Vox Clamantis Vocal Ensemble Various countries

Vox Clamantis

The Grammy-winning Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis comprises a diversity of twelve singers who share their passion for Gregorian chant, early polyphony and contemporary music. Formed in 1996 by conductor Jaan-Eik Tulve, the group has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for their unique sound and meaningful interpretation.

The ensemble’s musical thinking has its roots deep in the tradition of early European music, but also the performance of contemporary Baltic music forms a core theme within the repertoire of Vox Clamantis. Composers such as Arvo Pärt, Helena Tulve and Erkki-Sven Tüür have written and dedicated their works for Vox Clamantis.

Concert tours have taken Vox Clamantis throughout Europe, Israel, Canada, USA, Colombia including appearances at festivals such as Oslo International Church Music, Megaron Spring Athens, La Folle Journee in Nantes, Warsaw, Tokyo, Fribourg, Vale of Glamorgan, Usedom, Kissinger Sommer, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Kunstfest Corvey, RheinVokal, Musikfestspiele Saar, Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz, MDR Musiksommer, Watou,Trondheim, Stavanger, Mikkeli, Nafplion, Sydney, Hong Kong and performances at Klangvokal Dortmund, Bruges, Sion among others.

Upcoming invitations are scheduled at Flagey Brussels, Festival Noirlac, Brno Early Music Festival, Amsterdam Muziekgebouw, Gent De Bijloke etc.

The ensemble has also performed with a number of artists including Arianna Savall, Dhafer Youssef, Marco Ambrosini, Yair Dalal, Jean Claude Pennetier, Cello Octet Amsterdam, early music consort Hortus Musicus, NYDD Ensemble, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Latvian Radio Choir.

Their discography includes highly praised recordings as Cyrillus Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel, The Deer’s Cry and Filia Sion for ECM Records, Sacrum Convivium with music by Duruflé, Machaut, Poulenc, Messiaen and Gregorian chant as well as Liszt’s Via crucis for Mirare which was awarded the Diapason d’Or.

The album “Adam’s Lament” by Arvo Pärt with Tõnu Kaljuste, Latvian Radio Choir among others has won the Grammy Award in 2014. The film featuring Vox Clamantis music, The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza), received an Oscar in 2014.

ECM Records will release a new album with music by Henrik Ødegaard in 2023.

In 2011, Vox Clamantis and Jaan-Eik Tulve were awarded the annual prize of the Cultural Foundation of Estonia.
 

 

Jaan-Eik Tulve

Jaan-Eik Tulve is regarded as an intriguing figure of the Nordic vocal music scene. After graduating from the conservatory in Tallinn, he studied Gregorian singing at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, graduating in 1993. He then worked at the CNSM as an assistant to Louis-Marie Vigne, who had a decisive influence on his musical development. He continued his studies with Daniel Saulnier from Solesmes Abbey. At the same time, Tulve founded in Paris in 1993 the ‘Lac et Mel’ Ensemble performing numerous concerts in Europe and Lebanon. In 1994 he developed the department for female singing of the Gregorian Choir in Paris.

Since 1996 Jaan-Eik Tulve is teaching Gregorian chant at the National Music Academy in Estonia. He has also given many courses in Gregorian chant around the globe.

For his merits to vocal music Jaan-Eik Tulve has been awarded the Order of the White Star of the Republic of Estonia, the Order of Léopold of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic. Jaan-Eik Tulve was named ‘Musician of the Year 2017’ by the Estonian Radio.

 

Season 2023/24

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News/Info

Vox Clamantis at La Folle Journée in Nantes

Vox Clamantis performs three concerts on 1, 2 and 3 February 2024 at Festival La Folle Journée in Nantes featuring music by Duruflé, Bruckner, Tulve, von Bingen and Pärt.

Vox Clamantis in Brussels

Vox Clamantis and Jaan-Eik Tulve perform at Flagey Choir Days in Brussels on 15 October 2023 music by David Lang (including the European premiere of "We were" as well as Arvo Pärt.

 

Vox Clamantis at Festival de Musica Povoa de Varzim

Vox Clamantis performs at Festival de Musica Povoa de Varzim in Portugal on 14 July 2023 the programme Missa Syllabica and music by Valentin Silvestrov.

 

Vox Clamantis at MDR Musiksommer

Vox Clamantis and Jaan-Eik Tulve perform at MDR Musiksommer in Havelberg cathedral on 9 July 2023 Gregorian Chants and music by Guillaume de Mauchaut, Arvo Pärt among others.

Vox Clamantis: Two new albums with ECM and Mirare

ECM Records released a new album with a fine-drawn programme of liturgical choral music by Norwegian composer Henrik Ødegaard, Mirare lately published a further album with Gregorian Chants by Graduel d’Alienor de Bretagne.

 

Vox Clamantis at Megaron Spring Festival in Athens

Vox Clamantis performs Arvo Pärt: Passio, based on St. John Passion at Megaron Spring Festival in Athens on 3 April 2023.

Vox Clamantis at Oslo International Church Music Festival

Vox Clamantis performs at Oslo International Church Music Festival on 12 March 2023 a programme of Arvo Pärt, Cyrillus Kreek and Gregorian Chants.

 

Vox Clamantis in Stavanger

On 10 August 2022 Vox Clamantis presents the programme Missa Syllabica with Gregorian Chant and music by Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek at Stavanger Chamber Music Festival.

Vox Clamantis at Mikkeli Festival

On 3 July Vox Clamantis is performing the programme Missa Syllabica with Gregorian chants and music by Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek.

Vox Clamantis in Dortmund and Bruneck

Vox Clamantis and Jaan-Eik Tulve perform two concerts in Bruneck on 9 March and Dortmund on 11 March presenting music by J.S Bach and Arvo Pärt as well as Gregorian Chant and Arvo Pärt (Missa syllabica).

Vox Clamantis at La Folle Journée in Nantes

Vox Clamantis performs two concerts at Festival La Folle Journée in Nantes on 26 and 30 January. The programme includes Franz Schubert: Gebet, Gesang der Geister über den Wassern, Psalm 23 among others.

Vox Clamantis on tour in Germany

Vox Clamantis performs two concerts within the Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz on 18 September at Via Mediaeval in Otterberg, on 19 September at Euro Classic in Zweibrücken. They present the programme Filia Sion & Estonian Folk Songs as well as Missa Syllabica with gregorian chants and music by Arvo Pärt.

Vox Clamantis: OPUS KLASSIK nomination

Vox Clamantis is nominated for OPUS KLASSIK with the album Cyrillus Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel for ECM Records in the category choir music. On 10 October the award celebration will take place at Berlin Konzerthaus.

Vox Clamantis in Tholey

For the reopening of the famous Tholey monastery in Saarland, Vox Clamantis can be heard on 22 September, 19:00 (CET) featuring music by Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek. The concert will be sent in livestream (available until 21 October):
<link https: www.abtei-tholey.de _blank>

www.abtei-tholey.de

Vox Clamantis: New album at ECM Records

ECM Records releases a new album of Vox Clamantis with A Cappella music by Cyrillus Kreek, The Suspended Harp of Babel, accompanied by Marco Ambrosini Trio in April.

Press

Programmes

David Lang | Arvo Pärt2025/26

David Lang: just
David Lang: the sense of senses
Arvo Pärt: O Holy Father Nicolas
David Lang: let me come in
David Lang: we were
Arvo Pärt: Zwei beter
David Lang: for love is strong
Arvo Pärt: And I Heard the Voice …

Arvo Pärt: Passio13. - 18.04.2025

6 soloists: Jesus (bass), Pilatus (tenor), 4 evangelists (soprano, countertenor, tenor, baritone)
choir: 12 singers
5 instrumentalists: violin, oboe, violoncello, bassoon, organ
conductor

Pärt & Bach

 Arvo Pärt (*1935): Kleine Litanei (2015)                

 J.S. Bach (1685–1750): Motet: Jesu, meine Freude BWV 227    

 Arvo Pärt: The Deer’s Cry (2007)                                

 Arvo Pärt: Nunc dimittis (2001)                                             

 Arvo Pärt: Which was the Son of …  (2000)         

 Arvo Pärt: Zwei Beter (1998)                                               

 Arvo Pärt: And I heard a voice (2017)                                 

 J.S. Bach: Motet: Ich lasse dich nicht BWV Anh 159

(18 singers, organist, conductor)

Missa syllabica

Gregorian antiphon: Mandatum novum
Arvo Pärt: Kleine Litanei (2015)
Guillaume de Machaut: Kyrie (La Messe de Nostre Dame)
Arvo Pärt: Kyrie (Missa syllabica) (1977/1996)
Arvo Pärt: Gloria (Missa syllabica)
Gregorian gradual: Locus iste
Arvo Pärt: The Deer's Cry (2007)        
Perotin (1160  1230): Beata viscera
Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962): How large is our Poverty based on Estonian folk hymn from Nissi parish (1918)
Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962): The Psalm 212 of David By Day the Sun will not… (1923)
Gregorian offertory: Super flumina Babylonis
Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962): The Psalm 137 of David By the Rivers of Babylon
Præfatio

Arvo Pärt: Sanctus (Missa syllabica)
Guillaume de Machaut: Agnus Dei (La Messe de Nostre Dame)
Arvo Pärt: Agnus Dei (Missa syllabica)
Gregorian communio: Exulta filia Sion
Arvo Pärt: Ite missa est (Missa syllabica)
Arvo Pärt: And I heard a voice… (2017)
(14 singers, conductor)

Songs of Songs

Arvo Pärt: O Holy Father Nicholas  
Lou Harrison (1917-2003): Cecilia Mass
(Monophone Mass for the patron of music, based on Gregorian chant)
David Lang: Let me come in for womens' choir, violin, violoncello, piano, percussion
David Lang: The Little Match Girl Passion
(14 singers, conductor, violin, violoncello, piano, percussion)  

Gregorian Chant and Guillaume de Machaut (14th century)

Gregorian Chant & Arvo Pärt with improvisation and accompaniment Andrew Lawrene-King (harp)

You & I

Cyrillus Kreek (1889-1962): Orthodox Vespers. Proemial Psalm (psalm 103/104) (1938)

Gregorian antiphon: O Adonai

Arvo Pärt: Sieben Magnificat Antiphonen (1988/1991)

Cyrillus Kreek: From Heaven Above to Earth I Come / (1917) (Estonian Folk hymn from Reigi parish)

Cyrillus Kreek: The Psalm 121 of David « By Day the Sun will not … » (1923)  

Gregorian offertory Ave Maria 

Helena Tulve: You and I (2017) 

Gregorian communio In splendoribus

Arvo Pärt: O Holy Father Nicholas (2021)
Gregorian communio Exsulta filia Sion

Arvo Pärt: Nunc dimittis (2001)
Helena Tulve: Ole tervitatud, Maarja (2015)

Tõnis Kaumann: Ave Maria (2013)

Rachmaninow: All-Night Vigil

Rachmaninow: All-Night Vigil op. 37

Helena Tulve portrait

You & I
I am a River
In Silence

Lou Harrison

Lou Harrison: Cecilia Mass

Graduale of Eleonor d'Aquitaine (13th century)

Special programmes

Discography

Music by Henrik Ødegaard

Meditations over St. Mary Magdalene’s Feast in Nidaros etc
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantic
ECM (2023)
 

Graduel d'Aliénor de Bretagne

Graduel d'Aliénor de Bretagne
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantis
Mirare (2023)

The Suspended Harp of Babel

Cyrilllus Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantis
ECM (2020)

Sacrum Convivium Gregorian chants, Duruflé, de Machaut, Poulenc, Messiaen
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantis
Mirare (2018)
The Deer's Cry Arvo Pärt: The Deer's Cry
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantis
ECM (2016)
Liszt: Via Crucis Franz Liszt: Via Crucis
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Jean Claude Pennetier (Klavier)
Vox Clamantis
Mirare (2013)
Filia Sion Gregorian Chants
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantis
ECM (2012)
Arvo Pärt: Adam's Lament Vox Clamantis
Latvian Radio Choir
Estnischer Philharmonischer Kammerchor
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Sinfonietta Riga
ECM (2012)