Interesting albums from the folk and roots music history, by Marius Roeting. This episode, a special choir from Estonia in a very special collaboration.
In 2006, there was a remarkable performance near the ruins of the Pirita monastery in Estonia. The 54 voices of the world’s only professional male choir melted together with metal sounds of Metsatöll, an ethno rock group from Estonia.
They performed a choral work by Veljo Tormis. His ‘curse upon iron’ is full of traditional elements, with handed-down stories, sagas and legends based on Estonian heritage. The compositions include traces of shamanic chants, rhymes taken from Kalevala and the primal power of runo-singing. In over 90 minutes – of which we can only play about 55 minutes – a synthesis between classical, rock and folk elements takes place.
The performance, the music – and the video on the DVD- are controversial, perhaps evoking opposing reactions. However, ancient (tradition in word and sound) and contemporary (metal sounds) merge here into a contemporary expression and performance of deep-rooted tradition.
Metsatöll & Eesti Rahvusmeeskoor
Raua Needmine (Curse upon iron) – Westpark 87144
Playlist
- A) Intro- Veresulaste choir (Markus Teeäär, arr Tauno Aints)
B) Merepojad (Lauri Õunapuu, Markus Teeäär, arr Tauno Aints)
C) Meeste laul (Veljo Tormis, trad, arr Tauno Aints, Paul-Eerik Rummo)
D) Saaremaa vägimees (Lauri Õunapuu, trad, arr Tauno Aints, Lauri Õunapuu) 13:55
- A) Pikse litaania (Veljo Tormis, trad, Ain Kaalpep, arr Tauno Aints)
B) Teomehe laul (Veljo Tormis, trad, arr Tauno Aints, Paul Eerik Rummo)
C) Hundiraev (Andrus Tins, Markus Teeäär, Silver Rattasepp, arr Tauno Aints) 14:42
- A) Kaitse, Jumal, sõja eest (Veljo Tormis, trad, arr Tauno Aints)
B) Oma laulu ei leia ma üles (Valter Ojakäär, Leelo Tungal, arr Tauno Aints)
C) Lahinguväljal näeme, raisk! (Maire Nilgo, Markus Teeäär, arr Tauno Aints)
D) Metsahiva 2 (Andrus Tins, Markus Teeäär, Silver Rattasepp, arr Tauno Aints) 20:25
- Ussisõnad (Lauri Õunapuu, trad, arr Tauno Aints) 6:23
