CD Review: Ensemble Tirana's 'The Bridge That Links Time'

Ensemble Tirana
The Bridge That Links Time
Frea Records

The polyphonic a capella group, Ensemble Tirana, hails from Albania, but their influence is deeply rooted in Balkan life and society. The new album contains over one hour of music over eighteen tracks. The songs are mostly instrumental with only minor accompaniment on flute and cifteli stringed instrument. Founded in 1994, the group contains tenor, baritone, and bass-baritone vocal arrangements. The six-member group is comprised of Nazo Celaj, Hyso Xhaferaj, Dionis Delia, Edmond Lila, Luan Sula, and Ervin Kastrati. The music incorporates historical chants from the seventeenth century. Anyone familiar with polyphonic singing will find enjoyment in the vocal tracks, while others will be yearning for more instrumental prowess. However, the vocals are great and present a great historical story for a modern era. At any rate, Ensemble Tirana inspires all to take a listen. Ensemble Tirana is the bridge that links the past with the present. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: SKRUK's 'Sangen fra Katakombene'

SKRUK
Sangen fra Katakombene
KKV

SKRUK is a Norwegian choir that presents a collection of liturgical songs sung in Norwegian. There are also vocals from monks in Turkish monasteries. Per Oddvar Hildre is the conductor for the album, while Siyavush Karimi and Henning Sommerro are talented arrangers. The entire album is vocal without any instrumentation; except for a lone duduk played a couple times. There are twenty spiritual tracks that are heavenly and haunting in the same manner. The spiritual roots of the music originate from the early, primitive church and historical roots with the Syrian Orthodox Church. The alternating male and female vocals are great without any slip-ups. Many of the songs are one to four minutes long, but a couple are five to six minutes. In the end, it doesn't matter how long the songs last. The songs have lasted hundreds of years and will continue to inspire people around the world. Fans of choral and vocal music will rejoice with high marks. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Creole Choir of Cuba's 'Tande-La'

Creole Choir of Cuba

Tande-La

Real World

The six women and four men that comprise the Creole Choir of Cuba bring us songs of Haiti's past. Haitian ancestors were brought to Cuba to work on the sugar and coffee plantations. The Caribbean music is very classical, operatic, and a vocal work of art with some fiery percussion and additional instruments that add a joyous and/or contemplative mood. The twelve songs are sung in Spanish, French, and Creole. The melding of vocals and instrumentation provide the listener with a mesmerizing combination of sounds emanating from an Afro-Cuban mix. The vocal delivery is quite similar to the choir groups of South Africa. However, the music is inherently Cuban and Haitian, with a theatrical element that rivals any Broadway production. Tande-La, which means "listen," is what all listeners will do once they hear the Creole Choir of Cuba. Hear it today! ~ Matthew Forss