A festival of the singing soul

From May 6-13, some 30 choirs from 12 countries will gather in Białystok's philharmonic to take part in the 26th International Festival of Orthodox Church Music "Hajnówka 2007."

When looking at the numbers of singers which have participated in the festival throughout its history, it might be hard to believe that this event, which has hosted 548 choirs from 34 countries through 2006, started as a small regional review of parish choirs.

Why does this music enjoy such popularity? "For believers of a few Christian churches, this music is a prayer, but for laypeople, it is high art," says Mikołaj Buszko, the initiator and organizer of the festival. "Sometimes we unofficially call the event: 'the festival of the singing soul,'" he adds.

For years, hundreds of choirs and singers from every continent have come to the town of Hajnówka, near the Białowieża Primeval Forest, to take part in the festival. Recently, the concerts were moved to Białystok.

The organizers have tried to present distinguished musical works inspired by Orthodox Christian church music, but which are rarely performed. As 2007 has been declared "Karol Szymanowski Year" in Poland, the Ukrainian choir Dumka will perform Szymanowski's "Nynie Otpuszczajeszi." They will also perform Rachmaninoff's "Wsienoszcznoje Bdienije" during the festival's opening concert.

Apart from concerts in Białystok, selected choirs will perform in other cities. On May 11, choirs from Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine and Russia will give a concert in Warsaw, at the Church of the Holy Trinity at pl. Małachowskiego