Mikko Pettinen & Merljin Angad Gaur - Sketches, Songs and Improvisations (2025)

The story began in 2021 when Merlijn was commissioned to write choral music for the Finnish female choir Pihlaja. When he travelled to Helsinki in early autumn 2022 to work with the choir, Mikko joined their rehearsals for an improvisation session. The connection was immediate and powerful, shining through even more brightly during their October concert with the choir.

Building on this chemistry, Mikko and Merlijn performed an improvised concert in The Hague in the spring of 2023. Their musical bond continued to grow, leading them to consider recording their collaborative work.

The timing proved perfect. After performing at Helsinki's stunning Temppeliaukio Church, they found themselves in a small church on the city's outskirts. True to their artistic approach, they let the music flow naturally, capturing the spontaneous magic of the moment. It was a remarkable collaboration that bridged their different musical backgrounds, united by a shared language of sound and improvisation.