David Oistrahhi Festival, 12. – 25. juuli, 2009, Pärnu David Oistrakh ...

Erkki-Sven Tüür writes about composing this piece: While I was
composing the work for ACO and Genevieve at my countryhouse on
the island of Hiiumaa on the Baltic Sea, it was a springtime full of
birdsong. The trees and bushes were covered by the veil of bright fresh
green color. And yet I was followed by the vision of the mysterious
Uluru rock in the middle of the desert but in my inner imagination
the true vision was mixed up with the surroundings of our nordic
landscape. These continuously changing visions were always present,
not in a firmly fixed mood but with permanently varied lightings
and surroundings. That’s why I decided to give this piece a rather
peculiar title „Whistles and Whispers from Uluru“.
The music begins in the highest register, soloist performing rapid
birdsong-like motifs on the sopranino recorder. The orchestral
part consists mostly of crystalline sustained „soundclouds“,
each instrument performing its own voice. So we have the feeling
of both extremely slow and fast music going on simultaneously.
Microintervals play quite important role by forming the harmony
in the opening section. The further development carries the tendency
of widening and gradual embracing of the lower register. Orchestral
part gets more intense and the soloist changes to the soprano, then to
the alto etc. Moments of micropolyphony step to the playground.
The rhythmic drive reaches to another level in the last section. The
soloist and the orchestra form a lively ensemble presenting the
common „musical time“ after having been before in different „time
zones“ so to say.
I am grateful to Richard Tognetti, the wonderful ACO and a superb
recorder player Genevieve Lacey – it has been a great pleasure to
compose this piece for you!
Tüür studied percussion and flute at Tallinn Georg Ots Music
High School (1976–1980) and composition with Prof. Jaan Rääts
at the Tallinn Conservatoire (1980–1984). He also took private
lessons from Prof. Lepo Sumera in Tallinn and trained his skills
in the field of electronic music in Karlsruhe, Germany.
In 1979, Tüür founded the progressive rock ensemble In Spe,
where he was engaged as composer, flautist, keyboardist and
vocalist until 1983. Tüür worked as an adviser at the Estonian
Composers’ Union (1983–1985) and musical director of the
Vanalinnastuudio Theatre (1987–1990). From 1989–1992, he
taught composition at the Estonian Academy of Music, Helena
Tulve being the only student to date. Since 1992, Tüür is a
freelance composer.
Erkki-Sven Tüür is one of the artistic directors of the
International New Music Festival NYYD and honorary doctor
of the Estonian Academy of Music. He has received the
annual Estonian Music Prize (1987, 1988), Estonian Culture
Prize (1997), Baltic Assembly Culture Prize (1998), Great Bear
Prize (1996, 1997), second class Order of the White Star (2000),
Annual Prize of the Estonian Music Council (2003) and Annual
Prize of the Endowment for Music of the Cultural Endowment
of Estonia twice: in 2003 for CD „Exodus”; in 2005 for artistic
direction of the international contemporary music festivals
NYYD.
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