Urmas Sisask

Gloria patri No 18 op. 17

The "Gloria patri No. 18" with the title "Benedicamus Domino" is part of the important cycle "Gloria Patri" (op. 17) by the Estonian composer Urmas Sisask. This collection of 24 sacred songs for mixed choir a cappella, composed in 1988, is based on the "planetary scale" developed by Sisask, a special pentatonic tone sequence that lends the work an unmistakable, archaic aura.

Number 18 is captivating with its rhythmic clarity and the meditative intensity created by the constant repetition and harmonic limitation to the essentials. In this movement, the joy of "Benedicamus Domino" (Let us praise the Lord) is expressed in a powerful yet simple tonal language. Sisask's music builds a bridge between astronomical laws and deep Christian spirituality, which makes the piece a fascinating component of contemporary Baltic choral music.