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 best known works in this genre are the Curse
upon Iron (Raua needmine) and the song cycle Forgotten
Peoples (Unustatud rahvad) - an extensive work which the
composer worked on for nearly twenty years consisting of six
cycles, each including a number of songs.
His acquaintance with the music of Bartók and Kodály
during a visit to Hungary in 1962 was to have a great influence.
Tormis has confessed that the choral compositions of Kodály
were particularly close to him, and that one of his most popular
cycles, Autumn Landscapes (1964), was written under
their influence. Veljo Tormis finished his first great cycle,
Estonian Calendar Songs in 1967, which was the starting
point for "the Tormis' style", as we now know it,
and several choral suites based on ancient folk songs of different
peoples followed. No longer did Tormis use a folk tune as
a melodic idea for further motivic development; instead, the
old rustic songs sounded in his compositions in their original
manner. Around them Tormis has built truly symphonic choral
textures and dramatic musical structures. More recent works
include The Bishop and the Pagan from 1992, commissioned
for the King's Singers and Kullervo's Message (1994),
commissioned for the Hilliard Ensemble. Tormis has composed
several works using the English and Latin translations of
the Finnish epic the Kalevala.
Tormis studied composition at the Moscow Conservatory with
Professor Vissarion Shebalin, graduating in 1956. He
has taught at the Tallinn Music School and worked at the Estonian
Composers' Union. Apart from choral works Tormis has composed
stage works (e.g. the opera Swan Flight / Luigelend),
solo songs, and few instrumental and orchestral pieces, among
them the popular Overture No. 2 for symphony orchestra.
Mixed chorus:
Helletused / Childhood Memory (X, Est/Eng)
Kalevalan alkusanat / Prologus Kalevalanus / Prologue
of Kalevala for small male chorus and full mixed chorus
(Fi/Lat)
Kolm eesti mängulaulu / Three Estonian Game Songs
(Est)
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| |
1. Käsikivimäng
/ Hand Mill Game - 2. Sõrmemäkkimismäng
/ Bandaging the Fingerbame - 3. Laevamäng / Boat
Game |
Laevas lauldakse / Singing Aboard Ship (Fi/Est)
Laulusild / Bridge of Song (Fi+Est)
Mõrsja hüvastijätt / Sponsa suis valedicit
/ Bride's Farewell (Fi/Lat)
Neli eesti hällilaulu / Four Estonian Lullabies (Est)
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| |
1. Laulan lapsele / I Sing
for My Child - 2. Marjal aega magada / It's Time for the
Little Baby to Sleep - 3. Lase kiik käia! / Let the
Cradle Swing - 4. Äiutus / Lulling |
Pärismaalase lauluke / An Aboriginal
Song (X)
Raua needmine / Curse Upon Iron (Est/Eng)
Sinikan laulu / Sinikka's Song for soprano and mixed choir
(Fi)
Seitseteist eesti pulmalaulu / Seventeen Estonian Wedding
Songs (Est) |
| |
1. Pulmade ootamine / Waiting
for the Wedding - 2. Millal saame sinna maale? / When
Will We Arrive There? - 3. Mõrsja väljakutsumine
/ Calling for the Bride - 4. Sööge langud! /
Eat, My In-laws! - 5. Kodu nutab mõrsjat / Home
is Crying for the Bride - 6. Mõrsja nutab koju
/ Bride Cries for Home - 7. Pulmasõit / Wedding
Ride - 8. Saabumine peiu koju / Arriving at the Bridegroom's
Home - 9. Kas on minia meelt mööda? / Do You
Approve of Your Daughter-in-law? - Ära löö
noorikut! / Don't Hit the Newlywed! - 11. Nooriku vikuseõpetus
/ Teaching the Newlywed Diligence - 12. Petis peiu / Cheating
Bridegroom - 13. Palju veimi / Many Gifts from the Bride
- 14. Lemmkibu / Collection Piggin - 15. Rahakorjamise
tänulaul / Song of Thanks for the Money Collection
- 16. Palju sõnu / Many Words - 17. Kohus koju
minna / Must Go Home |
| Sügismaastikud / Autumn Landscapes
(Est/Eng) |
| |
1. On hilissuvi / It Is Late
Summer - 2. Üle taeva jooksevad pilved / Clouds Racing
Across the Sky - 3. Kahvatu valgus / Pale Light - 4. Valusalt
punased lehed / Painfully Red Leaves - 5. Tuul kõnnumaa
kohal / Wind on the Wasteland - 6. Külm sügisöö
/ Cold Autumn Night - 7. Kanarbik / Heather |
Unustatud rahvad / Forgotten Peoples:
1. Liivlaste pärandus / Livonian Heritage (Livonian)
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1. Lindude äratamine
/ Waking the Birds - 2. Karjametsas / At Pasture - 3.
Vastlad / Shrovetide - 4. Unehiireke / Little Mouse of
Sleep / Wee Winkie Mouse - 5. Laulis isa, laulis poega
/ Sang the Father, Sang the Son |
| 2. Vadja pulmalaulud / Votic Wedding Songs
(Votic) |
| |
1. Mõrsja vihtlemine
/ The Ritual Whisking of the Bride - 2. Pulmaliste saabumine
/ Arrival of the Wedding Guests - 3. Pilkelaulmine / Mockery
Singing - 4. Veimevaka jagamine / Distributing the Dowry
Chest - 5. Noorpaari õpetamine / Instructing the
Newly-weds - 6. Koka kiitmine / Praising the Cook - 7.
Kui ma kasvasin, kanake / When I, Little Chick, Was Growing
Up |
| 3. Isuri eepos / Izhorian Epic (Izhorian)
|
| |
1. Loomine / The Creation
- 2. Kolme käo kukkumine / The Call of Three Cuckoos
- 3. Pulmalaul / Wedding Song - 4. Poeg või tütar?
/ A Son or a Daughter? - 5. Sõduriks võtmine
/ The Conscript - 6. Oh ma vaene poisike! / O, Poor Boy
that I Am! - 7. Suu lauluis, süda muretses / My Mouth
Was Singing, My Heart Was Worrying - 8. Mõõk
merest / The Sword from the Sea - 9. Ussisõnad
/ A Spell Against the Snake - 10. Undarmoi ja Kalervoi
/ Undarmoi and Kalervoi |
| 4. Ingerimaa õhtud / Inkerin illat
/ Ingrian Evenings (Est/Fi/Eng) |
| |
Röntüškä
I / Röntyskälaulu I / Röntyshkä I
- Röntüškä II / Röntyskälaulu
II / Röntyshkä II - Röntüškä
III - Röntyskälaulu III / Röntyshkä
III - Kiigelaul I / Liekkulaulu I / Chastushka I - Kiigelaul
II / Liekkulaulu II / Chastushka II - Ringmängulaul
/ Piirileikkilaulu / Roundelay - Röntüškä
IV / Röntyskälaulu IV / Röntyshkä
IV / Röntyshkä IV - Röntüškä
V / Röntyskälaulu V / Röntyshkä -
Lõpetus ja kojuminek / Lopetus ja kotiinlähtö
/ Ending and Going Home |
| 5. Vepsa rajad / Vepsian Paths (Vepsic)
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| |
1. Õekene, sirgukene
/ My Sister, My Little Cricket - 2. Venesse pürgiv
neiu / The Striving to the Boat - 3. Taevased kosilased
/ The Heavenly Suitors - 4. Läksin mina Kikoilasse
/ I Went to Kikoila - 5. Kukku ja kukku / Cuckoo and Cuckoo
- 6. Läksin mina veele / I Went to Fetch Some Water
- 7. Kiisu-miisu / Pussy-cat - 8. Laulda teile lauluke
/ To Sing You a Little Song - 9. Kus sa täna magasid?
/ Where Did You Sleep Last Night? - 10. Mis teil tehakse?
/ What Are They Doing at Your Place? - 11. Ronis härg
kuuse otsa / The Ox Climbed a Fir Tree - 12. Vägisi
mehele / Forced to Get Married - 13. Äiutus / Lulling
- 14. Ainus poeg / The Only Son - 15. Tutu-lutu karjane
/ Toot-Toot, Herdsboy |
| 6. Karjala saatus / Karjalan kohtalo / Karelian
Destiny (Karelian) |
| |
1. Nuttev neiu / Itkevä
neito /The Weeping Maiden - 2. Mere kosilased / Meren
kosijat / Suitors from the Sea - 3. Orjana Virus / Orjana
Virossa / As a Serf in Viru - 4. Tamme raiuja / Tammen
kaataja / Oak-feller - 5. Hällilaul / Kehtolaulu
/ Lullaby |
|
Vaata näe! / Varda là / Oh, Look (It/Est)
Viru vanne / The Viru Oath for mixed choir (Est)
Male chorus:
Hamleti laulud / Hamlet's Songs for two male choruses
(Est)
Helletused / Childhood Memory (Herding Calls) (X, Est/E)
Ilmiantajan tarina / Äraandja lugu / De proditore
fabula / Story of a Betrayer (Fi/Est/Lat)
Kalevalan alkusanat / Prologus Kalevalanus / Prologue
of Kalevala for small male chorus and full mixed chorus
(Fi/Lat)
Kalevalan 17. runo / The 17th Rune of the Kalevala for
male choir, soloists and folk instruments (Fi)
Katkuaja mälestus / Plague Memory (Est)
Kokko lenti koillisesta / Eagle Flew from Northeast
(Karelian)
Kullervo's sõnum / Kullervo's Message (Eng)
Laulja / The Singer for male chorus, organ and percussions
(Est)
Laulusild / Bridge of Song (Fi+Est)
Maarjamaa ballaad / Ballad of Mary's Land (Est)
Muistse mere laulud / Songs of the Ancient Sea (Est)
Need mäed on püsti ees / E sù, e sù,
e sù / Those High Mountains (It/Est)
Nägemus Eestist / Vision of Estonia (Est)
Piispa ja pakana/ The Bishop and the Pagan for male
chorus and soloists (Lat+Fi+Eng)
Pikse litaania / Litany to Thunder for male chorus,
soloists and bass drum (Est)
Tõmbtuul / Draught (Est)
Varjele, Jumala, soasta! / Deus, protege a bello / God,
Protect Us from War (Fi/Lat)
Vepsa talv / Vepsian Winter (Vepsian)
Viru vanne / The Viru Oath for male choir (Est)
Väinämöise tarkussõnad / Verba
Väinämöinis / Väinämöinen's
Words of Wisdom for male chorus and piano (Est/Lat)
Female and children's chorus:
Karjan kotiinkutsu / Calling Home the Cattle (Fi/Est/Lat)
Kolme Karjalan neitoa / Three Karelian Maidens (Fi/Lat)
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1. Herkkä neito / Delicate
Maid - 2. Ylpeä neito / Proud Maid - 3. Kirkas neito
/ Radiant Maid |
Laulusild / Bridge of Song (Fi+Est)
Looduspildid / Nature Pictures:
1. Kevadkillud / Spring Sketches (Est) |
| |
1. Kevadtuul / Spring Wind
- 2. Lehtivad pungad / Flowering Blossoms - 3. Õhtune
taevas / Evening Sky - 4. Toominga all / Under the Bird-cherry
Tree - 5. Kollane leek / Yellow Flame - 6. Hiliskevadel
/ In Late Spring |
| 2. Suvemotiivid / Summer Motifs (Est) |
| |
1. Põuailm / Dry Weather
- 2. Äike / Thunder - 3. Suveöö / Summer
Night |
| 3. Sügismaastikud / Autumn Landscapes
(Est/Eng) |
| |
1. On hilissuvi / It Is Late
Summer - 2. Üle taeva jooksevad pilved / Clouds Racing
Across the Sky - 3. Kahvatu valgus / Pale Light - 4. Valusalt
punased lehed / Painfully Red Leaves - 5. Tuul kõnnumaa
kohal / Wind on the Wasteland - 6. Külm sügisöö
/ Cold Autumn Night - 7. Kanarbik / Heather |
| 4. Talvemustrid / Winter Patterns (Est/Eng) |
| |
1. Talvehommik / Winter Morning
- 2. Külm / Cold - 3. Tuisk / Blizzard - 4. Virmalised
/ Northern Lights (Aurora borealis) |
Sampo cuditur / Sammon takominen / Forging
the Sampo for girls' choir and percussion instruments
(Lat)
Suomalais-ugrilaisia maisemia / Finno-Ugric Landscapes
(Fi) |
| |
Metsästyslaulu / Hunting
Song - Kukkulalla lauletaan / Singing on a Hillock - Mylly
jauhaa Tonavalla / The Mill on Danube - Joen rannalla
/ By the Riverside - Järven rannalla / On the Lakeshore
- Kotiseutu / Homeplace - Virta vierii / Flowing River
- Tunturin rinteillä / On the Slopes of Fjeld - Vepsän
poluilla / On Vepsian Pathways - Eepoksen alku / Prologue
to the Epic - Tammipuu / The Oak Tree - Paimenessa / Herding
Song - Ankarat on aallot / Mighty Waves - Meren rannalla
/ On the Seashore - Maailman synty / The Creation of the
World |
|
Series for combined choruses:
Eesti kalendrilaulud / Estonian Calendar Songs:
1. Mardilaulud / Martinmas Songs for male chorus (Est/Eng)
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| |
1. Mardid ukse taga / Martinmas
Beggars behind the Door - 2. Teretamine / Greeting - 3.
Õnnistussõnad / Words of Blessing - 4. Tants
/ Dance - 5. Lausumine / Casting a Spell - 6. Andide palumine
/ Begging for Gifts - 7. Tänamine / Thanking - 8.
Soovid / Wishes - 9. Lõpetus / Ending |
| 2. Kadrilaulud / St. Catherine's Day Songs
for female chorus (Est/Eng) |
| |
1. Sissetulemine / Entering
- 2. Tants / Dance - 3. Andide palumine / Begging for
Gifts - 4. Tänamine, soovid ja lahkumine / Thanking,
Wishes and Leaving |
| 3. Vastlalaulud / Shrovetide Songs for male
chorus (Est/Eng) |
| |
1. Vistel-Vastel / Vistel
Vastel - 2. Lina loitsimine / Spell Upon Flax - 3. Liulaskmise-laul
/ Sledding Song |
| 4. Kiigelaulud / Swing Songs for female
chorus |
| |
1. Kitsas kiik / The Narrow
Swing - 2. Meri kiige all / The Sea under the Swing -
3. Ilus neiu kiigel / A Pretty Girl on the Swing - 4.
Kiik tahab kindaid / The Swing Asks for Gifts - 5. Kiigel
kartlik / A Timid Girl on the Swing - 6. Õunapuu
/ Apple Tree |
| 5. Jaanilaulud / St. John's Day Songs for
mixed chorus (female- and male chorus) (Est/Eng) |
| |
(1. and 2. Kutse jaanitulele
I - II = c in Finland published by Sulasol) - 3. Ei ole
püssil püütav / Can't Be Caught by the
Gun - 4. Miks Jaani oodatakse / Why St. John is Awaited
- 5. Jaani hobu / St. John's Steed - 6. Tulesõnad
/ Fire Spell - 7. Jaanilaul / St. John's Song |
|
Abbreviations:
Eng = English
Est = Estonian
Fi = Finnish
It = Italian
X = phonetics/wordless/vocalis
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