Arvo Pärt (Estonian pronunciation: [ˈɑrvo ˈpært]; born 11 September 1935) is an Estonian composer of classical and sacred music.[ Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs his self-invented compositional technique, tintinnabuli. His music is in part inspired by Gregorian chant.
Veljo Tormis (born 7 August 1930 in Kuusalu) is an Estonian composer, regarded as one of the greatest living choral composers and one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia Internationally, his fame arises chiefly from his extensive body of choral music, which exceeds 500 individual choral songs, most of it a cappella. The great majority of these pieces are based on traditional ancient Estonian folksongs (regilaulud), either textually, melodically, or merely stylistically. …
ULM, Germany
An Estonian evening in the series “Classic!”. Tonight the Prezioso String Quartet and Hando Nahkur are performing in the townhouse. Composer Errki-Sven Tüür is already leading by 19 clock into his work …
To which extent the Prezioso String Quartet feels it has become an ambassador of his country?
HANNA LIIS NAHKUR: “We all come from Estonia and we are always surrounded by the music of our homeland. Yes, we feel as an Estonian ensemble. From a purely geographical viewpoint we are a small country, but in terms of music – a hot spot – especially because Estonia has produced a number of outstanding composers like Erkki-Sven Tüür, Arvo Pärt, Lepo Sumera – just to name a few. And all the speak a musical language all their own. There is nothing comparable in other countries hardly.” …
Full text (in German): http://www.swp.de/ehingen/lokales/ulm_neu_ulm/Kleines-Estland-grosse-Kammermusik;art4329,3015990
