In Greek mythology, the sirens were female, partly human creatures who lured mariners to the rocks and their imminent destruction with the sweetness of their singing.
I can assure you that no such fate awaits you if you feel drawn towards Boundless, the first full-length album by P.E.I.’s Sirens, the award-winning, Charlottetown-based choral ensemble.
What does await you is the joyous experience of listening to almost a dozen nearly perfect voices working as one, investing themselves fully in carefully chosen material that showcases both the depth of their talents and their ability to commit to what are often complex arrangements of beautiful but difficult material.
Recorded in December of 2019 at the Church of St. Bonaventure in Tracadie Cross by Halifax musician and producer Jeff Reilly, this set features approximately a dozen pieces of music drawn from a variety of sources. Those sources include noted Canadian composers Sarah Quartel, Marie-Claire Saindon and Katerina Gimon.
Gimon’s In Her Image it should be noted is a newly commissioned work, making its debut here.
Also included, which some may find surprising, is a choral version of Light of a Clear Blue Morning by country music legend Dolly Parton.
Taken collectively, the songs on Boundless tell stories about struggle and the resiliency of the human spirit.
A spokeswoman for Sirens says although the album was recorded before the Coronavirus pandemic shook the world the message here is even more powerful now than it was at the time they made these recordings.
Fast facts
- Sirens produces two full-length programs each season and performs at a variety of concerts, fundraisers, events and workshops.
- In 2015, the choir received the Richard W. Cooke award at the FCMF National Music Festival, winning first place in the Choral Ensemble class, along with several awards at local and provincial festivals.
- In the same year, Sirens was nominated for Music P.E.I.’s award for achievement in classical or jazz.
- In past seasons, Sirens performed with the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra, Halifax Camerata Singers, The Aeolian Singers and The Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors. They have appeared at the Indian River Festival in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
Kelsea McLean, the choir’s artistic director, describes it this way.
“Our first album honours women’s propensity for resilience,” McLean says. “When confronted with life’s obstacles, women have an innate drive to overcome and seek freedom from their suffering and challenges. This album tells stories of these adversities but, more importantly, it journeys to a place of hope and light.”
She says reaching lightness could not happen without the fortitude of strong women working together in community.
“Boundless is a celebration of an uplifting and encouraging sisterhood. It is through our shared love and support that we take flight and soar.”
It is most certainly a celebration and it is most certainly welcome at a time like this. The vocals here truly are exquisite, and the arrangements are exceptional. While I would not recommend doing so for another three or four months, Boundless is a record for laying back in a wide, open field and staring at the stars in the night sky.
That the album has been well received thus far is evidenced by the fact the choir has been nominated for four Music P.E.I. awards, including achievement in classical or jazz, album of the year, group of the year and video of the year for In Her Image.
Choice offerings include The Bird’s Lullaby, In Her Image, Famine Song, Selene’s Boat and Spark.
Rating: 3 3/4 out of 5 stars.
Doug Gallant is a freelance writer and well-known connoisseur of a wide variety of music. His On Track column will appear in The Guardian every second Thursday. To comment on what he has to say or to offer suggestions for future reviews, email him at [email protected].
