Sacred music from Denmark, Latvia and Bulgaria

Hannah French continues with our celebration of the European Broadcasting Union’s annual Holy Week Music Day on Palm Sunday with a selection of Easter music specially recorded by ensembles from across Europe.

This selection features a concert given by the Danish National Vocal Ensemble conducted by David Hill, performing sacred music from the last 500 years, including works by Josquin des Prez and James McMillan.

Also, we hear a concert of contemporary instrumental music from Riga Cathedral in Latvia, which celebrates both physical light and the Christ light as a symbol featuring new a new work by Anna Veismane.

And we finish with a concert from Bulgaria and the Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir performing music by Kastalsky and Bortniansky, in the choral tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church.

From Copenhagen, Denmark
Josquin des Prez: Huc me sydereo
Carl Nielsen: 'Påskeblomst, hvad vil du her', Danish Spiritual Song
Emil Hartmann: 'Som forårssolen morgenrød', Danish Spiritual Song
Sir James McMillan (1959) - Tenebrae Responsories

Anna Miilmann, soprano
Danish National Vocal Ensemble
David Hill, conductor

From Riga, Latvia
Rihards Dubra: Tears of light
Madaras Pētersone: Testimony of times
Anna Veismane: The Envoy of the Spring
Eriks Ešenvalds: Adoremus in aeternum

Līga Griķe, kokle
Aigars Raumanis, saxophone
Aigars Reinis, organ

From Sofia, Bulgaria
Alexander Dmitriyevich Kastalsky: Excerpts from 'Memory Eternal to the Fallen Heroes'
Dmitry Bortniansky: Lord, Make Me Know My End

Svetoslav Obretenov National Philharmonic Choir
Miroslav Popsavov, conductor