ABCD 487 – Ensemble Gamut! – MI

    Duration: 55:41

    24,00 

    Description

    Ensemble Gamut! has quickly emerged as one of Finland’s most interesting ensembles that move fluidly between genres. Led by Aino Peltomaa, they have created their unique sound by combining elements of medieval music, Finnish folk songs, improvisation, original compositions and electronic soundscapes

    The name MI refers to the Arctic flower Micranthes stellaris, and to Peltomaa’s composition Mieli meni (“And so the Mind Went”). MI is also the third note of the Gamut scale (ut, re, mi).

    The theme of the album is Arctic endangered flowers and the mental states that sprout from them. In addition to the flower-themed  compositions by the powerful medieval women Hildegard von Bingen and Birgitta Birgersdotter, Aino Peltomaa’s compositions and lyrics  bring together the intangible and tangible eras of our living environment, our home. Lost, rediscovered. Destroyed, vanished, rescued.

    On this album Peltomaa and Ensemble Gamut! have invited two guests: sound artist Tuomas Norvio and visual artist Vappu Rossi. Through their contributions we get to enjoy new possibilites of live electronics on this release. Norvio manipulates the sounds of Vappu Rossi’s drawing in real time, merging melodies and drawings inspired by Arctic flowers into a soundscape where the planes of time, the living, the dead, history, the present moment, the past and the future all resonate simultaneously.

     

    Ensemble Gamut!:
    Aino Peltomaa | voice, medieval harp, kantele, percussions, artistic direction
    Ilkka Heinonen | jouhikko, voice, electronics
    Juho Myllylä | blockflutes, voice, electronics

    Tuomas Norvio | live electronics
    Vappu Rossi | live large-scale drawing

    Tracks:

    • Peltomaa, Aino

    Micranthes stellaris2:51FIABA2500089
    • von Bingen, Hildegard (1098-1179)

    • Peltomaa, Aino

    Karitas / Jää (Leinikille)6:12FIABA2500090
    Mieli meni / Hodie aperuit5:31FIABA2500091
    • Peltomaa, Aino

    • Rossi, Vappu

    • Norvio, Tuomas

    Uniflora1:36FIABA2500092
    • Graduale Romanum

    Stabat mater dolorosa4:43FIABA2500093
    Stabat mater1:57FIABA2500094
    • Bridgettine Chant

    Sicut spinarum5:01FIABA2500095
    • Peltomaa, Aino

    Diabolus sylvarum4:58FIABA2500096
    Tuutulaulu pikkulehdokille6:09FIABA2500097
    • von Bingen, Hildegard (1098-1179)

    O frondens virga6:03FIABA2500098
    • Trad.

    • Bridgettine Chant

    Käärmeen luku / Latuit in blando3:29FIABA2500099
    • von Bingen, Hildegard (1098-1179)

    O viridissima virga5:50FIABA2500100
    • Peltomaa, Aino

    Virta1:21FIABA2500101

    Reviews

    MI-levyllä on kaikki edellytykset vuoden levyksi, kategoriaa vain on hankala valita. Mutta genret ovat olemassa rikottavaksi. Musiikki värähtelee toivoa ja uskoa elämään, kaikesta huolimatta ”Elämä virtaaa lävitseni – O viridissima virga”, ja paras paikka on äiti maan uutta luova syli.
    Marja Mustakallio, Kulttuuritoimitus, 18.6.2025

    Bedrohte arktische Blumen und sinnliche Klangdüfte

    Muziek met een boodschap