This collection takes
us into some unaccustomed regions of
Tormis's musical realm.
The Ballad of
Mary's Land is a piece of some
ferocity and barely contained fury.
The scene is also lit by Penderecki
and Ligeti-like slides. Reflections
is smoother but with some exciting
accelerations along the way. Days
of Outlawry is in three parts
with Kadri Hunt as the mezzo soloist
and Vambola Krigul, percussion and the
two trumpets of Indrek Vau and Roman
Petukhov. Sturdy marching figures appear
in the background with the childlike
protests of the mezzo in the foreground.
Tormis illuminates a desolation of the
soul as well as the search for a consolatory
grail. Revolutionary songs are also
very prominent in this piece.
God protect us
from war is predominantly very
quiet - an awed whisper much repeated
and punctuated with the sound of the
gong. Journey of the War Messenger
and the optimistic Let
the sun shine are whipcrack
fast, pecking and Orff-like. Voices
from Tammsaare's Herdboy Days uses
distant and close effects as well as
cowbells. This is muscular rhythmic
fiercely confident singing.
The singing of this
male voice choir attains the highest
standards. Sibilants, consonantal gutturals
and accentuated vowels are shaped with
precision, coordination and a relish
for meaning. Speaking of which, both
the sung Estonian and the English translation
are printed in the booklet side by side.
Rob Barnett