On Leaving

8-part choir, tenor solo, flute, and percussion -- "For this composition I turned to the prayer book and selected lines from the 'Canon to Jesus Christ Our Lord and the Virgin Mary on the Hour of Leaving of Orthodox Souls' (parts 2-3) and from the chapter 'On Burying Lay People' (parts 4-5). While working on the composition I acquainted myself with the 15th-17th century tradition of (Russian) polyphonic singing and with various forms of Russian sacred poetry. The natural dissonance and the almost impenetrable rhythmic organization of heterophonic polyphony I find most remarkable. It's these very elements, to my mind, that give the national musical culture its distinctiveness." (Galina Grigorjeva). I had the idea for creating the Theatre of Voices Edition when my researches into Baltic repertoire suggested to me that far more wonderful music was being composed than existing publishing houses have recognized. It seemed to me there might be room for a new perspective, publishing fine music that I know singers enjoy singing and audiences enjoy hearing. TOVE will therefore present a very personal selection, but one rooted in the direct experience of knowing the composers and performing the music. And for similar reasons, TOVE will also be an outlet for my work in early music and in the strangely neglected field of 19th century English music. In addition, we will publish little books, pamphlets, and other musical miscellania, as time and opportunity affords. (Paul Hillier) -- Galina Grigorjeva was born in the Crimea, Ukraine, in 1962. Edited by Hillier, Paul.