Founded in 1973 in Moscow by Dmitri Pokrovsky, the great musician and ethnomusicologist, the Pokrovsky Ensemble's repertoire encompasses more than 2000 songs, including medieval Russian village music, music of the country's old and new faiths, and modern works of Russian composers. The Russian nation has many different ethnic groups separated by geographical regions. Each small group has its own customs, traditions and lifestile. This is reflected in their songs, which are in an oral improvisational tradition handed down from generation to generation. Dmitri Pokrovsky was the one of the first musicians in Russia who felt the need to bridge the gap between the old and new musical vocabulary. He formed the Ensemble as a 'living laboratory' with the aim of keeping folk music alive.

A thrilling project, it has an interesting story behind it. Pokrovsky's group is referred to here as a 'living laboratory' -- a hub of musicians and scientists who tested their theories about the dynamics of village life by touring outlying towns in the Russian countryside. A portion of the entrancing vocal polyphony they picked up is enthusiastically performed here, without a hint of academic reserve. Robust men's choirs are followed by equally gutsy female solos, interspersed with small vocal groups and a raucous mixed chorus ends this all-too-brief treasure chest on a high note