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Veljo Tormis
Veljo Tormis in 2004.

Veljo Tormis (born August 7, 1930 – died January 21, 2017) was an amazing Estonian composer. He is known as one of the most important composers from Estonia in the 20th century. Around the world, he is famous for his many choral songs. He wrote over 500 songs for choirs, mostly sung a cappella (without instruments). Most of these songs are based on old Estonian folk songs called regilaulud. He used their words, tunes, or style.

One of his most famous works is Curse Upon Iron (Raua needmine), from 1972. It uses old traditions to tell a story about how bad war is. The Soviet government sometimes banned his music. But because he used a lot of folk music, most of his songs were allowed.

Later, groups like the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir performed and recorded Tormis's music. In the 1990s, famous a cappella groups like the King's Singers and the Hilliard Ensemble asked him to write music for them.

Tormis once said something very famous about his music: "It is not I who makes use of folk music, it is folk music that makes use of me." This means he felt like folk music was a powerful force. He believed that old Estonian music was a special treasure. He thought that culture could stay alive through songs.

Veljo Tormis's Life Story

Veljo Tormis was born in Kuusalu in 1930. He loved choral music from a very young age. His father was a choir leader, an organist, and a music teacher. Veljo enjoyed the different sounds of the organ. This might have helped him later with how he arranged sounds in his choral music.

Tormis started learning music formally in 1943. He went to the Tallinn Music School. But World War II and an illness stopped his studies for a while. In 1949, he went to the Tallinn Conservatory. He continued his studies at the Moscow Conservatory from 1951 to 1956.

He quickly became a teacher. He taught at the Tallinn Music School (1955–60) and the Tallinn Music High School (1962–66). By 1969, he was working only as a composer. One of his students was the composer Kuldar Sink.

From his student days until he stopped composing in 2000, Tormis wrote a lot of music. He created over 500 choral songs. He also wrote other vocal and instrumental pieces. He made music for 35 films and even an opera.

Even though some of his works were censored (not allowed) in the late 1970s and 1980s, he was still very famous. His music was played all over the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. People in Eastern Europe see him as a very important composer of choral music from the 20th century. After the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, more of his music became available. People around the world can now enjoy his amazing choral and vocal music.

Famous Works by Veljo Tormis

Here are some of Veljo Tormis's well-known compositions:

  • Kihnu pulmalaulud (Kihnu Island Wedding Songs), 1959
  • Sügismaastikud (Autumn Landscapes), 1964
  • Luigelend (opera), 1965
  • Eesti kalendrilaulud (Estonian Calendar Songs), 1966–67
  • Raua needmine (Curse Upon Iron), 1972
  • Pikse litaania (Litany To Thunder), 1974
  • Eesti ballaadid (Estonian Ballads), 1980
  • Laulusild (Bridge of Song), 1981
  • Unustatud rahvad (Forgotten Peoples), 1970–89
  • Incantatio maris aestuosi (Incantation for a Stormy Sea), 1996

See also

  • Music of Estonia
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