Peaceful Choir - New Sound of Choral Music Lavinia Meijer & World Choir for Peace

• John Rutter (b. 1945):
• 1 The Music's Always There With You 04:14
• Karl Jenkins (b. 1944):
• 2 Healing Light: A Celtic Prayer 05:57
• Elaine Hagenberg:
• 3 O Love 05:27
• Ola Gjeilo (b. 1978):
• 4 Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium) 05:21
• Maarja Nuut (b. 1986):
• 5 Threads 03:16
• Johannes Brahms (1833 - 1897):
• 6 Wandering Soul (arr. for Choir from Hungarian Dance No.1, WoO 1) 02:36
• Helen Ostafew:
• 7 Ave Maria 06:31
• Daniel Elder (1986):
• 8 Lullaby (from Three Nocturnes) 04:55
• Jake Runestand (b. 1986):
• 9 Let My Love Be Heard 04:44
• Kim André Arnesen (b. 1980):
• 10 Eja Mater 06:30
• Dan Forrest (b. 1978):
• 11 Come to Me 07:40
• Eriks Esenvalds (b. 1977):
• 12 The Earthly Rose 04:50
• Ellis Ludwig-Leone:
• 13 To Look for Owls 04:19
• Hauschka (b. 1966):
• 14 Fifteen Million Acres 04:59
• Eric Whitacre (b. 1970):
• 15 The Seal Lullaby 04:23
• Max Richter (b. 1966):
• 16 Dream 1, Pt. 1 02:49
• Hans Zimmer (b. 1957):
• 17 Aurora 09:12
• Arvo Pärt (b. 1935):
• 18 And I Heard a Voice (Ja ma kuulsin hääle) 06:55
• Fredrik Sixten (b. 1962):
• 19 Alleluia 03:23
• Total Runtime 01:38:01

Info for Peaceful Choir - New Sound of Choral Music

Mit ihrem Doppelalbum "Peaceful Choir" werfen der gemischte Chor "World Choir for Peace" und die durch ihre Zusammenarbeit mit Philip Glass weltweit bekannt gewordene Harfistin Lavinia Meijer ein kompositorisch wie aufnahmetechnisch einmaliges Schlaglicht auf die vielfältigen Farben und Klänge zeitgenössischer Chormusik. Mehr als ein Duzend Welt-Ersteinspielungen sind unter den 19 atmosphärisch-meditativen Klanglandschaften des Albums, die aus der Feder von Komponisten unterschiedlichster Hintergründe stammen. Darunter sind etablierte Komponisten-Stars wie Sir Karl Jenkins, John Rutter, Ola Gjeilo, Eric Whitacre, Hans Zimmer oder Arvo Pärt aber auch gefeierte Newcomer der Chormusik, wie die Grammy-nominierten Komponisten Kim André Arnesen und Jake Runestand oder die amerikanischen Komponisten Dan Forrest und Elaine Hagenberg. Neue Stücke von dem Grammy nominierten Düsseldorfer Komponisten und Pianisten Hauschka (Volker Bertelmann), dem Vordenker der New Yorker Band San Fermin Ellis Ludwig-Leone, der estnischen Popgeigerin Maarja Nuut und dem deutschen Soundtrack-Komponisten David Reichelt (»Acht Tage«) tragen zur musikalischen Vielfalt bei. In vielen Stücken wird der Chor nicht nur von der Harfenistin Lavinia Meijer begleitet, sondern auch von Gastsolisten wie der Geigerin und Influencerin Esther Abrami, den Pianisten Tim Allhoff und Josefa Schmidt und dem Cellisten Gereon Theis. Geleitet wurde die Aufnahme von Dirigent und Chor-Gründer Nicol Matt. Matt war bereits an der Produktion von mehr als 100 Alben von anspruchsvoller Chor- und Orchestermusik beteiligt. Eine weitere Besonderheit dieses Albums ist der direkte, raumgreifende Klang der Aufnahme, den Produzent und Grammy-Gewinner Gregor Zielinsky in einem Recording-Aufbau umgesetzt hat. Die Sängerinnen und Sänger des Chors wurden in einem Kreis aufgestellt und jeweils einzeln mikrofoniert, was den Zuhörern ermöglicht sprichwörtlich in die Aufnahme einzutauchen.

Lavinia Meijer, Harfe
World Choir for Peace

Lavinia Meijer
is an exclusive Sony Classical International Artist who has performed in some of the leading concert halls in the world, including Carnegie Hall New York, Berlin Philharmonie, Amsterdam Concertgebouw, Musikverein Vienna, Palais des Beaux Arts Brussels, Bronfmann Auditorium Tel Aviv and Seoul Arts Center. ​

She was born in South Korea, adopted at the age of two and is based in the Netherlands. She studied at the conservatories of Utrecht, where she was admitted to the conservatory at the age of 11, and Amsterdam, where she graduated with the highest honors. ​

Lavinia is passionate about broadening the possibilities of the harp. In addition to performing the classical harp repertoire, she experiments with electronic music, theatrical music, jazz and avant garde work by composers like Ellis Ludwig-Leone, Garrett Byrnes, Paul Patterson, Carlos Michans and Konstantia Gourzi. She has collaborated with artists such as Iggy Pop, Philip Glass, Sufijan Stevens and Ludovico Einaudi.

The internationally known ‘avant pop’ composer, Jacob T.V., has written her a suite for harp, samples and boombox. The piece, Cities Change the Songs of Birds, is set in New York and created a sensation after the premiere among international harp societies for challenging the perception of the harp as an “angelic” instrument. She has also performed her own arrangements of pieces by Radiohead and Leonard Cohen in classical venues to much artistic & critical acclaim and commercial success. ​

As a soloist she has worked with the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, Israeli Philharmonic, Amsterdam Sinfonietta and Seoul Philharmonic amongst others. Conductors she has collaborated with include Andrew Grams, Thierry Fischer, Charles Floyd, Franz Bruggen, Hannu Lintu and Marco Boni. She has also worked with the Kronos Quartet performing Bryce Dessner’s Aheym.

Lavinia has an affinity with the music of Philip Glass and her intense groundbreaking renditions of his music have mesmerized audiences across the world. After meeting him in 2011, he gave permission for her to transcribe his five-piece, Metamorphosis, for harp. Since then she has transcribed various other of his works, including Opening Piece, various movements from The Hours, Etudes and the main theme from Koyaanisquatsi. As well as performing on stage with Glass and participating alongside him in interviews, he has invited her to perform at Carnegie Hall New York and his Days and Nights Festival at the Big Sur in California.

Lavinia is one of few classical artists to have had an impact on European rock album charts. In addition to being awarded two gold albums, her Channel Classics recording of Metamorphosis / The Hours achieved platinum sales. Her many recordings feature music as varied as Handel, Bach, Scarlatti, Takemitsu, Dessner, Muhly, Piazzola, Ravel and Debussy. Her next album, due for release this year is a collaboration with French DJ Maud Geffray originally performed in Paris and subsequently broadcast on France TV's Culturebox channel.

Future plans include projects as diverse as a performance at the Concertgebouw with the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Netherlands and Ludovic Morlot of Kaija Saariaho’s harp concerto, a commission from Bryce Dessner, tours in Belgium and the Netherlands, and a reinvitation to Philip Glass’s Days and Nights Festival.

She also had the honor of being invited to perform at the PyeongChang Winter Music Festival to celebrate the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Lavinia is an Ambassador for Save a Child’s Heart.

Booklet for Peaceful Choir - New Sound of Choral Music