Estonian National Male Choir

The Estonian National Male Choir (RAM)is currently the only full-time professional male choir in the world. The choir was established in 1944 by Estonian choral legend Gustav Ernesaks. The choir devoted its first years to a cappella repertoire but is now also famous for its interpretations of important large-scale works frequently performed with the world¹s leading orchestras and conductors. RAM has 25 oratorial works in its current repertoire and most of its tours abroad are large cultural projects where these pieces are performed. Over the times, RAM has sung with many prominent guest conductors, such as Robert Sund from Sweden, Josep Prats from Spain, Chifuru Matsubara from Japan, Roman Toi from Canada, Kaspars Putnin” from Latvia, Kuno Areng, Jaan-Eik Tulve and others from Estonia. This line-up of rewarding collaborations can be extended by naming the orchestral conductors the choir has worked with: Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Eri Klas, Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, Ricardo Muti, Paavo Berglund, Leif Segerstam, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Saulius Sondeckis, Leo Krämer, Christoph Sperling, Gintaras Rinkevicius, Arvo Volmer, Tõnu Kaljuste and many others.

The large works RAM has sung most often are Shostakovich's Symphony No. 13 "Babi Jar" (with the Detroit, Tampere and Jerusalem symphony orchestras and the LA Philharmonic), Sibelius' Kullervo-Symphony (the Stockholm Royal SO, Minnesota SO, Tampere SO, Toulouse National SO, Hamburg City Orchestra and the LA Philharmonic), Cherubini's Requiem and Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex. The Estonian National Male Choir gives about 80-90 concerts each year, approx. 25 of which are symphonic works while the rest are a cappella programs. The repertoire of one season includes about 200 works. RAM's present chief conductor and artistic director Ants Soots was awarded in 1999 the Gustav Ernesaks annual choral music prize. During the years 1996-2000 Ants Soots led the Estonian Choral Society. Currently he also teaches at the Estonian Music Academy. With RAM he has conducted programs of Italian, British and Latin American music, as well as the Armenian liturgy "Patarag" and Georgian music, music of G. Petrassi, of course, lots of Estonian music for different occasions. Paavo J?rvi, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Ellerhein Girls' Choir and Ants Soots, Estonian National Male Choir's CD "Sibelius Cantatas" (Virgin Classics, 2003) won the Grammy 2004 award in category "Best Choral Performance".

Discography

Visions Of Estonia 3

The Singer Songs Of The Ancient Sea Plague Memory Bridge Song Going To War Dialectical Aphorisms Song About Level Land We Are Given An Aboriginal Song The Estonians Political Parties Game Song About Keeping Together Martinmas Songs Christmas Is Coming Shrovetide Song Three I Had Those Words Of Beauty

The third collection under the title "Vision of Estonia" continues recording the work of Estonian composer Veljo Tormis by the veteran Estonian National Male Choir. All song titles and lyrics of the piece are in Estonian. These lyrics, their meanings, and the history of the composer, the choir, and this dramatic, powerful piece are included in the extensive liner notes. The deeply emotional composition, written under the thumb of the Soviet occupation of Estonia, is divided into 32 movements--from the eight parts of "Dialektilisi aforisme," all less than a minute in length, and the 9-minute "Muistse mere laulud" to the intense 2 -minute "Sottaminck." "Vision III" a difficult, eclectic work that explodes into non-vocal percussion and vocal outbursts of protest and pride. Luckily, it is being sung by one of the best all-male choirs in the world, who perform it with tremendous spirit and feeling. Some accompaniment.

Listen to Shrovetide Song in Real Audio

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.

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.

7171 CD $15.98

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