Sandstrom / Erik Westberg Vokalensemble - Sapmi [CD]

The source of inspiration for this album originates from collaborative projects between the Sami artists Frode Fjellheim, Katarina Barruk, Johan Märak and the Erik Westberg Vocal Ensemble. Frode Fjellheim is best known as the composer of the theme from Disney's Frozen and through his band Transjoik. This album includes his cinematic A Sister from the North and the sweetly beautiful Mov aalhtere vaerine tjuavka (My Altar is the Mountain that Shines). He composed Bidám vuolle for the 400th anniversary of the town of Piteå. Jan Sandström has carefully created several choral works around traditional joiks. The release begins with the rhythmically charged Jiegaffo, based on a joik by Johan Märak. Suv Dehte (Due to Her) is a three-part work where Katarina Barruk touches the listener with her unique vocal expression. In Min Eallin the Swedish composer Kristin Boussard has set texts by several Sami poets, the youngest of whom is eight years old. The last part of the piece is about those who choose to leave behind a traditional Sami life style and the fear experienced by those remaining; will those leaving forget their heritage Mia Makaroff writes of her work Spes (Hope): "The text from Ecclesiastes explains how humility and wisdom change a person: her face softens and she is no longer dogmatic or violent. This humility and understanding is the key to hope for humanity.