There must be something in the water in Estonia that such a tiny country (with a population of a little more than a million) should produce so many intriguing and significant composers in the 20th and 21st centuries, with a list that includes Eduard Tubin, Veljo Tormis, Arvo Pärt, Lepo Sumera, Erkki-Sven Tüür, and Helena Tulve. Tüür is an outstanding example of a contemporary composer who has developed a sophisticated but immediately communicative style that steers clear of the orthodoxy of the many -isms that have ...
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There must be something in the water in Estonia that such a tiny country (with a population of a little more than a million) should produce so many intriguing and significant composers in the 20th and 21st centuries, with a list that includes Eduard Tubin, Veljo Tormis, Arvo Pärt, Lepo Sumera, Erkki-Sven Tüür, and Helena Tulve. Tüür is an outstanding example of a contemporary composer who has developed a sophisticated but immediately communicative style that steers clear of the orthodoxy of the many -isms that have dominated 20th century composition. His scores are notable for the brilliance of their orchestration and sure grasp of large-scale musical architecture. The two works recorded here, Symphony No. 6, ("Strata"), and Noësis, a concerto for clarinet and violin, last 32 and 20 minutes, respectively, and are each in a single movement, but their clear structure and compelling sense of drama keep listeners attentive throughout. The sections of the symphony (which broadly follows the contours of...
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