Estonian Choral Music

Estonia is a European country not quite the size of Pennsylvania, with just over 1 million citizens, for centuries changing hands between Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and later the U.S.S.R. But for a country not allowed to govern itself for most of the last millennia, it has produced impressive choral talents. Their state-sponsored choirs are one of their best-known exports, and it's an honor they've earned. They may not have been an independent nation long in their recent incarnation, but they've definitely earned boatloads of national pride. If you have never heard of Estonia before, this is your chance to remedy that!

Estonian Male Choir: Visions Of Estonia 1

Double Dedication (Diptych) Vision of Estonia The Viru Oath Draught Story of a Betrayer The Last Ship (Valse triste) Hamlet's Songs Incantatio maris aestuosi Litany to Thunder Our Shadows (Once We Will Reappear) Herding Calls The Sarcasms of Juhan Liiv A Conscripts's Escape from Toompea Castle Home to Kuusalu

Veljo Tormis is best known for his preservation of folk songs and folklore in his music. On Vision of Estonia, his concern for the oppression of the Estonian people is mixed with this aspect. These pieces for male choir are fantastic. The title piece "Vision of Estonia" was written during the fall of the Soviet Union and finished when Estonian independence was declared. Tormis is also known for his orchestral choral sounds. In "Incantation for the Sea" and "Litany to Thunder" he translates the dramatic images depicted in the poetry into massive choral sounds. "Incantation for the Sea" comes from the epic poem Kalevala. Due to international interest in his music, Tormis uses a Latin translation to make his piece widely accessible to non-Estonian speaking choirs. The Estonian National Male Choir, led by Ants Soots, is dynamic in this music which honors their country.

Estonian Male Choir: Visions Of Estonia 2

The ballad of Mary's Land Reflections with Hando Runnel Days of Outlawry God Protect Us from War Journey of the War Messenger Let the Sun Shine! Voices from Tammsaare's Herdboy Days Forget-me-not Men's Songs

Estonian composer Veljo Tormis (1930-) emphasizes the role of verbal text and its message in his compositions, directed at the present, past and future of Estonian life. Written for men's chorus, "Visions of Estonia II" records in music the anxiety that was suppressed through the decades of Soviet repression. With "The Ballad of Mary's Land," composed in 1969, Tormis began a series of powerful large-scale choral compositions containing also his most famous work, "The Curse Upon Iron" for mixed chorus, written in 1972. "Reflections with Hando Runnel" (1981), is one of a series of short, sarcastic songs of protest he wrote during that period. "Days of Outlawry," with the subject of resistance fighting, was written for the banned film "The Outlaws;" "Journey of the War Messenger" and "Let The Sun Shine" take their texts from the Estonian National epic "Kalevipoeg." "Forget-me-not" is a national lament dedicated to former chief conductor Gustav Ernesada. Although none of these 23 songs is in English, we can feel the power and Tormis' deep feeling within this music through the performance of the Estonian National Male Choir.

Estonian Philhamonic Chamber Choir: Baltic Voices 1

Psalms of David (Cyrillus Kreek) Hear My Prayer, O Lord (Sven-David Sandstrom) Lorca Suite (Einojuhani Rautavaara) Latvian Bourdon Songs (Veljo Tormis) Es ist genug (Sven-David Sandstrom) ...which was the song of... (Arvo Part) Dona nobis pacem (Peteris Vasks)

Paul Hillier leads the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in Volume 1 of Baltic Voices Ñ a three-year project to explore the choral riches of the Baltic Sea countries. With a special attention to the choir's native Estonia, these recordings will highlight the mainstream tradition of the past hundred years, complemented with music of earlier periods and commissions from younger composers. Volume 1 features secular and sacred works by 20th-century composers from Sweden, Finland, Latvia, and Estonia.

Estonian Philhamonic Chamber Choir: Baltic Voices 2

Five Songs From Gloria Patri (Umas Sisak) And then in silence there with me be only You (Toivo Tulev) Winter hymn (Per Norgard) On Leaving (Galina Grigorjeva) Three Sacred Hymns (Alfred Schnittke)

The countries of the Baltic region have been influencing each other for centuries. Estonia was occupied by both Sweden and Russia and the coast was also a popular vacation spot. Artists and composers like Tchaikovsky often spent summers there. Whether through art, religion or music, this area has a rich cultural history. On the second CD in the series, Baltic Voices, Paul Hillier chose to focus on sacred music from the three branches of Christianity found in the area: Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant. Per Norgard's "Winter Hymn," representing Protestantism is a choral arrangement by Gunnar Erikkson. The version heard here is an English translation for greater accessibility. The final two pieces come from the Russian Orthodox tradition. Alfred Schnittke, the most known of the group, composed the "Three Sacred Hymns" in 1983, but created an a cappella version at the request of conductor Valery Polyansky. "On Leaving," by Galina Grigorjeva and "And then in silence there with me be only you," by Tovio Tulev are world premiere recordings. These extremely difficult and amazing pieces are performed flawlessly by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Every second on this CD is riveting and should not be missed.

Estonian Philhamonic Chamber Choir: Rachmaninov - All Night Vigil

Come, let us worship Praise the Lord, O my soul Blessed is the man O gentle light Lord, now lettest Thou Rejoice, O Virgin The Six Psalms Praise the name of the Lord Blessed art Thou, O Lord Having beheld the Ressurection My soul magnifies the Lord The Great Doxology Today salvation is come Thou didst rise from the tomb O queen victorious

The period from 1880 to 1917 marked a renaissance in Russian choral music. Previously, Russian choral music had been dominated by German and Italian influences. Now composers returned to old Russian chants as the source of their works, thus creating a thoroughly Russian choral style. Although Sergei Rachmaninov wrote only few choral works, they are among the finest example of Russian choral music ever written. Of those works, the All-Night Vigil (more commonly referred to as the Vespers) stands as his crowning achievement and is widely regarded as the pinnacle of the Orthodox church music as a whole. Composed in 1915, the All-Night Vigil is comprised of texts for services of Vespers, Matins and Prime. In writing the work, Rachmaninov employed a system known as "choral orchestration," which requires singers to make use of a wide range of complex vocal techniques. But for all the innovation and technical prowess evident in Rachmaninov's All-Night Vigil, it is the work's intense emotion and deep spirituality that stays with the listener.

Estonian Philhamonic Chamber Choir: The Powers of Heaven

Let My Prayer Arise (Dmitry Bortiansky) Now the Powers of Heaven (Giuseppe Sarti) The Cherubic Hymn (Bortiansky) O Most Holy Maiden Mary (anon) Glory / Only Begotten Son (from "Service in a Minor key") (Vasily Titov) In the Flesh Thou Didst Fall Asleep (Baldassare Galuppi) I Lift Up My Eyes to the Mountains (Bortiansky) Praise the Name of the Lord (Nikolai Diletsky) With My Voice I Cried Out to the Lord (Bortiansky) By the Rivers of Babylon (Artemy Vedel) Lord, Make Me to know My End (Bortiansky)

For their second recording together, Paul Hillier leads the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir in a selection of deeply moving sacred choral masterworks from the Slavic tradition of "Divine worship." Dmitry Bortniansky's sublime setting of The Cherubic Hymn represents one of the supreme summits of Orthodox liturgy.

6953 CD $15.98

Estonian Television Girls Choir: Circle Is Full

Gott ist Mein Hirt Turot Eszika A Ciganny Lauliku Lapsepoli Meie Elu Sinu Aknal Tuvid Etuudid Helilaadides Kevad Udu Kulm Lumi Poud Tuul Vihm Kiigelaulud Kitsas Kiik Meri Kiige All Kiigel Kartlik Ounapuu

Augismaastikud Tuul Konnumaa Kohal Kulm Sugisoo Kanarbik Ei Saa Mitte Vaiki Olla Laulu Lopetus Bow Down Thine Ear O Lord Pueri Herbraeoreum Go Down Moses It Was a Lover and his Lass Kodulaul Ring on Tais I Feel Pretty Ohe Oos I Don't Know How to Love Him Keskoo

Music Studio of Estonian Television Children's Programs was founded in 1990 by Eve Viilup, conducted by Aarne Saluveer. Their repertoire consists of classical and modern choir music, sacred music, folk music accompanied by dance movements and modern pop-jazz music programs. The ETGC has covered itself with acclaim, medals and awards from international contests and festivals, and appeared in prestigious venues, most recently they were the toast of the 2003 American Choral Director's Association Convention in New York City. There are 37 stunningly beautiful mostly a cappella (some piano accompanied, some with light orchestra) songs on "Ring," mostly sung in Estonian, but a handful in German, Hungarian and English: "Bow Down Thine Ear O Lord" by Hovland, the spiritual "Go Down Moses," Thomas Morley's "It Was A Lover and His Lass," Leonard Bernstein's "I Feel Pretty," and Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice's "I Don't Know How to Love Him."

Veljo Tormis: Autumn Landscapes

On hilissuvi (It is Late Summer) Üle taeva jooksevad pilved (Clouds are Racing) Kahvatu valgus (Pale Light) Valusalt punased lehed (Painfully Red are the Leaves) Tuul könnumaa kohal (Wind Over the Barrens) Külm sügisöö (Cold Autumn Night) Kanarbik (Heather) SATB

Veljo Tormis (b. 1930) is recognized especially for his vocal and choral works. For him, music begins with words; he does not have "purely musical" ideas. Tormis is a real master of large-scale choral composition. His music is often connected with ancient folk songs of Estonian and other Balto-Finnic peoples

9313 SONGBOOK $10.95

---

Veljo Tormis: Karelian Destiny

The Weeping Maiden The Suitors from the Sea As a Serf in Viru Oak-feller A Lullaby SATB 9314 SONGBOOK $19.95

---

Veljo Tormis: Four Estonian Lullabies

Laulan lapsele (I Sing for My Child) Marjal aega magada (It's Time for the Little Berry to Sleep) Lase kiik käia! (Let the Cradle Swing!) Aiutus (Lulling) SATB 9315 SONGBOOK $8.95

---

Veljo Tormis: The Bishop and the Pagan

TTBB

The Story of the Bishop and the Pagan, drawn from musical documents and folklore, tells of the death of the British warrior and Christian missionary Bishop Henry at the hands of the Finnish peasant farmerLalli near thee town of Turku (Abo) in the winter of 1158. By a fortunate and unusual historical circumstanc, th viewpoints of both sides have been preserved: a written Latin Gregorian chant "The Sequence Of Saint Henry" documents the British Christian side, and numerous folk songs represent the event as seen by the Finnish pagan. A fascinating and rewarding work for unaccompanied male voices.

9330 SONGBOOK $9.95

To find a specific song on any recording (or to find recordings by group name or CD title),
pick the search method and type the item you are searching for here:

By Song Title

By Group Name

By Recording Title

By Music Category Any Category Contemporary Vocal Jazz Barbershop Doo-Wop Choral Collegiate Gospel World

    or use our for more search options