One of the most original contemporary composers in Estonia whose musical language comprises Oriental and Western, avant-garde and archaic, electronic and acoustic without falling into eclectic abracadabra.

In Estonian / Eesti keeles

Biography

Peeter Vähi was born in Estonia, in 1955. In his youth he learned to play the accordion, the piano and the double bass. In 1974 he began composition studies in the Estonian Academy of Music under the supervision by Prof Eino Tamberg, graduating as composer in 1980. Peeter Vähi has worked as a free-lance composer and a record producer; also as a concert producer in the Estonian National Concert Institute (1990–2000). Currently he is the artistic director of ERP (Estonian Record Productions) and of international music festivals – Eastern Music Festival Orient (1992 – present day), Glasperlenspiel Festival (1995 – present day). He is a member of the board of Estonian Composers’ Union, of the Culture Foundation Council of the Estonian President (2001–08), the vice-chairman of the council of the Estonian Institute of Buddhism, a full member of Estonian Academic Oriental Society, and the president of Drikung Kagyu Ratna Shri Centre (1992–2005).

Peeter Vähi’s works are characterized by broad-minded stylistic versatility, listener-friendly sound, skilful application of exotic instruments and electronic facilities, a wide range of moods from philosophical and meditative right through to baroque movements. His most important works are To His Highness Salvador D and Mystical Uniting for chamber ensemble, Pastoral Of Computerized World for flute, cello and piano, Supreme Silence for mezzo-soprano, male choir and handbells, Chant Of The Celestial Lake for flute and orchestra, cantata Green Tārā for female soloist, female choir, trombones and percussions, A Chant Of Bamboo for shinobue-flute and chamber orchestra.

Vähi’s music has been performed by European, Asian and American orchestras (among them the Japanese Philharmonic Orchestra, European Union Chamber Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra), choirs (Tōkyō Philharmonic Chorus), chamber (Slava Grigoryan, Gidon Kremer) and ethno musicians (Sevara Nazarkhan, Hiroyuki Koinuma) and naturally, by most of the Estonian top musicians such as Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian National Male Choir, Early Music Consort Hortus Musicus, the Järvi “dynasty”, etc. In addition to the conventional venues, concerts of Vähi’s music have taken place on the open-air stage of World Exhibition EXPO 2000, in Roerich Museum, in the Royal Palace of Sweden. His music has been performed at the Estonian National Song Festivals, in the White House in Washington DC, in a Japanese Buddhist Temple, at the 50th anniversary celebrations of UNESCO in Strasbourg and at the Luzhniki Arena in Moscow.

Vähi’s works have been published by Erdenklang Musikverlag, Eres Edition, Edition 49, ERP, CultureWare Music Publ, and Maren Musikverlag. His music has been released on more than 60 records, including 11 solo-albums.

As a keyboarder Peeter Vähi has performed with different ensembles, orchestras and choirs (including the 30,000-members choir at the Estonian National Song Festivals). In the recent years Peeter Vähi has been in close co-operation with musicians from Tibet, India, Japan, and other parts of Asia.

Last premières and releases

Between Heaven and Earth for the carillon of Tartu Town Hall and military band; première – July 17th, 2010, Tartu Hanseatic Days

Choreographic scenes Slow Run and Rush and Whitelight; commissioned by Fine 5 Dance Theatre; première – June 2010, Busan International Dance Festival (South-Korea)

The Chimney Sweeper for female voice, percussion and keyboards; lyrics by William Blake; commissioned by Estonian Music Days; performers – Jana Kask (voc), Hele-Riin Uib (perc) & Peeter Vähi (keyboards), première – Mar 22nd, 2010, St Mauritius Merchant Guild, Tallinn

Rainmaker for percussion and keyboards; commissioned by Estonian Music Days; performers – Hele-Riin Uib (perc) & Peeter Vähi (keyboards), première – Mar 22nd, 2010, St Mauritius Merchant Guild, Tallinn

Cantata Green Tārā on the CD of Ellerhein
2009

CD: “Relaxātio”
Psychoterapeutic music, in co-operation with Dr Meelis Kuusemets
2009

In Memoriam HM on CD Helesa by Hortus Musicus
2009
 

Works for harpsichord or piano (score) – ERP 2909, printed in Nov 2009

Book Siiditeel 3 kuuga 25 000 kilomeetrit (The Silk Road: 25 000 km in 3 months) by publishing house Pilgrim. 232 pages, 83 colour photos
2009
Download fragments (18 pages, pdf, 2.4 MB)
 

Works in process

The music “symbolizing Estonia” for symphony orchestra; commissioned by the Global Climate Change Music Project

Mary Magdalene Gospel, oratorio for soloists, narrator, 2 choirs and symphony orchestra; lyrics in Coptic language from Egyptian Gnostic papyrus manuscript; commissioned by State Choir Latvija; planned première – Aug 2011, International Sacred Music Festival, Riga

Pianist’s Internet-week for  8 pianists (16 hands, 4 pianos), percussion, overdrive guitar; commissioned by International Pianists Festival Piano and Estonian National Concert Institute Eesti Kontsert; première – 27th Oct 2010, Estonia Concert Hall, Tallinn by Piano Orchestra

New work for 3 handbell ensembles, commissioned by Arsis Handbell Ensemble, planned première – Jun 2011, Tallinn Town Hall square

List of main works
Discography
Press resonance

Download photos: Peeter Vähi (Oman, 2003, photo by T Jokinen, jpg, 300 dpi, 840 KB); Peeter Vähi (India, 2003, photo by T Pruuli, jpg, 300 dpi, 1759 KB), drawing (by Andres Adamson, Pärnu Postimees, 2007, jpg, 1810 KB)

Additional info:
www.hot.ee/eoy/engvahi.html (in English)
www.estmusic.com/index.php?0132203369 (in English)
www.zzz.ee/edition49/composers/p_vahi (in Estonian, English, and German)
Wikipedia (in English, German, Ukrainian, Estonian, Finnish)
Academic dictionaries and encyclopedias (in German)
List of works (in French)

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