Kreek’s Notebook : Œuvres de Korvits, Maskats et Plakidis

   in Choir & Organ (Sep, 2013)
Cyrillus Kreek was the most renowned collector of Estonian melodies, and his compatriot Tonu Korvits (b.1969) has used the collection for his suite Kreek’s Notebook, in which the melodies are ingeniously arranged using both voices and string orchestra with atmospheric skill. Rupert Gough directs excellent performances, and while these gentle arrangements generally lack dynamism, the two Latvian composers sharing the recording supply more. Arturs Maskats (b.1957) commemorated the Baltic ferry disaster of 1994 the following year with a powerful Lacrimosa for voices, strings and organ, and Pe teris Plakidis (b.1947) explores fascinating choral textures in the three movements of Fatamorgana …