In June 2022, 30 years had passed since the establishment of the Estonian Music Council. The marking of the anniversary was largely postponed to the second half of the year: in September, the 100th anniversary of the birth of the EMN’s founder and first president, musicologist and composer Leo Normet, was commemorated; in November, a conference titled “Development Directions of Estonian Sound Art and Music Culture” was organized in cooperation with the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre; and now the latest issue of the EMN publication has been released.
This English-language publication on Estonian music and musicians has been published periodically by the Estonian Music Council since 1994, with the aim of introducing Estonian musical culture more broadly, including the achievements of its members.
The publication has been distributed to member organizations of the International Music Council, as well as to Estonian embassies, and has been shared at various international music events.
The previous, 13th issue of Music in Estonia was published in 2018.
Whereas in around a dozen earlier issues nearly half of Music in Estonia consisted of various kinds of information—from the Estonian music calendar to the contact details of EMN members—the focus has now shifted to articles reflecting different aspects of musical art.
This time, the informational section includes a brief overview of music festivals on Estonia’s islands and a presentation of recent “Classical Albums of the Year”—an award initiated by the Estonian Music Council and presented since 2014 at the Estonian Music Awards gala in cooperation with the Estonian Association of Phonogram Producers.
In eight more extensive articles, Kerri Kotta analyzes new Estonian music at the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century, while Margus Pärtlas examines the international reach of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Estonia’s leading performers of the younger generation and the activities of the Estonian Performers’ Union are introduced by Taavi Hark, while the recent Estonian choral landscape is surveyed by Ene Pilliroog. Marko Lõhmuslooks back on 30 years of activity by the Estonian Music Council.
Attention is also given to jubilee conductors: Toomas Velmet explores the phenomenon of the Järvi dynasty, and an interview is given by Arvo Volmer, Artistic Director of the Estonian National Opera. While the previous issue of Music in Estonia merely showcased the magnificent newly opened building of the Arvo Pärt Centre, this time Karin Rõnglepwrites about the APC’s diverse range of activities.
Music in Estonia is compiled by Tiina Mattisen, translated by Neuma Translation Bureau, and designed by Annamari Kenk.
The publication is distributed free of charge and is available from the Estonian Music Council.
At the initiative of the Estonian Music Council, the first issue of the journal Music in Estonia was published as early as 1994. This periodical introducing Estonian music, intended primarily for an international readership, has been issued at varying intervals, initially every two to three years. However, the 12th issue of Music in Estonia was published already in 2010, largely because information—lists of music events, new recordings and scores, as well as contact details of EMN members, which made up half of the magazine’s content—had moved decisively to the internet.
Now, in the jubilee year of the Republic of Estonia, the Estonian Music Council decided to revive its journal, dispensing with news sections and instead focusing on a deeper exploration of Estonian composition and the art of interpretation. This, of course, has also been a feature of all previous issues of Music in Estonia, yet after an eight-year hiatus it may have seemed that everything needed to be started anew and recalled from the beginning.
It is clear that the entirety of our musical history cannot be contained within 68 pages; nevertheless, the concise and substantial overview by Professor Toomas Siitan should prepare the reader well for the articles that follow. Moreover, the author does not limit himself to a hundred-year perspective, but embarks on an “aerial survey”
The next two articles provide an insight into Estonian composition. Professor Kerri Kotta analyzes Estonian music at the beginning of the new millennium, while musicologist Evi Arujärv examines the re-emergence of Estonian folk tunes in our art music, focusing on the works of three figures who have given it new life: Cyrillus Kreek, Veljo Tormis, and Tõnu Kõrvits.
Young musicologist Liisi Laanemets presents an overview of the Estonian orchestral scene, while pianist and music publicist Kai Taal introduces our gold-standard young performers.
The relationship between Estonians and choral music is explored by Kaie Tanner, Executive Director of the Estonian Choral Association, and the local festival landscape is characterized by music producer and pedagogue Marko Lõhmus.
In short form, the publication reports on the construction of the new building of the Arvo Pärt Centre and on the unusually strong impact in Estonia of International Music Day, under the auspices of the Estonian Music Council, which for several consecutive years has brought about more than one hundred concerts across Estonia on 1 October.
As Tõnu Kõrvits’s music is touched upon to a greater or lesser extent in several articles, it was a pleasure to include in the print-ready issue the news of the recording of his “Lageda laulud” (Songs of Lageda) being selected as Album of the Year. The final pages of the journal also draw attention to major international events marking Estonia’s jubilee year.
Music in Estonia is compiled by Tiina Mattisen and designed by Annamari Kenk.
The publication is distributed free of charge and is available from the Estonian Music Council.