Old Faith (Arc Music EUCD2492, 2014)
Lithuanian keyboardist, programmer and composer Linas Rimša explores the music and dances of the Russian ‘old believers.’ Also known as ‘old ritualists,’ the old believers separated after 1666 from the official Russian Orthodox Church to protest against church reforms introduced in the 1600s. The old Believers continue pre-reform liturgical practices.
Linas Rimša combines his keyboards and electronic beat programming with the fascinating voices of the Vilnius-based Russian folklore group Arinushka.
The music selection includes a mix of religious and spiritual hymns along with traditional songs and dances about the rye harvest, Carnival, love, and weddings that are still performed by Lithuanian Russians and southern Russians. The final result is a mesmerizing mix of world music with acoustic instruments and electronic trance music.
Highlights include the fast-paced rye harvest song ‘About Infelicity’ that features the female section of the choir along with frame drums; the hymn ‘About Prayer’ about the last days in life in which people pray for humility and mercy; and the fabulous trance piece ‘About Death,’ a transfixing spiritual song with ancient Russian chants, percussion and throat singing, about life after death.
About Linas Rimša
Linas Rimša is one of the pioneers of acid jazz and hybrid music projects in Lithuania. His projects include recreations of Lithuanian traditional music, jazz standards, popular opera arias and works by contemporary classical composers. Trained as a classical composer, he works with all types of music, ranging from pop songs for the Eurovision Song Contest to children’s TV shows and symphonic music.
His work also includes scores for theater and film, collaborations with video artists. Rimša also produces and arranges pop music albums. Linas Rimša made his debut on the Lithuanian jazz scene in 2001, introducing new stylistic trends that had not yet taken root locally. He is known for crossing musical boundaries and fusing seemingly incompatible elements. His recordings include the Acid of Spring, Standard Life, Opera in da House, Sutartines Party, Die Welt ist Traum(a), Guerrilla Jazz.lt, Intimacy, and Old Faith.
About Arinushka
The Russian folk ensemble Arinushka was founded in 1988 in Vilnius. From the very beginning, the ensemble has tried to attract the attention of Lithuanian authorities to the traditional culture of ethnic minorities of Lithuania. Irena and Nikolay Zakharov, who lead the ensemble, created the Slavic Folk Music School to educate their students in national traditions and respect for folk songs, with the goal that the students should continue this important activity.
The members of Arinushka study music theory, notation, musical literature, history
of ethnography, etc. They also learn how to play traditional musical instruments.
Presently, it is mainly the middle and senior groups of Arinushka who represent the ensemble at festivals and concerts, while in the Traditional Slavic Music School children can study from 3 years old.
The ensemble often performs in Lithuania and participates in many festivals and concerts abroad. They are winners of various national and international competitions.
Since 2001, Irena and Nikolay Zakharov have been organizing an International Creative Summer School ‘Tradition’ in Palanga which is attended by over 200 participants annually.
Since 2004 the directors of the ensemble have arranged the international folk festival Pokrovskiye Kolokola.
The repertoire of the ensemble includes songs and dances of old believers living in Lithuania, ritual folklore of Lithuanian/Belorussian border areas and songs from Southern Russia.
The lineup on Old Faith includes Inga Fedaraviciute on lead vocals and backing, Linas Rimša on keyboards and programming; Lidiya Kiryatskaya on lead vocals; Arina Zakharova on lead and backing vocals; Eugenius Kiryatskis on lead and backing vocals; Nikolay Zakharov on lead and backing vocals; Irena Zakharova, Svetlana Gulko, Irma Fedaraviciute, Ina Fedaraviciute, Viktor Zhabrov, Edvardas Bilanas , Lidiya Kiryatskaya, and Anton Prokopovich on backing vocals; Alexandr Ten on guitar; Tomas Bieliauskas on oboe; Saulius Petreikis on Irish whistle; Tomas Varnagiris on guitar; Gedrius Gelgotas on flute; Andrey Kotov on hurdy gurdy; and Sergey Starostin on zhaleika (reed pipe).
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Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
