Estonian Music Week takes over Toronto from May 22 to 25, and offers a series of ten concerts and events that kicks off with the opening night party tonight at the Gardiner Museum. It’s the 5th iteration of the festival that unites Estonian and Canadian music and artists, focused on the global reach of Estonian culture.
Established by the Estonian Museum Canada in Toronto, Estonian Music Week was founded in 2018 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia.
Estonian culture has a rich history of musical expression, and a vibrant contemporary music scene. Here’s a look at just two of the offerings.
Ensemble U: Canadian-Estonian Composer Udo Kasemets (May 25, 5 p.m.)
The music of Canadian-Estonian composer Udo Kasemets is under the spotlight in a concert by Ensemble U, performed in an event that includes an augmented-reality “enhanced cosmic journey”.
Ensemble U is a renowned Estonian contemporary music ensemble, known for their panache in performing challenging works without the benefit of a conductor. They have performed extensively through Europe and Scandinavia, and beyond.
Udo Kasemets is a pianist, organist, teacher, and writer in addition to his work as a composer. Born in Tallinn, Estonia in 1919, he emigrated to Canada in 1951, and became a naturalized Canadian in 1957. His music includes orchestral, chamber, vocal, piano and electroacoustic pieces.
Udo originally studied composition, piano, and conducting at the State Conservatory in Tallinn, went on to the Staatliche Hochschule in Stuttgart, and later studied in Darmstadt. For a time after graduating, he taught music in schools in both Estonia and Germany, coming to Canada in 1951.
Kasemets taught at the Hamilton Conservatory of Music (RHCM) from 1951 until 1957, and in 1958, went on to found the Toronto Bach Society, Musica Viva, devoted to new music, and an avant-garde concert series, among many other endeavours.
Vox Clamantis: Arvo Pärt (May 25, 8 p.m.)
Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Vox Clamantis will perform in a program dedicated to the music of Estonian composer Arvo Pärt.
The choir is led by conductor Jaan-Eik Tulve, who established it in 1996. Vox Clamantis has developed from its beginnings into an international touring ensemble.
The choir is made up of 12 singers, and specializes in both early European polyphonic music and contemporary music, with a focus on Baltic composers and compositions. Arvo Pärt, Helena Tulve, Erkki-Sven Tüür, and other composers have dedicated works to the choir.
In addition to live performance, Vox Clamantis has recorded several albums of music, including The Deer’s Cry, featuring Arvo Pärt, and Filia Sion, with its focus on Early Music, up to and including works by Perotin, Hildegard von Bingen and Petrus Wilhelmi de Grudencz.
We spoke to conductor Jaan-Eik Tulve about the music.
Conductor Jaan-Eik Tulve: Q&A
LvT: Is there a specific quality or qualities that characterize Estonian music?
J-ET: Every musical culture is unique and special. The evolution of music depends on the country’s history, human contact, but also on the nature and habits of the people. Estonian music is influenced by the country’s small population and by nature, which is much more accessible and closer than in large cities populated by millions. This also allows one to learn to listen to soft sounds and slow movements. I think many Estonian composers are touched by Estonian nature.
LvT: What makes Arvo Pärt’s sacred music so special, in your opinion?
J-ET: Arvo Pärt has created very interesting and good music all the time. His dodecaphonic youth or children’s songs are also full of great music. Since Arvo Pärt himself is a very religious person, his sacred music is not just good music, but contains all his religious feelings and experiences. His music expresses his religiosity and that is why it is so well accepted by people. Even for those who are not outwardly religious, everyone’s deep feelings remain the same. Everyone needs love, and this is what Arvo Pärt’s music expresses most.
LvT: Vox Clamantis specializes in early music as well as contemporary music, much of it by Estonian composers like Pärt. What led to this range of repertoire?
J-ET: We started 29 years ago by singing only Gregorian chant. But, very quickly we developed close contact with Estonian composers, who were touched by our musical expressions. Through Gregorian chant we also met Arvo Pärt. I think that contemporary music, in its deep feeling and freedom, is very close to the way of thinking of Gregorian chant.
LvT: What qualities make the choir distinctive?
J-ET: Every choir is special and also different. Some have very good and trained voices, others are technically impeccable, etc. For me, in addition to technical accuracy, meaningful expression is also important. I wish our singers would not try to make beautiful music, but would live the message they convey.
- Find tickets and concert details [HERE].
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