For decades, the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra has been the sole professional symphony orchestra in Estonia. Today the orchestra has 100 musicians. The average season includes 60 concerts.
The ERSO records music for Estonian Radio regularly, and has also worked with such recording companies as: Virgin Classics, Alba Records, BIS, Antes Edition, Globe, Signum, Ondine, Warner Classics / Finlandia Records, ERP, Melodija and others.
Previous ERSO performances abroad have included Yehudi Menuhin’s festival Gstaad Musiksommer in Switzerland, the Europamusicale festival in Munich, Germany, and performances in the Grand Hall of the St Petersburg Philharmonic, the Grand Hall of the Moscow Conservatory; concerts in Germany, Sweden, Kuwait, Bulgaria, Rumania, Italy, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and elsewhere.
Conductors: Igor Stravinski, Kurt Sanderling, Arvids and Māris Jansons, Kurt Mazur, Jevgeni Svetlanov, Paavo Berglund, Leif Segerstam; Yuri Temirkanov, Nikolai Alexeev, Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Muhai Tang, Gilbert Kaplan, En Shao, John Storgards, Rolf Gupta, Gintaras Rinkevičius, Jorma Panula, Olari Elts, Tõnu Kaljuste, Paul Mägi, Andres Mustonen, and many others. Guest artists: José Carreras, Montserrat Caballe, David and Igor Oistrakh, Gidon Kremer, Tatiana Grindenko, Liana Issakadze, Vladimir Spivakov, Viktor Tretiakov, Sergei Stadler, Yuri Bashmet, Natalia Gutman, Arto Noras, David Geringas, Gennady Zut, Emil Gilels, Boris Berman, Olli Mustonen, Håkan Hagegard, Peter Donohoe, Thomas Indermühle, Frederic Chiu, Kalle Randalu and many others.
Download: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, photo by Jarek Jõepera, jpg, 300 dpi, 1300 KB
Paul Mägi, a conductor, has been the founder of Estonian Radio Chamber Orchestra and chief conductor and artistic director of the Estonian National Opera and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. He has given guest performances all over the world and is praised by critics for his style and sensitivity. For his contribution to music culture in Estonia and elsewhere Paul Mägi has received numerous awards.
Heiki Kalaus (1950) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 1974 under the supervision by Prof Paul Karp. 1977–80 he completed his studies at St Petersburg Conservatory named after Rimsky-Korsakov. He is a professor of the Estonian Academy of Music.
Mati Mikalai (1971) has graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music. He has won a number of international competitions. Mati Mikalai has also performed together with Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica. Currently he is teaching at the Estonian Academy of Music.
Dr Bruce Polay (1949) – a pianist, composer and conductor, has been music director and conductor of Knox-Galesburg Symphony, USA since 1983 and a professor of music at Knox College where he is head of chair of the music department. He has performed as soloist and recitalist in Europe and USA, has served as head judge for an international piano competition and has performed in New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall.
Other recordings of Fridrich Bruk on ERP: Nordic Legends, Artist Chagall
Other recordings with Ellerhein: Missa Nona. Green Tārā, Ellerhein. Estonian Choral Music, Tormis. Nüüd Ep on ilus elada