Estonian Soil
and Estonian Heart

Festival Glasperlenspiel
Mon, July 8th at 7 pm St. John’s church (Jaani kirik), Tartu
ESTONIAN SOIL AND ESTONIAN HEART
Estonian National Male Choir, Rein Rannap (piano), conductor Mikk Üleoja
Songs by Rein Rannap

The joint concert of the Estonian National Male Choir and Rein Rannap is undoubtedly one of the highlights of this year’s Glasperlenspiel, bringing Rannap’s timeless songs to the texts of Estonian poets Lydia Koidula, Ott Arder, Urmas Alender, Hando Runnel and others to the audience in a new setting. Originally arranged by Siim Aimla, Kuldar Schütz and Riivo Jõgi for male choir a cappella, the Tartu concert will feature all the songs with the composer himself on piano, who will also add introductions and solo parts. Alongside the best-known and best-loved tunes, the programme will include a significant new work by Rannap on the theme of war, created to words from Estonian folklore, in which both choir and piano can, according to the composer, go wild in an ethno-rock style. Rannap has said of the new piece: “I felt that I could add a slightly longer song to this programme, where I could push the accelerator pedal to the bottom and take both the choir and the piano to the extreme.”

The composer, pianist and improviser Rein Rannap, who celebrated his 70th birthday last year, is a versatile musician who is recognized in both the field of classical and rock music. He has performed classical piano repertoire, jazz and free improvisations, composed opera, symphonic music, piano pieces, choral works and music for classical chamber ensembles, and has written nearly a couple of hundred popular songs that have brought him the greatest acclaim. In today’s concert, the Estonian National Male Choir will perform these beloved songs in new choral settings arranged by Siim Aimla, Riivo Jõgi and Kuldar Schüts. The arrangements were firstly made for an a cappella male choir, but at the Glasperlenspiel, the author himself joins the choir, adding piano preludes and solos.

The Estonian National Male Choir is one of the best-known Estonian music ensembles in the world. The choir’s repertoire spans from renaissance to contemporary. Besides many Estonian composers, it has premiered compositions by such luminaries as Gavin Bryars, Giovanni Bonato, Henrik Ødegaard, Dmitri Shostakovich etc. The Estonian National Male Choir was founded in 1944 by Estonian choral conductor and composer Gustav Ernesaks. Starting from the 2011/12 season, the choir is led by chief conductor and artistic director Mikk Üleoja. Each season the choir gives about 50–60 concerts both in Estonia and abroad. Estonian National Male Choir frequently records for Estonian National Broadcasting and has collaborated with such labels as Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Finlandia, Alba Records, GB Records, Virgin Classics, Aurora, Ondine, Toccata Classics and SOOND. In 2004, the choir was awarded the Grammy award for the best choral performance, first for Estonia (Sibelius’ cantatas, in collaboration with Ellerhein choir, Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and conductor Paavo Järvi). Over its long history, the Estonian National Male Choir has given more than seven thousand concerts, in Estonia but also in locations as far afield as Northern America and Asia. Over the past five years their concert tours have taken them to Belgium, Lithuania, China, Singapore, Japan, Switzerland, and more. In 2015, Estonian National Male Choir and Mikk Üleoja received the State Cultural Award, marking the choir’s remarkable performances.

Mikk Üleoja graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in Ants Üleoja’s choir conducting class, and gained a master’s degree in 2004. He has sung at World Youth Choir, the Estonian National Male Choir, the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the ensemble Vox Clamantis. He has taught conducting in Viljandi Culture Academy and was a long-time choir master of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. In 2014, Mikk Üleoja was awarded the “Conductor of the Year” title.

Sõda sõitis siia ilma (‘War Came to this World’) for male choir and piano
Music – Rein Rannap, lyrics – Estonian folklore

Sõda sõitis siia ilma
Mässamine siia maale

Sõda hakkas sõudemaie

Sõda sõtkub meie õue
Katku tallab me tänava
Tina oli tihke, raud oli raske
Raud oli raske, püss oli suuri
See käis hella hinge peale

Siis tuli tuline kuuli
Siis vehkis verine mõõka
Selga pandi surmasärki

Kes tõi sõjasõnumida
Kes see kandis vaenukeeli

Sõjaleiba sõtkutakse
Vaenuleiba voolitakse

Nõnda sõjas meeste päida
Kui on soossa mätta’aida
Nõnda sõjas sääreluida
Kui on aias roika’aida
Nõnda sõjas sõrmeluida
Kui on metsas vitsavardaid
Nõnda sõjas meeste silmi
Kui on tähti taeva’asse
Sõjas vööni meeste verda
Pooli sääri poiste verda

Organizers:
Peeter Vähi – artistic director
Tiina Jokinen – executive director
Kadri Kiis – producer, accountant
Meeta Morozov – musicologist, editor of festival booklet
AI – design
Olavi Sööt – co-producer, video, logistics
Reno Hekkonens – marketing director, PR
Johannes Vähi – co-producer, webmaster, sound engineering, logistics
Marje Hansar – social media

Special thanks: Tartu City Government, Urmas Klaas, Triin Käpp, Jana Raud, Ministry of Culture of Estonia, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Canon, Toyota, Eesti Kontsert, Jana Moosar, Kaupo Kiis, Kristel Leppik, Anne-Liise Kiis, volunteers