On August 7, Veljo Tormis would have been 90 years old. The Theatre and Music Museum is celebrating his anniversary with the travelling exhibition VELJO TORMIS – A World Born Of Folk Song, which opens at the Assauwe Tower. The exhibition mainly focuses on the central part of his varied career: works based on runic songs.
His music and writing, public speeches at large-scale conferences and intimate discussions in smaller circles, at rehearsals for professional or amateur choirs – it was all motivated by his respect for folk tunes as well as his deep knowledge of them. The exhibition takes a look at how Tormis found folk songs and how he used them in his work, what meaning he gave to folk songs and how he shared it with others. Special attention is paid to the composer’s most renowned pieces, which have brought him fame both home and abroad.
On the 90th anniversary of Tormis’s birth, maybe you can ask yourself like music researcher Urve Lippus did, ‘Instead of confirming once and for all that Tormis is one of the greats, please pause to wonder: what would our repertoire sound like if someone suddenly removed all of his work. How would you like that?’
Exhibition team:
Curators: Ene Kuljus and Kaisa Luik
Project managers: Kristo Matson and Laura Kipper
Estonian language editor: Hille Saluäär
Design: Polaar Studio OÜ
Translations: Muupel Translation Agency
Photo: Tõnu Tormis
