Ecstatic clouds of sound. Waves that rise, break and fall back. This is how you could characterise the choral music of the Latvian composer Santa Ratniece. Choral sounds that are both modern and ancient with their eruptions and shifting sound fields. No wonder she finds her inspiration in the Middle Ages and in extra-European cultures. War Sum Up refers to classical Japanese theatre. Vigilia Del
… Mattino is inspired by the Paradise of Dante's Divine Comedy. Fuocco Celeste tells about Saint Francis of Assisi. Santa Ratniece is not unknown in our country. She studied at the ArtEZ Conservatory in Enschede. Her work has been performed by the Cappella Amsterdam and the Nederlands Kamerkoor. (HJ)more
