Aquilonis Trio Mediæval

• 1 Vespers Reponsory 02:45
• 2 Ama 02:48
• 3 Ave rex angelorum 02:16
• 4 Ecce quod natura mutat sua jura 04:42
• 5 Ave maris stella 02:32
• 6 Vespers Antiphon and Psalm I-III 07:13
• 7 Ioseph fili David 02:37
• 8 Ave regina caelorum 01:36
• 9 Alleluia: A New Work 04:47
• 10 Morgonljos 01:20
• 11 Vespers Antiphon and Psalm IV & V 03:32
• 12 Fammi cantar l'amor 02:50
• 13 Gud unde oss her at leve sa 01:56
• 14 Benedicti e llaudati 04:41
• 15 Klokkeljom 00:47
• 16 Special Antiphon 01:56
• 17 Ingen vinner frem til den evige ro 05:05
• 18 Fryd dig, du Kristi brud 03:34
• 19 I hamrinum 01:01
• 20 Vale, dulcis amice 03:05
• Total Runtime 01:01:03

Info for Aquilonis

Trio Mediæval – three Scandinavian women whose singing produces “a sound of extraordinary and consoling beauty,” says the Boston Globe – offer a collection of polyphony from the medieval to the modern titled after the North Wind with their sixth ECM New Series release, Aquilonis. One can sense a reference in the title to the Nordic roots of the singers, as well as the bracing purity of their voices; moreover, the album’s repertoire travels from Iceland to Italy, from north to south like the Aquilonis wind.

In creatively realizing Icelandic chant from the Middle Ages, Trio Mediæval accompany their vocals with discreetly textural instrumentation. The group also arranged 12th-century Italian sacred pieces and sings 15th-century English carols, with timeless folk melodies in the air, too. From our contemporary age come works by the Swede Anders Jormin, American William Brooks and Englishman Andrew Smith. In his liner notes to Aquilonis, John Potter – former Hilliard Ensemble tenor and longtime Trio Mediæval mentor – aptly describes the group’s ability to “create a synthesis of sound and atmosphere… history and geography blending seamlessly.”

Anna Maria Friman, Voice, Hardanger Fiddle, Melody Chimes
Linn Andrea Fuglseth, Voice, Portable Organ, Melody Chimes
Berit Opheim, Voice, Melody Chimes

Trio Mediæval
Hailed as a “fascinating journey with music of timeless beauty”, Trio Mediæval’s highly acclaimed first album “Words of the Angel” (2001) launched the group into the elite circles of early music ensembles and introduced them to a broad international audience. Formed in 1997, the Grammy nominated vocal ensemble consists of founder members Linn Andrea Fuglseth and Anna Maria Friman, and Jorunn Lovise Husan who joined the group in 2018.

A typical Trio Mediæval programme combines their many varied strands of musical exploration: medieval sacred music, Nordic folk music (adapted and arranged by members of the group), contemporary Nordic jazz, specially commissioned works and improvisation with or without instruments. Attracted by the trio’s unique sound, composers and performers have stood in line to work with the group, resulting in premieres of works by Helena Tulve, Tõnu Kõrvits, Anders Jormin, Tord Gustavsen, Mats Eilertsen, Trygve Seim, Anna Clyne, Gavin Bryars, Ivan Moody, Sungji Hong and Andrew Smith, among many others. A 2005 collaboration with Ensemble Musikfabrik in Cologne featured the work Shelter by Julia Wolfe, Michael Gordon and David Lang of the New York-based Bang on a Can composers’ collective. More recently the trio has collaborated with musicians and orchestras such as Arve Henriksen, John Potter, Sinikka Langeland Ensemble, Mats Eilertsen Trio, Bang on a Can All-Stars, Norwegian Chamber Orchestra, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra.

Trio Mediæval has toured extensively in Europe and USA, and has visited Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, South Korea, and most recently, Australia. The trio has been invited to appear on the most prestigious stages in the world, including Wigmore Hall, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus, Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center. Trio Mediæval has recorded eight albums for ECM Records. Solacium is their first release with the Norwegian label 2L.

Booklet for Aquilonis