Jan Garbarek: sax David James: Countertenor Steven Harrold: Tenor
Gordon Jones: Bariton
When “Officium” was released in autumn 1994, the unusual crossover of ancient vocal music with jazz- and folk-rooted saxophone improvisation polarised critiques and audiences. What some saw as congenial sound fusions between two apparently far-apart worlds, others saw as the sale of sacred music to hedonistic society. Today, 16 years, countless acclaimed concerts and more than a million sold“Officium”albums later, the album long counts as an “ECM” classic. In spring 1999, the five musicians released a further, in part distinctly experimental album: “Mnemosyne” spanned an extremely wide but coherent bow from ancient Greek music to liturgical song Hildegard von Bingens through to a contemporary lullaby by Veljo Tormis. The now third collaboration of Jan Garbarek and the Hilliard Ensemble has the title “Officium Novum” and will be released in late summer 2010. One focus of the new material is traditional Armenian songs arranged by Komitas Vardapet. Next to this, there is also a composition by Arvo P?rt “Most Holy Mother of God”, and two original compositions by Jan Garbarek. The concert at the Heidelberger Heiliggeistkirche is one on the few German venues that will host the “World Premiere Concert Tour” for “Officium Novum” in autumn 2010.