JEAN SIBELIUS (1865-1957): Masonic Ritual Music, Op. 113 (versions for Tenor, Male Choir and Organ and for Tenor, Orchestra and Organ [arr. Jaakko Kuusisto [b.1974]).

Description: Although not a first recording per se, this is the first recording of this 40-minute set of tenor songs with organ and choral songs with organ, interspersed with solo organ pieces to follow the original song texts from Sibelius' manuscripts. Most of the music dates from 1927, five years after Sibelius became a mason, with a couple of revisions and additions dating to 1946 and 1948. Kuusisto's orchestration fits the contemplative, mystical mood of the music without aping Sibelius' style. Finnish-English texts. Hannu Jurmu (tenor), Harri Viitanen (Marcussen organ of Helsinki Cathedral), YL Male Voice Choir; Matti Hyökki. Mika Pohjonen (tenor), Lahti Symphony Orchestra; Jaakko Kuusisto.