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Urmas Sisask
Urmas Sisask (born 9 September 1960) studied composition
under René Eespere at the Tallinn Conservatoire
in Estonia and graduated in 1985. He soon absorbed himself
in his interest for early music and Gregorian chant as well
as pursuing research into the theory of astrologically governed
sounds. Sisask worked out theoretical sound values for the
rotations of different planets obtaining a five-pitch series
of C Sharp-D-F Sharp-G Sharp- A, and was astonished to discover
that this succession of notes is an exact counterpart of a
Japanese pentatonic scale known as Kumayoshi.
Sisask has gained international recognition primarily as
a choral composer although the Starry Sky Cycle for
piano was among the first pieces by him to attract attention.
In 1988 Sisask finished his Gloria Patri, a work consisting
of 24 a cappella hymns on Latin texts for mixed chorus, lasting
almost an hour an a half in performance and based on the Kumayoshi
mode. The order and overall selection of the hymns can be
varied.
Apart from choral works Urmas Sisask has written chamber,
instrumental and orchestral music. He has developed his own,
expressive language with an idiom closer to the old authentic
church modes than to the tensions of the major-minor system.
Being also fond of the suggestibility of recurrent phrases
he has sometimes been described as a musical shaman.
Works by Urmas Sisask published by Fennica Gehrman
Mixed choir:
Benedictio
Domine, exaudi orationem meam
Dona nobis pacem
Gloria Patri, 24 hymns for mixed choir
Surrexit Christus - Omnis una - Alleluia -
Benedicamus - Laudate Dominum - Kyrie - Deo gratias - Pater
noster - Sanctus - Stabat Mater dolorosa - Ave Maria - Credo
- O sanctissima - O salutaris Hostia - Ave verum Corpus -
Libera me - Dominus vobiscum - Surrexit Dominus - Confitemini
Domino - Tempore natalis Domini - Ave Regina caelorum - Gloria
tibi, Domine - Oremus - Agnus Dei
(The hymns are also available separately in sets of 1-2 songs)
Male choir:
Miserere mei, Deus
Female choir:
Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro
Kyrie
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