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Cover: Memoria Sancti Henrici – Medieval Plainchant to the Patron Saint of Finland

Memoria Sancti Henrici

Medieval Plainchant to the Patron Saint of Finland

Köyhät Ritarit, vocal ensembles

ODE 874-2 · CD · November 1995

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Track listing

18 tracks · 51:47

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Anonymous

  1. 1 Deus in adiutorium (Jumala riennä) 0:54
  2. 2 Gaudeamus omnes (Iloitkaamme kaikki) 3:27
  3. 3 Sanctum Ericum comitans (Keralla Eerik-kuninkaan) 2:09
  4. 4 Sanctus Ericus dulciter (Ylimmän arvon hälle) 2:27
  5. 5 Quidam homines de Kwmo (Eräät Kokemäen miehet) 3:02
  6. 6 Martir iste militauit (Kristuksen jo soturille) 3:00
  7. 7 Multitudo languencium (Niin monet tautiin) 3:06
  8. 8 O vita commendabilis (Oi elo noudateltava) 2:17
  9. 9 Christi pugil eximius (Soturi jalo Kristuksen) 5:24
  10. 10 Digitus martiris gloriosi (Keväällä löydettiin) 2:32
  11. 11 Imitator Saluatoris (Vapahtajan seuraajana) 2:58
  12. 12 Perfecte desiderium (Tavoitti sydän täydelleen) 2:42
  13. 13 Omnes gentes iubilate (Kansat kaikki rientäkäätte) 2:04
  14. 14 Dum deuotis poscitur (Avuksi kun huudettiin) 3:01
  15. 15 Preclari patris sanctitas (Opetusisän hurskaus) 2:31
  16. 16 Gaude cetus fidelium (Iloitse lauma uskovain) 3:30
  17. 17 Alleluya. Pie presul (Hurskas paimen Henrik) 2:59
  18. 18 Ecce magnus presbiter (Katso suurta kaitsijaa) 3:44

About this recording

The plainsong music in this collection consists of extracts from medieval masses and offices to St. Henry, recounting part of his legend.

Bishop Henry, the patron saint of Finland, is held to be the principal founder of the Church of Finland during the 12th century. Traditional lore has it that he became the first bishop of the diocese of Turku (which comprised all of Catholic Finland). Previously Bishop of Uppsala in Sweden, he would have taken part in King Erik Jedvardsson's military expedition to Finland and stayed on to preach and build up the Finnish church.

This recording was made at the Suomenlinna Church in Helsinki. The two ensembles performing together - Cetus Noster and Köyhät ritarit ("Poor Knights") - have specialized in Gregorian chant since the mid-1980s.

Features

Booklet with liner notes in Finnish, English, German and French; sung texts in the original Latin and in English and Finnish translation

The artists

Köyhät Ritarit

The vocal ensemble Köyhät Ritarit ("Poor Knights") was founded in 1974. It has performed ancient music since 1981 and Finnish Gregorian chant since the mid-1980s. Specializing in dramatized performances of Renaissance and contemporary music, the ensemble has given concerts in 17 countries besides Finland.

Full biography

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