Renowned for its versatility, Philomela has, ever since it was formed in 1984, adopted an innovative approach to choral expression under its conductor Marjukka Riihimaki. Its many awards have included the Grand Prix in the Chorus Review of Tampere Vocal Music Festival, and in recent years it has regularly been invited to sing at international festivals. Recently Philomela decided to explore the potential for adding new songs to the Finnish stock of Christmas carols without violating the traditional Christmas spirit. It therefore commissioned songs on the Christmas theme from composers it had worked with before and were familiar with Philomela's style. They also included some more traditional Finnish Christmas music as well and this resulting recording is a true a cappella pleasure.

Listen to Song of Mary in RealAudio.

Internationally acclaimed Philomela charms with their release Philomela in Dreams. Included are 'Ave Verum Corpus,' by Francis Poulenc, 'Suite de Lorca, by Einojuhani Rautavaara and 'Dreams,' by Erik Bergman. Like the title suggests, these pieces are very dreamlike in quality with floating sonorities that seem to melt together. With a variety of rarely heard works, this recordings further enhances the reputation that Finland has earned as a country with a wonderful choral tradition.

Listen to Missa Brevis in RealAudio.

Finland is full of folk traditions and epic poems which are great sources for Finnish music. Philomela performs pieces that draw on their rich literary culture. From the folk poetry of the town of Ilomantsi and the epic poem Kanteletar to the modern poetry of Jukka Itkonen, Viljo Kojo and Unto Kupiainen, composers Anna-Mari Kahara, Liisa Matveinen and others have created striking new music which is infused with the flavor of the Baltic region.

Listen to Samsara in RealAudio.