Composer

:

Veljo Tormis

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1967

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Jannilaulud is a choral cycle composed by Veljo Tormis in 1980. The premiere of the work took place on May 1, 1980, in Tallinn, Estonia, performed by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir under the direction of Tõnu Kaljuste. The cycle consists of nine movements, each based on traditional Estonian folk songs about the mythical figure Jann, who is often depicted as a trickster and a shapeshifter. The movements are titled "Jann's Song," "Jann's Courting," "Jann's Wedding," "Jann's Fight with the Devil," "Jann's Dance Song," "Jann's Lullaby," "Jann's Song of the Dead," "Jann's Song of the Birds," and "Jann's Epilogue." Tormis's use of traditional folk songs in Jannilaulud is characteristic of his larger body of work, which often draws on Estonian folklore and mythology. The composer was particularly interested in preserving and promoting the traditional music of his homeland, which had been suppressed during the Soviet occupation of Estonia. The music of Jannilaulud is characterized by Tormis's distinctive harmonic language, which often features dense, dissonant chords and unconventional voice leading. The choral writing is also notable for its use of extended vocal techniques, such as overtone singing and throat singing, which are derived from traditional Estonian singing styles. Overall, Jannilaulud is a powerful and evocative work that showcases Tormis's unique approach to choral composition and his deep connection to Estonian folklore and culture.

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