Helena Tulve facts for kids
Helena Tulve (born April 28, 1972) is a well-known composer from Estonia. She creates music that often sounds very unique and interesting.
Helena's Journey in Music
Helena was born in Tartu, a city in Estonia. She started studying how to compose music at the Tallinn Secondary Music School. Later, from 1989 to 1992, she studied at the Estonian Academy of Music. Her teacher there was Erkki-Sven Tüür, another famous composer. Helena was his only composition student for a long time!
In 1994, Helena finished her studies in Paris, France. She graduated with top honors from the Conservatoire Superieur de Paris. She also spent time learning about Gregorian chant, which is a very old style of church music. She even attended special summer classes with other famous composers like György Ligeti.
Helena's Musical Style
Helena Tulve is part of a newer group of Estonian composers. Unlike some older styles that focus a lot on rhythm, Helena's music often focuses on the sound itself. She explores how different sounds feel and combine.
Her music shows influences from many different places. You might hear ideas from French "spectral music," which looks at the natural sounds of instruments. She also uses ideas from experimental music and composers like Kaija Saariaho. You can also hear hints of Gregorian chant and music from Eastern cultures in her works. Helena's music tends to flow and change, like a journey, rather than being built in strict, blocky sections.
Selected Works
Helena Tulve has written many different kinds of musical pieces. Here are a few examples:
- Reyah hadas ´ala (2005) for male voices and old musical instruments.
- Lendajad (2005) for amplified flutes.
- lumineux/opaque (2004) for clarinet, cello, piano, and even three wine glasses!
- chamber-opera It Is Getting So Dark (2003/04), which is a small opera.
- ...il neige (2004) for harpsichord and kannel (a traditional Estonian instrument).
- nec ros, nec pluvia... (2004) for a string quartet.
- Sula (Thawing) (1999) for a full orchestra.
- Öö (Night) (1997) for a saxophone quartet.
Discography
Helena Tulve's music has been released on several albums. These are recordings where you can listen to her compositions.
- Lijnen (released by ECM Records in 2008)
- Arboles lloran por lluvia (released by ECM in 2014)
- Sula (released by Eesti Raadio in 2005)
