One result of Mendelssohn’s bicentenary in 2009 was a commission by Stuttgart’s International Bach Academy to the Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (b1963). The remit was for new settings for unaccompanied chorus of the psalm texts used by Mendelssohn in his Op 78 triptych. Mäntyjärvi, one of the most accomplished choral composers currently writing, relished the challenge and his new set, interspersed with Mendelssohn’s originals, is presented on this new release.

Mäntyjärvi’s name is familiar to most readers for his elegant translations of Finnish texts into English for a wide variety of CD recordings, rather than for his music. His moving tribute to those killed in the Estonia ferry disaster, Canticum calamitatis maritimae, revealed a natural genius for word-setting and his new settings of Psalms 2, 22 and 43 illuminate Mendelssohn’s originals while providing modern perspectives on the texts. Compare the treatments of Warum toben die Heiden?, where Mendelssohn’s sublime setting is succeeded by one arguably more responsive to the words ‘Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?’ Mäntyjärvi’s language is more modern (postmodern) in tone, the harmonies and vocal techniques deployed more advanced and the expression 21st-century in impact, more direct, less genteel than would have been appropriate two centuries ago.

The six psalm settings make a splendid and varied cycle and are beautifully sung by the Uppsala Academy Chamber Choir, as one would expect from a choir trained by Stefan Parkman – even though taxed by some of Mäntyjärvi’s stratospherically high writing. Footprint’s sound is very fine, the production values good but not fussy.