Gratias

The double disc (CD+DVD) was published in 2006. All materials are collected from live-performances of Estonian TV Girls’ Choir.

Sales information:
Estonian Choral Association
Roosikrantsi 13, 10119 Tallinn Tel: 627 44 51, 627 44 50
Fax: 627 4450
E-mail: kooriyhing@kul.ee

Gratias CD

1-3 Veljo Tormis Sügismaastikud (Autumn Landscapes):
I On hilissuvi (It is Late Summer)
II Üle taeva jooksevad pilved (Clouds Racing Across the Sky)
VII Kanarbik (Heather)
1.37
1.41
1.34
The cycle Autumn Landscapes from the series Nature Pictures is the first piece Tormis wrote for female choir (1964), yet the most popular. The way the poetry of then 16-year-old Viivi Luik captured the composer, it has continually been capturing conductors, singers and audiences.
The recording was made by Westdeutscher Rundfunk, in the final of the EBU International Choir Competition Let the Peoples Sing in Cologne, 16.10.2005.
4 Veljo Tormis Ingerimaa õhtud (Ingrian Evenings):
VI Ringmängulaul (Roundelay)
2.08
Forgotten peoples (1970-1989) is Veljo Tormis’ most extensive choral work of six cycles for mixed choir. The fourth, Ingrian Evenings was written in 1979. The composer arranged Ringmängulaul (Circle Game Song) for female choir, considering the ETV Girls’ Choir.
The recording was made in Estonian Radio in 2005.
5-8 Veljo Tormis Talvemustrid (Winter Patterns):
I Talvehommik (Winter Morning)
II Külm (Cold)
III Tuisk (Blizzard)
IV Virmalised (Northern Lights)
1.13
1.04
0.35
2.12
Winter Patterns is the last but one cycle of the Nature Pictures series (1968). The choir learnt the last part, Virmalised (Northern Lights), for the Estonian Female Choirs’ Competition dedicated to Veljo Tormis’ 70th jubilee. The girls (13 to 17 years of age) competed for the first time in the female choirs category and won the first prize. For the composer’s 75th jubilee they learnt the whole cycle at the composer’s request.
The recording was made by Estonian Radio at Veljo Tormis 75 jubilee concert Cannot Live Without Happiness in the Pärnu Concert House (13 August 2005).
9 Olav Ehala Jõuluingel (Christmas Angel) 2.59
Olav Ehala is one of the most interesting and popular contemporary composers in Estonia whose songs, despite their characteristically complicated harmony, are often included in song celebration programmes. Although Christmas Angel does not belong among the most complicated, it is enchanting with its simple but rich scape of nuances.
The recording was made by Danish Radio at Christmas Concert in Danish Radio 2003.
10 Aarne Saluveer Jõulurõõmu, jõulurahu (Christmas Joy, Christmas Peace) 3.20
In 1993, ETV produced a children’s Christmas Music programme A Fairy Tale Within A Fairytale (script by the choir’s manager Eve Viilup, the music was chosen by their conductor Aarne Saluveer). Besides the internally known carols, the programme also included 4 his own songs, Jõulurõõmu, jõulurahu among them. In 1995 the choir’s soloists Kristel, Lili and Teele performed it with ETV choir at Santa Claus Song Festival in Rovaniemi, Finland. The ETV girls won the title of the best performer of the festival, and the song won a fixed place in their repertoire.
The original arrangement (on DVD) was written for choir, piano, violin and recorder; on the recording of the CD the choir sings with piano accompaniment.
The recording was made by Danish Radio at Christmas Concert in Danish Radio 2003.
11 Cyrillus Kreek,
seadn. Virre
Mu süda, ärka üles (Awake, My Heart) 3.36
Cyrillus Kreek work also comprises more than 1500 folk song arrangements. Mu süda, ärka üles (Wach auf, mein Herz, und singe) is one of the numerous folk hymn arrangements. And it is the traditional opening song at ETV Girls’ Choir concerts.
Aarne Saluveer ordered the arrangement for choir and instruments from Toomas Torop for the 24th Estonian Song Celebration in 2004.
The recording was made in Estonian Radio in 2005.
12 Urmas Sisask Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro 6.26
Gratias… is one of the songs that helped the ETV girls win the Youth Category at the EBU International Choir Competition in Cologne (2005). Urmas Sisask has accomplished an interesting combination of seemingly simple turns and motifs, pushing the performing choir often to its limits. The song was written for Ellerhein Girls’ Choir (Estonia). The recording was made by Westdeutscher Rundfunk in the finale of the EBU International Choir Competition Let the Peoples Sing in Cologne, 2005.
13 Jesus Egiguren Ave Maria 3.52
The choir learnt the beautiful Ave Maria by the Basque composer for Tolosa International Choral Competition (2004), and the song has since confirmed its place in the choir’s repertoire.
The recording was made in Estonian Radio in 2005.
14 Randall Thompson Pueri hebraeorum 3.00
Aarne Saluveer first heard the song at the ISME in 1996, performed by Cantemus Girls’ Choir with Denes Szabo (Hungary). As the performance awoke lots of interest, Saluveer soon included Pueri… in the ETV Girls’ Choir repertoire. The recording was made in Estonian Radio in 2005.
15 Egil Hovland Bow down thine ear, O Lord 4.47
In 1996 the ETV Girls’ Choir went on its first tour abroad, to Cantonigros International Choral Festival, which resulted in Gold Medal. At the contest, one Norwegian conductor gifted the score of Bow down to Aarne Saluveer. To date, the song has stayed in the choir’s repertoire for 10 years.
The recording was made in Estonian Radio for the semifinals of the EBU International Choir Competition Let the Peoples Sing 2005.
16 Vic Nees Amicus fidelis 2.13
This song (from the cycle Memoria justi) was performed in the European Grand Prix of Choral Music finale in Arezzo (2002), which is also the origin of the recording (recorded by Fondazione Guido d’Arezzo).
17 Gustav Holst Ave Maria 4.48
The first published work by Holst Ave Maria (1900) is highly demanding for girls’ choir. The ETV Girls’ Choir included it in the repertoire before the 40th International Choral Competition C.A Seghizzi in Gorizia, where they received the Main Award and 3 first prizes.
The recording was made by Estonian Radio at the 8th International Choral Festival Tallinn 2003 in Estonia Concert Hall.
18 Arvo Pärt Zwei Beter 4.32
Zwei Beter was commissioned by Hannover Girls’ Choir for the music programme of EXPO 2000. It was the first piece in the ETV Girls’ Choir repertoire by Pärt, and the composer attended a rehearsal in 2002, when the girls were still learning it. The girls have sung Zwei Beter on concert venues both in Europe and America.
The recording was made by Estonian Radio at the 3rd Estonian Female Choirs’ competition in 2005.
19 Arvo Pärt Peace upon you, Jerusalem 4.58
While Arvo Pärt was attending the choir’s rehearsal to listen to Zwei Beter, the singers and conductor told him of a future concert tour to the annual ACDA convent in New York and asked him to write them a song. Pärt took a piece of paper, draw five lines on it to make a stave, and wrote the first bar of Peace Upon You. Two months later, he asked Aarne Saluveer for a visit and played the piece to him.
Peace Upon You was premiered at the ACDA National Convention in New York, in the Avery Fisher Hall, 2003. The Psalm 122 brings a message of peace to the whole world.
The recording was made by Danish Radio at Christmas Concert in Danish Radio 2003.

Solistid/Soloists: Maria Valdma (4, 7, 10), Lili Madissoon (Kirikal) (10), Kristel Pedak (10), Teele Viilup (10), Elo Madissoon (11)

Klaver/Piano: Aarne Saluveer (10)
Instrumental: Virre (11)
Vioola/Viola: Toomas Torop (11)

Gratias DVD

1 Maria Wunderlich Laul on pop (The Song is In)
Laulukarusselli finaal/The finale of ETV Laulukarussell competition (ETV 1993)
2 William Spivery Operator
Laulukarusselli finaal/The finale of ETV Laulukarussell competition (ETV 1993)
3 Raivo Kõrgemägi Intervjuu (Interview)
Lastelaul 1995 (ETV 1994)
4 Gary Brooker Ohe öös (Salty dog)
Hüvastijätt/Saying Good-bye (ETV 1996)
5 Agu Tammeorg Talveöö (Winter night)
UNICEFi aastalõpukontsert/UNICEF New Year Concert 1996 (ETV 1996)
6 Leonhard Bernstein I Feel Pretty
Ring on täis/Full Circle (ETV 1998)
7 Aarne & Sten Kristian Saluveer Ring on täis (Full Circle), housemix
Ring on täis/Full Circle (ETV 1998)
8 Eesti rahvalaul (Estonian folksong) Jõulud jõudvad (Christmas is near)
Concordia Ülikooli jõulukontsert Niguliste kirikus/Concordia University Christmas Concert in Niguliste Church (ETV 1999)
9 Franz Schubert Gott ist mein Hirt
Concordia Ülikooli jõulukontsert Niguliste kirikus/Concordia University Christmas Concert in Niguliste Church (ETV 1999)
10 Olav Ehala Jõuluingel (Christmas Angel)
Concordia Ülikooli jõulukontsert Niguliste kirikus/Concordia University Christmas Concert in Niguliste Church (ETV 1999)
11 Urmas Sisask Näärioratoorium (New Year Oratorio):
1. Näärikuuske otsimas (Choosing the Tree)
2. Näärikuuske leidmas (Finding the Tree)
3. Nääriõhtul (New Year’s Eve)

Näärioratoorium (ETV 1999)
12 Aarne Saluveer Jõulurõõmu, jõulurahu (Christmas Joy, Christmas Peace)
Küünlavalgel/In Candlelight (ETV 2000)
13 Veljo Tormis Kadrilaulud tsüklist Kalendrilaulud
(St. Catherine’s Day Songs from the cycle Estonian Calendar Songs)

Taasiseseisvuse 10. aastapäeva kontsert Estonia Kontserdisaalis/Celebration of 10th Anniversary of Regained Independence (ETV 2001)
14 Aarne & Sten Kristian Saluveer Europop: popurrii Eurovisiooni lauludest
(Europop: mix of Eurovision songs)

Õigus olla laps/ To Have The Right To Be A Child (ETV 2002), Laulukarusselli 10. sünnipäevale pühendatud kontsert Saku Suurhallis/Concert dedicated to the 10th Birthday of Laulukarussell
15 Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Kyrie – Missa Regina Caeli
ACDA aastakonvent New Yorgis/ACDA Annual Convention, Riverside Church (ViaMedia Productions, Inc. 2003)
16 Gustav Holst Ave Maria
ACDA aastakonvent New Yorgis/ACDA Annual Convention, Riverside Church (ViaMedia Productions, Inc. 2003)
17 Arvo Pärt Peace Upon You, Jerusalem
ACDA aastakonvent New Yorgis/ACDA Annual Convention, Riverside Church (ViaMedia Productions, Inc. 2003)
18 Bob Chilcott Can you hear me?
Jõulutunneli laulud (ETV 2004)
19 Discover Tallinn – Impressions from the city we are from
20 Photo Gallery

Solistid/Soloists: Evelin Aarma (7, 11), Katrin Aarma (8, 14), Maarja Aarma (14), Tuuli Elstrok (8, 14), Maarja-Liis Ilus (2, 19), Pirjo Kongo (14), Lenna Kuurma (3, 8, 12, 14), Maria Listra (5), Lili Madissoon-Kirikal (3, 12), Kristine Muldma (7, 12, 14), Johanna Münter (14), Kristel Pedak (12, 14), Mirjam Puur (14), Ewert Sundja (18), Kai Rüütel (7, 11), Kreet Saarma-Stubender (14), Anette Sepp (14), Kadri Sinijärv (14), Triin Tammik (14), Nele-Liis Vaiksoo (3, 12, 14), Maria Valdmaa (8, 10, 11, 14), Teele Viilup (3, 12), Hanna-Liina Võsa (4, 6, 7, 13), Mai-Liis Paenurm (18)

Klaver/Piano: Hando Nahkur (9, 10)
Plokkflööt/Flute: Maris Üksti (10)
Viiul/Violin: Hanna-Liis Nahkur (10)