The Sirin Ensemble (named after a bird of Paradise from Russian Christian legends) was formed in 1989 with the goal of resurrecting Russian orthodox music traditions that had been lost after the church reforms of XVII c. The repertoire of the ensemble includes a wide range of early musical styles: znamenny, demestvenny, putevoy raspev, monastery styles, Kiev and Bulgarian raspev, early forms of Russian polyphony.
Sirin also reveals the totally lost layer of pious spiritual songs and verses that were sung outside of church, thus recreating a variety of folk oral traditions. Sirin's singers were not the first to begin exploring the obscure roots of medieval Russian music, but their predecessors were musicians whose professional point of reference was European classical music. For those familiar only with relatively recent "Westernized" Russian folk and church music, Sirin's approach may appear strange and "otherworldly".
The ensemble has presented its interpretation of Russian church and folk music on extensive concert tours in Europe and was multifold prize winner of renowned choral competitions. Sirin took part in the first European Symposium for Choral Music in Ljubljana (1995), World Symposium for Choral Music in Rotterdam (1999), gave performances at various festivals, like, for example, the festival in Thoronet and the festival of Old Lyon (1997, France), the Canterbury Festival (1998, England), Musica Sacra in Marktoberdorf (1994, 2000 Germany), Old Music in Jaroslaw 1995, 2000 Poland), Musica Sacra in Maastricht (2000, Holland), Trialogos (1999, 2000 Estonia). Sirin's performances were included in the program for celebrating 2000 years of Christianity in Jerusalem (January 2000).
Sirin's CD's were marked with French awards
Diapason d'Or and Fortissimo Telerama. Musical critics wrote that
"Sirin has demonstrated consummate vocal skills
and absolute professionalism. This choir deserves the mark "excellent and higher"
(Compact, Spain).
"Immediate shock from the first sounds... After listening
to the recording you have only one wish: to listen to such rare repertory at
a concert performance, to have a direct contact with these superb and exciting
voices". (Diapason, France).
Especially for Sirin Vladimir Martynov set to music Old Testament's The Lamentations of Jeremiah. This 80-minute composition mirrors ancient music traditions of different cultures. The stage version of The Lamentations of Jeremiah by theatre director Anatoly Vassiliev where all roles are performed by Sirin members had more than 150 performances in Russia, France (official program of Avignon Theatre Festival), Italy, Germany, Estonia and Sweden. The performance was awarded with Golden Mask, the highest distinction in Russian theatre, as the best theatrical production of the year. Another collaboration of Vassiliev, Martynov and Sirin - Mozart and Salieri - was premiered in 2000.
In June 2001 Sirin presented two new projects at the Moscow Theatre Olympics:
Litanies To The Virgin and Play
With The Furnace - a mystery-play based on the Prophet Daniel's Book which
was performed inside the church as continuation of morning service until the
late 16th century.