Folk MusicLike her teacher, Mägi's work shows an interest in folk music as well as setting Estonian poetry. Her compositional style has evolved over her career. Her works are predominantly based on themes that are borrowed from or contain characteristics of Estonian folk melodies. Mägi participated in four field trips organised by the folklore archives with Saar. (Garbes). Heather Garbes says, "She believes that collecting these melodies was the key to understanding the intonation of the nationalistic genre and heritage of the tradition and this was more valuable than duplicating exact melodies and forms."
In the 1960's her music increasingly relied on folk music characteristics including the use of diatonic modes and motivic use of folk melodies. Important Choral MusicKalevipoeg's Journey into Finland (1954)
This cantata is perhaps Mägi's best known choral work. Tormilind (Stormbird), (1957) Hällelaul (Lullaby), (1949) Õhtul enne naistepäeva (On Women’s Day Eve) (1962) Kullerkupud (Globeflower) (1965) Hommik (Morning) (1966) MultimediaLaulikutele
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Estonian Music Center www.emic.ee/ester-magi
Biography Ester Mägi (Toccata Classics) Works list (Vocal/Choral) |
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"Estonian Composers." Eesti Muusika Infokeskus. Estonian Music Information Center. <http://www.emic.ee/estonian-composers>.
Garbes, Heather M. "To the Bards: The Choral Works of Estonian Composer Ester Mägi" Journal of the College Music Society 49.Oct (2009): http://symposium.music.org.
Lippus, Urve. "Mägi, Ester." Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press.