Sibelius - Masonic Ritual Music

Jean SIBELIUS (1865-1957) 

Masonic Ritual Music Op.113 

(1) original version for tenor, male voice choir and organ

(2) arrangement by Jaakko Kuusisto for tenor, orchestra and organ (2007) 

Various artists 

rec. 2008/10 

Masonic Ritual Music   

1. Avaushymni (Opening Hymn) 1927/E flat major 2'26 

2. Avaushymni (Opening Hymn) 1948/G major 2'09 

3. Alttarin valmistus: Suloinen aate (Adjusting the Altar: Thoughts Be Our Comfort) 1'47 

4. Alttarin valmistus: Suloinen aate (Adjusting the Altar: Thoughts Be Our Comfort) 2'05 

I°. Kulkue ja hymni (First Degree. Procession and Hymn) 

5. Kulkue (Procession) 2'49 

6. Hymni: Näätkö, kuinka hennon yrtin (Hymn: Though Young Leaves Be Green) 1'33 

7. Ylistyshymni (Hymn) 2'17 

II°. Kulkue ja hymni (Second Degree. Procession and Hymn) 

8. Kulkue (Procession) 2'23 

9. Hymni: Kellä kaipuu rinnassansa (Hymn: Whosoever Hath a Love) 2'06 

10. Veljesvirsi (Ode to Fraternity) 2'28 

III°. Kulkue ja hymni (Third Degree. Procession and Hymn) 

11. Kulkue (Procession) 3'19 

12. Hymni: Ken kyynelin (Hymn: Who Ne’er Hath Blent His Bread with Tears) 1'26 

13. Surumarssi (Marche funèbre) 5'56 

14. Salem (Onward, Ye Brethren) 2'46 

15. Suur’ olet, Herra (Ode) 1'51 

16. On kaunis maa (How Fair Are Earth and Living!) 1'56 

17. Finlandia-hymni (Finlandia Hymn) 2'06 

  

18. Avaushymni (Opening Hymn) 2'08 

19. Alttarin valmistus: Suloinen aate (Adjusting the Altar: Thoughts Be Our Comfort) 1'58 

20. I°. Kulkue ja hymni: Näätkö, kuinka hennon yrtin (First Degree. Procession and Hymn: Though Young Leaves Be Green) 2'38 

21. Ylistyshymni (Hymn) 2'44 

22. II°. Kellä kaipuu rinnassansa (Second Degree: Whosoever Hath a Love) 1'48 

23. Veljesvirsi (Ode to Fraternity) 2'55 

24. III°. Kulkue ja hymni: Ken kyynelin (Third Degree. Procession and Hymn: Who Ne’er Hath Blent His Bread with Tears) 3'26 

25. Surumarssi (Marche funèbre) 4'50 

26. Salem (Onward, Ye Brethren) 2'57 

27. Suur’ olet, Herra (Ode) 2'22 

28. On kaunis maa (How Fair Are Earth and Living!) 1'48 

  

Hannu Jurmu, tenor; YL Male Voice Choir / Matti Hyökki; Harri Viitanen playing the 

Marcussen organ of Helsinki Cathedral 

Masonic Ritual Music Op.113 arrangement by Jaakko Kuusisto (2007) for tenor, orchestra and organ 

Mika Pohjonen, tenor; Lahti Symphony Orchestra / Jaakko Kuusisto; Pauli Pietiläinen, organ 

Mika Pohjonen (tenor); Hannu Jurmu (tenor); Harri Viitanen (organ); Pauli Pietiläinen (organ); YL Male Voice Choir/Matti Hyökki; Lahti Symphony Orchestra/Jaakko Kuusisto 

Sibelius’s Masonic Ritual Music in its version with organ has been recorded before by Fuga. The original version that we hear on this Bis disc is, as far as I can see, the same one that appeared in 2011 in volume 13 of the Bis Sibelius Edition. This will serve to make it accessible to those who have chosen to follow Bis’s guiding star as each individual CD has come out. In addition they will be rewarded with something not included in the Volume 13 box: Jaakko Kuusisto’s 2007 arrangement of the Masonic Ritual Music for tenor, orchestra and organ. 

  

Let’s start with the original. This is often strange and austere as if a reflection of the darker musings of Caliban in The Tempest. Similar sounds echo around the organ part which is suggestive of the strange wind harmonies in The Tempest (tracks 5-6). The solo tenor in track 3 sounds deliberately severe, strained, operatic and striving for great things. Some of this music (track 16) has a very appealing innocence and animation. For example, the mood lightens in track 8 - Christmassy and light-filled. It recalls the Sibelius of the King Christian II music. Track 11 is unnerving - it is a conventional organ march with overtones of a modern evangelical hymn. Speaking of hymns, tracks 14 and 17 either quote or hint at Finlandia. Track 13 is more intriguing - even ambivalent. We hear some ‘squelchy’ triple forte organ fury with, at 1:19, some typically grave yet airy Sibelian gestures. 

  

The arrangement for orchestra does add some well calculated Sibelian colour. The French horns in track 19 are striking while track 21 yields some strikingly dark Sibelian sounds. Those King Christian II moments mentioned above are pleasurably brought out in this orchestral edition. The hymnal moments sound even more Finlandia-like in Kuusisto’s orchestration. On the other hand when we get to track 24 the music takes on the flavour of Ronald Binge in irresistible mock-Tudor antiquarian mode. Track 25 is a glorious addition to the Sibelius oeuvre - very strong indeed with that indomitable impulse we know from Sibelius’s great works. Track 28 opens with a nice high note for the French horn, milky and sweetly rounded. A pity we do not know the name of the horn player. 

  

There are good, if often staid and severe things here amongst music which evidently meant a great deal to the composer. The orchestral edition is worth hearing. Kuusisto has done well in emulating the Sibelius sound.