Veljo Tormis
FORGOTTEN PEOPLES

ECM NEW SERIES, ECM 1459/60, CD 434 275-2, LP 434 275-1

Cover photo The songs of the Forgotten Peoples are quite unlike anything I've heard before. Veljo Tormis is an Estonian composer, a contemporary of the better known Arvo Pärt, who has concentrated almost entirely on vocal music. If Estonia was, at least till recently, a forgotten nation, the Forgotten Peoples of these six songcycles are even more obscure: they are the Baltic Finns living on the borders of Estonia, Finland and Russia, who comprise the Livonian, Votic, Izhorian and Karelian peoples. /.../This is unforgettable music, and thanks should go to ECM for a superb recording.

THE WIRE/Great Britain - July 1992


Chöre, Chöre, Chöre! - Unglaublich, wie sehr heute wieder Chormusic Beachtung findet.

NEUE MUSIKZEITUNG/BRD - 06/07/1992


The Estonian choir is really magnificent. There's no doubt that it is one of the most important records in this year!

SVENSKA DAGBLADET - 15/09/1992


For collectors of rare folk music, these discs are a must.

MUSIC - September 1992


There is no stridency, either musical or sonic, this is one of those very few recordings which I want to go on all day. There is far too much here to describe...

STEREOPHILE - August 1992


Trust me on this: You have never heard anything like Forgotten Peoples. It is one of the most significant documents of late 20th century choral music and belongs to everyone's collection. /.../What we get here is tantamount to a spectral choir of an indigenous people who have vanished from the stage of history. This music is eerie and haunting, and very, very good.

AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE - September/October 1992

Back to [Discography]| [EPCC HomePage]