The Grammy-winning Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis comprises a diversity of twelve singers who share their passion for Gregorian chant, early polyphony and contemporary music. Formed in 1996 by conductor Jaan-Eik Tulve, the group has been acclaimed by critics and audiences alike for their unique sound and meaningful interpretation.
The ensemble’s musical thinking has its roots deep in the tradition of early European music, but also the performance of contemporary Baltic music forms a core theme within the repertoire of Vox Clamantis. Composers such as Arvo Pärt, Helena Tulve and Erkki-Sven Tüür have written and dedicated their works for Vox Clamantis.
Concert tours have taken Vox Clamantis throughout Europe, Israel, Canada, USA, Colombia including appearances at festivals such as La Folle Journee in Nantes, Warsaw, Tokyo, Fribourg, Vale of Glamorgan, Usedom, Kissinger Sommer, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Kunstfest Corvey, RheinVokal, Trondheim, Nafplion, Sydney, Hong Kong among others.
The ensemble has also performed with a number of artists including Arianna Savall, Dhafer Youssef, Marco Ambrosini, Yair Dalal, Jean Claude Pennetier, Cello Octet Amsterdam, early music consort Hortus Musicus, NYDD Ensemble, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and Latvian Radio Choir.
Their discography includes highly praised recordings as Cyrillus Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel, The Deer’s Cry and Filia Sion for ECM Records, Sacrum Convivium with music by Duruflé, Machaut, Poulenc, Messiaen and Gregorian chant as well as Liszt’s Via crucis for Mirare which was awarded the Diapason d’Or.
The album “Adam’s Lament” by Arvo Pärt with Tõnu Kaljuste, Latvian Radio Choir among others has won the Grammy Award in 2014. The film featuring Vox Clamantis music, The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza), received an Oscar in 2014.
In 2011, Vox Clamantis and Jaan-Eik Tulve were awarded the annual prize of the Cultural Foundation of Estonia.
Jaan-Eik Tulve is regarded as an intriguing figure of the Nordic vocal music scene. After graduating from the conservatory in Tallinn, he studied Gregorian singing at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris, graduating in 1993. He then worked at the CNSM as an assistant to Louis-Marie Vigne, who had a decisive influence on his musical development. He continued his studies with Daniel Saulnier from Solesmes Abbey. At the same time, Tulve founded in Paris in 1993 the ‘Lac et Mel’ Ensemble performing numerous concerts in Europe and Lebanon. In 1994 he developed the department for female singing of the Gregorian Choir in Paris.
Since 1996 Jaan-Eik Tulve is teaching Gregorian chant at the National Music Academy in Estonia. He has also given many courses in Gregorian chant around the globe.
For his merits to vocal music Jaan-Eik Tulve has been awarded the Order of the White Star of the Republic of Estonia, the Order of Léopold of the Kingdom of Belgium and the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic.
Jaan-Eik Tulve was named ‘Musician of the Year 2017’ by the Estonian Radio.
Season 2021/22
Read moreVox Clamantis performs two concerts at Festival La Folle Journée in Nantes on 26 and 30 January. The programme includes Franz Schubert: Gebet, Gesang der Geister über den Wassern, Psalm 23 among others.
Vox Clamantis and Jaan-Eik Tulve perform two concerts in Bruneck on 9 March and Dortmund on 11 March presenting music by J.S Bach and Arvo Pärt as well as Gregorian Chant and Arvo Pärt (Missa syllabica).
On 3 July Vox Clamantis is performing the programme Missa Syllabica with Gregorian chants and music by Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek at Mikkeli Festival in Finland.
Vox Clamantis perform two concerts within the Kultursommer Rheinland-Pfalz on 18 September at Via Mediaeval in Otterberg, on 19 September at Euro Classic in Zweibrücken. They present the programme Filia Sion & Estonian Folk Songs as well as Missa Syllabica with gregorian chants and music by Arvo Pärt.
Vox Clamantis is part of EBU Christmas Day on 19 December, 13:00-14:00 (CET) to perform music by Arvo Pärt, Cyrillus Kreek and Christmas carols of various centuries from Tallinn. Further broadcast on 26 December, 21:00-22:00 (CET) https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/programm?drsearch:date=2021-12-26
For the reopening of the famous Tholey monastery in Saarland, Vox Clamantis can be heard on 22 September, 19:00 (CET) featuring music by Arvo Pärt and Cyrillus Kreek. The concert will be sent in livestream (available until 21 October):
https://www.abtei-tholey.de/
ECM Records releases a new album of Vox Clamantis with A Cappella music by Cyrillus Kreek, The Suspended Harp of Babel, accompanied by Marco Ambrosini Trio in April.
The vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis will be performing within the RheinVokal Festival in Ahrweiler on 17 August. Together with their leader Jaan-Eik Tulve these top Estonian singers will present a programme with works by Arvo Pärt, John Dunstable, Igor Strawinsky, David Lang as well as gregorian music.
The Estonian vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis appears at Musikfest Corvey in Höxter on 1 September with Gregorian Chants and music by Arvo Pärt and Pérotin.
The Estonian Vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis was heard at Festival Europäische Kirchenmusik in Schwäbisch Gmünd on 18 July with Gregorian chants and music by Arvo Pärt.
SWR 2 broadcasts the concert on 4 August, 19:05.
Read moreThe Estonian Vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis under the direction of Jaan-Eik Tulve gives its debut at Kissinger Sommer on 11 July with Gregorian Chants and works by Arvo Pärt, Cyrillus Kreek, Helena Tulve, Tonis Kaumann among others.
J.S. Bach: Motets (selection)
Komm Jesu, komm BWV 229
Ich lasse dich nicht BWV Anh 159
Fürchte dich nicht, ich bin bei dir BWV 228
Arvo Pärt:
Nunc dimittis
Magnificat
And I heard a voice… (2017)
The Deer’s Cry
(programme order to be announced)
(14 singers, 1 organ, 1 violoncello, conductor)
Cyrilllus Kreek: The Suspended Harp of Babel
Jaan-Eik Tulve
Vox Clamantis
ECM (2020)