Tormis had his first contact with folksong through music of the Estonian composers Cyrrilus Kreek, and Mart Saar, but it was later that he became moved to compose music with a folksong basis. Tormis says, "Old Estonian folk songs are an intact part of an ancient culture where all the components are combined in structure: the melody, the words, the performance, etc. It also became clear that it is a very old pre-Christian culture which is shamanistic in substance, and extremely close to nature in the ecological sense" (Anderson, 25).
As a composer, during Soviet occupation of Estonia, Tormis was first encouraged (1948) to look for folksongs, but in the 1960's and 70's under Stalin, his works were completely forbidden. He says, "It took them 30 years to understand what I was doing! I was not a fighter, not a dissident - but our public understood what I wanted to say in my national, folk-based work" (Anderson, 26).
As a composer, during Soviet occupation of Estonia, Tormis was first encouraged (1948) to look for folksongs, but in the 1960's and 70's under Stalin, his works were completely forbidden. He says, "It took them 30 years to understand what I was doing! I was not a fighter, not a dissident - but our public understood what I wanted to say in my national, folk-based work" (Anderson, 26).
Folk MusicTormis says of folk music, "We should know who we are and where our roots lie" (Anderson, 26). The vast majority of Tormis's output is choral music that is based upon folk music or folklore. The old Estonian folk song is called regilaul. In addition to Estonian folk song, he has incorporated the folklore of more distant peoples. "His music echoes with the melodies of the Ingrians, Setus, Estonians, Latvians, Livonians, Finns, Russians, Bulgarians and other peoples" (www.emic.ee).
"He is known for settings of ancient runic folk songs (regisvärsid), which became an interest after he attended a traditional wedding ceremony on the island of Kihnu in 1959, and he is compared to Bartok and Kodaly as an important collector of folk melodies and as a composer who masterfully sets the folk material in effective and critically acclaimed compositions" (Shrock, 648). Important Choral MusicHas composed over 250 choral works, many are a part of collections (often extensive).
Eesti kalendrilaulud (Estonian Calendar Songs) (1967) This extensive mixed choir cycle is based on the folk melodies of different Estonian counties and tied to important dates in the folk calendar. The five sub-cycles include: Martinmas Songs, (“Mardilaulud”), St. Catherine’s Day Songs (“Kadrilaulud”), Shrovetide Songs (“Vastlalaulud”), Swing Songs (“Kiigelaulud”) and St. John’s Day Songs (“Jaanilaulud”). Unustatud rahvad (Forgotten Peoples) (1970-1989) This extended set of cycles is based on the folklore of the endangered Baltic and Finnic peoples. The cycles include: Livonian Heritage (“Liivlaste pärandus”, 1970), Votic Wedding Songs (“Vadja pulmalaulud”, 1971), Izhorian Epic (“Isuri eepos”, 1975), Ingrian Evenings (“Ingerimaa õhtud”, 1979), Vepsian Paths (“Vepsa rajad”, 1983), and Karelian Destiny (“Karjala saatus”, 1989). [A cappella chorus. Consists of 51 individual pieces.] Raua needmine (Curse upon Iron) (1972) (1991, revised) This work is based on the ninth rune of the Finnish Kalevala. Tormis says, "The idea of the composition derives from shamanism: in order to acquire power over a material or immaterial thing, one communicates knowledge to the object. Everything created by man may turn against man himself if he starts using his creating without attention to ethics" (Shrock, 649). [Chorus in 16 parts, TB solos, shaman drum]. MultimediaRaua needmine (Curse upon iron)
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Estonian Music Center www.emic.ee/veljo-tormis
Biography Works List (Vocal/Choral) |
Röntuska I - From Ingrian Evenings
Back to Composers of Note
Anderson, Martin. "‘We Should Know Who We Are’: Veljo Tormis in Conversation." Tempo 3.211 (2000): 24-27.
Daitz, Mimi. "Tormis, Veljo." Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press.
"Estonian Composers." Eesti Muusika Infokeskus. Estonian Music Information Center. <http://www.emic.ee/estonian-composers>.
Shrock, Dennis. "Russia and Estonia." Choral Repertoire. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2009. 638-53.