Svetilen
www.orthodoxmusic.ru

Svetlana Erofeeva (soprano)
Liubov Shagalova (alto)
Dmitri Garkavi (tenor, duduk, gusli, hatamba, hurdy gurdy)
Roman Shakhov (tenor)
Roman Kholodov (baritone, flute, hatamba)
Dmitri Lushnikov (bas, hurdy gurdy)

From East to West. With Love
Svetilen. The Voice of Ancient Russia.

Artist message

We kindly invite you the concert of Svetilen! The music performed will evoke numerous emotions, making you cry and smile. Authentic sounds in ancient interpretation are not well known, which is why Svetilen think that it can be very interesting for the audience to hear something new in ancient, orthodox, and Russian music.

About the project

The programme is really specific as it was the result of efforts in libraries and of field work. The ensemble members found many interesting old scores and arranged them for their voices. The main goal of the project was to present orthodox music coming not only from Russia, but also from other orthodox countries such as Greece, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, etc.

The ensemble of Soul Folk music "Svetilen" was formed in 1989 to preserve the old Russian tradition in singing. This tradition is reflected in two types of singing: church and secular singing. Both evolve around the meaning of the sacred word, which attests to their common "starting point" and the same cultural and musical background. Musical compositions are usually performed a capella, but sometimes ancient Russian instruments (gusli, koliosnaya lira, duduk and hatamba) are used, giving it a special sound.

The specific profile of the ensemble is based upon two characteristic features. First, their sound quality has a distinctive open ethnographical manner, used to perform sacred music. The leader of the ensemble D. Garkavi considers this quite relevant, following the results of musicological researches. According to him, this was the predominant style in old Russia when neither the monks nor the congregation had any notion of western academic choral traditions. Secondly, the repertoire of the group is quite intriguing and includes liturgical and sacred folk music. The most original item in the programmme of the ensemble is a set of spiritual chants arranged by D. Garkavi.

About the concert programme

The program of the ensemble demonstrates a variety of choral styles and genres. Among the most striking examples of the programme we find collegiate choral tradition, Cossack spiritual poems, prayers, laments and holiday Orthodox hymns. Following each other by contrast, they create an amazing, mysterious, and paradoxical sound atmosphere of the Russian Middle Ages. All works are executed in the specific way of singing in the regions where they were recorded by the researchers. The uniqueness of the program is thus due to the long-term research activities of the ensemble.
The concert therefore presents a journey back in time over the vast expanse of ancient Russia and the entire Orthodox world.
The impression is reinforced by the use of ancient musical instruments made by the best masters of Russia using the old instrument-making knowledge.

Immerse yourself in the ancient atmosphere through music and costumes based on the old clothes of different classes and regions