The vocal ensemble Mpiri is a Faroese choral ensemble based in Copenhagen. The members are mostly Faroese studying or working in Copenhagen. The conductor is Gorm Larsen.[1]

Mpiri
Group photo from the recording of Upp Gleðist
Group photo from the recording of Upp Gleðist
Background information
OriginFaroe Islands (January 1998)
GenresChoir, Classical
LabelsTutl
WebsiteMpiri, Facebook

History edit

Mpiri was formed in January 1998 by Marjun Hoydal, Bogi Peturson Nielsen, Bogi Mouritsen and Tróndur Bogason. The idea was conceived in December 1997, and within a month, 16 young Faroese got together and formally formed Mpiri. Mpiri has had three conductors: Bogi Mouritsen (1998–2000), Sunleif Rasmussen (2000–2002) and Gorm Larsen (2003–present). Lise Christensen Bjerno[2] was guest conductor in the spring semester of 2011.

Style edit

From the very start, Mpiri has sought out new and inspiring music to perform. In this pursuit, Mpiri has commissioned more than 30 choral works from more than 10 composers. This means that Mpiri through the years has performed much contemporary music. However, this is not the full story of the style of Mpiri. Mpiri has also performed works by Gesualdo, Thomas Tallis, Mozart, Hassler and many other classical composers. Given the roots of Mpiri, Faroese traditional music has a firm place in the repertoire.

Projects and concerts edit

  • A project where a number of non-faroese composers are commissioned to create choral music to contemporary faroese poetry, has been started. Recordings are scheduled to begin in the fall of 2012.
  • Spring concerts in Jutland.

Past projects and concerts edit

This is a select list of major projects and concerts

2012 edit

  • On 15 January, Mpiri [3] sang at the celebration of HM Queen Margrethe 2nd of Denmark's 40th Jubilee as Reign

2011 edit

2010 edit

  • Mpiri had four concerts and one performance with Eivør.[7] Two concerts in Sjónleikarhúsið, a performance at Saltsiloin, one concert at G! festival and one concert in Lille Vega in Copenhagen in the fall. All concerts were promotional for the CD Larva that Mpiri recorded with Eivør in 2009.
  • Mpiri recorded with Teitur (only female singers)
  • Mpiri recorded a CD with Knút Olsen choral works, in collaboration with Faroese-based choir Tarira in the spring. The CD Mai Mynd was released in the fall.
  • Mpiri collaborated with the Faroese string quartet DORIA in three concerts

2009 edit

  • Mpiri did a tour of the Nordic countries in the fall, performing Barbara[8] with Saga Dance Art Collective.[9] The tour started late October with two performances in Hafnafjörður, Iceland, followed by two performances in the Faroe Islands (Løkshøll in Rúnavík and Nordic House in Tórshavn). The tour ended with a performance in the black diamond (Royal Library) in Copenhagen, Denmark on the 9 October which is the cultural night in Copenhagen.
  • Mpiri recorded with the band Valravn in the spring. Review of the recording is available further down.
  • In the fall Mpiri went to the studio with Eivør to help her record 8 songs for her upcoming CD.

2008 edit

  • Performed at kulturnatten (cultural night) in the Faroese house in Copenhagen.
  • Participated at Expo 2008 the world's fair hosted in Zaragoza, Spain where he performed at the Danish Pavilion on the Danish national day - 2 July. The performance of Barbara - a famous novel by the Faroese author Jørgen-Frantz Jacobsen, as a modern ballet set to music by Tróndur Bogason was performed with dancers from Saga Dance Company.

2007 edit

 
Group photo from the record Upp gleðist released in 2007

Most of 2007 was spent recording 12 commissioned and 3 older Christmas songs to make up the CD Upp Gleðist. The CD was released in late November to early December with a small tour to Thorshavn with concerts in The Nordic House and around the city.

2006 edit

2005 edit

2004 edit

  • Concert in sydslesvig
  • Tour of Finland with concerts at the 80 year celebration of Pohjola in Turku, Sibbo and in Berghälls church in Helsinki.

2003 edit

  • Promoting the CD Asbest.
  • Concert in Round Tower, Copenhagen

2002 edit

  • Tour of Faroe Islands, Sweden and Iceland. Performed three concerts in Iceland, one in Sweden and one in Faroe Islands.
  • Faroese parliament 150 years. Mpiri performed at the galla event.
  • Mpiri recorded the first CD Asbest

2001 edit

  • Opened the Arts Festival in the Faroe Islands with a concert in Húsavík, Faroe Islands
  • Concert in Round Tower, Copenhagen.
  • Participate in North Atlantic Choir Festival in Copenhagen.

2000 edit

  • In the spring Mpiri performed a concert called fisk (fish) in Huset i Rådhusstræde in Copenhagen. Mpiri collaborated with the Faroese designers PAU to make new outfits for Mpiri, and a Faroese lighting artist to make the settings right. Fisk was a big success.
  • After participating in North Atlantic Choir Festival in Aalborg, Sunleif Rasmussen took over conducting Mpiri.

1999 edit

1998 edit

  • The first ever concert was in the communal house, Galgebakken, Albertslund.
  • The first year Mpiri had no real projects apart from participating in the North Atlantic Choir Festival in Odense. At the festival, Mpiri made its first 'first performance' with 'Stórhvalagildi' by Tróndur Bogason

Discography edit

Solo Recordings edit

  • Upp gleðist (rejoice) [10](2007)
  • Asbest[11] (2003)

Featured on edit

See also edit

References edit

External links edit

Homepages edit

Articles edit