Veljo Tormis is an Estonian composer, regarded to be one of the greatest living choral composers and one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia. Internationally, his fame arises chiefly from his extensive body of choral music, which exceeds 500 individual choral songs, most of it a cappella. The great majority of these pieces are based on traditional ancient Estonian folksongs (regilaulud), either textually, melodically, or merely stylistically. This work for men's voice is challenging yet very worthwhile.

Veljo Tormis 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. For female voices.

Veljo Tormis 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. For female voices.

Veljo Tormis 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. For female voices.

Veljo Tormis 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. For female voices.

During the Soviet occupation the Estonian composer Veljo Tormis composed several dark-toned songs to texts by leading Estonian poets. Vision of Estonia is based on lyrics by Juhan Liiv. In it Tormis poured out his feelings of a creative person trapped within the Soviet regime.

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.

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. 'Karelian Destiny is from the 'Forgotten People' Series

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.

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 farmer Lalli near the town of Turku (Abo) in the winter of 1158. By a fortunate and unusual historical circumstance, the 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.

Beneath the apparent simplicity and charm lies a richness and complexity that rewards. Tormis' choral works marry traditional Estonian folk melodies with contemporary but accessible harmonies.

The texts for this composition have been compiled from runic songs about the sea, using source material from Haljala, Kuusalu, Ridala and Muhu in Estonia. The written transcriptions of the texts, translated from the vernacular, were made in 1973-74.