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From April 16 to 24, Estonian Music Days Festival 2009 will take place in Tallinn. EMD celebrates its 30th anniversary since the first Estonian contemporary music festival in 1979. This year’s festival introduces music using geological allegories: imaginary shovel will dig the rich soil that was sowd last autumn, discovering unidentified music from the deeper folium – EMD promises sensational archaelogic findings. |
Within the framework of the festival, about twenty composers, including Age Hirv, Tauno Aints, Alo Põldmäe, Timo Steiner, Helena Tulve, Toivo Tulev, Kristjan Kõrver, Malle Maltis, Mariliis Valkonen, will bring forth their new compositions at the concerts in different concert venues in Tallinn. In addition to our musicians, also guests from Switzerland, Denmark and Finland will perform. Besides the music, the program of the festival also includes other interesting events like videomusic evening, basketball battle, EMD forum, new album and book presentation.
EMD opening action will take place on April 16 at 4.30 pm at the Liberty Square where the missing part of Estonian music history has been dug out due to the archaelogical excavations. Counterweight to the findings, digital memory stick with scores of Estonian new music will be buried for the next generations to find. At 6 pm, contemporary music ensemble U: will present their first album „U:“ at Estonian National Opera Winter Garden. Album comprises Estonian music composed for ensemble in recent years.
At the opening concert at Estonian National Opera Chamber Hall at 7 pm, Collegium Novum Zürich (Switzerland) with Matthias Kuhn conducting will perform. The program includes also two premieres: Waves of thoughts by Märt-Matis Lill and Quasi una litania for French horn by Kristjan Kõrver. At 9 pm, Videomusic evening will take place at the Movie Theatre Sõprus, works created in cooperation with composers, animators and directors will be presented.
On April 17 at 6 pm, traditional Mammoth Concert will be held at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (EAMT). Conductor Tõnu Kaljuste and Nargen Opera will give an overview of the archeological findings from Liberty Square through music, word and visual art. Paper will be read by musicologist Toomas Siitan. At 9 pm, Estonian Music and Information Centre will present its brand-new book „Eight Portraits. Estonian Composers I“.
This year Erkki-Sven Tüür’s music gets the elevated attention while his music will be performed by Tallinn Music High School Symphony Orchestra and soloists with Risto Joost conducting at composer recital on April 18 at 7 pm at Tallinn Methodist Church. Also meeting series „Composer, who are you?“ will introduce Tüür on April 21 at 7 pm at Old Town Music House.
On April 18 at 10 pm, program of the Estonian Music Night will give an overview of the Estonian alternative music at Composers House. On April 19 at 2 pm, Finnish organist Jan Lehtola will perform at Tallinn St. John’s Church. The program includes also premiere of Age Hirv’s Fragment. On April 20 at 12 pm, EMD Forum will take place at EAMT. Erkki-Sven Tüür, Rein Lang, Märt-Matis Lill, Mikko Fritze and Ilmar Raag will discuss upon culture, creation and their possibilities of expression in modern world. Forum is hosted by Tõnis Kahu.
Students of EAMT will present their new compositions on April 20 at 8 pm at EAMT at Student Concert. Works by composition pupils of Tallinn and Tartu music schools can be heard at concert Young Talents on April 22 at 5.30 pm at Tallinn Teachers’ House.
On April 21 at 10 pm, the program of the night concert Night Calls consists of music by Heino Eller’s both first and last student, also laureates of Heino Eller Music Award. The concert will take place at the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum. On April 22 at 8 pm, Silver Ainomäe (cello) and Marrit Gerretz-Traksmann (piano) will perform at Tallinn Town Hall. The program consists of premieres by Malle Maltis (De Anima for cello and electonics), Lauri Jõeleht (Chant for piano) and Helena Tulve (To Night-Travellers, the Light for cello and piano). On April 23 at 6 pm, basketball battle between students and lecturers and graduates of EAMT will take place at Kalev Sport Hall. Also Timo Steiner’s new piece Basketball Symphony will be premiered.
The closing concert of the festival will be held on April 24 at 7.30 pm at Tallinn Methodist Church, where Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen (Denmark) with Erik Jakobsson conducting will premiere Toivo Tulev’s Percussion Concerto Flow (soloist Vambola Krigul) and Danish composer Poul Ruders's KafKapriccio.
EMD is organized by Estonian Composers’ Union, artistic directors are Timo Steiner and Ülo Krigul.
More detailed program is available at the website of Estonian Composers’ Union.
Agnes Toomla