Erkki-Sven Tüür


Erkki-Sven Tüür is an Estonian composer.
WWW erkkisven.com𝕏 erkkisven

Life and career

Tüür was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition with Jaan Rääts at the Tallinn Academy of Music and privately with Lepo Sumera from 1980 to 1984. From 1979 to 1984 he headed the rock group In Spe, which quickly became one of the most popular in Estonia.
Tüür left In Spe to concentrate on composition, and with the advent of perestroika soon found an audience in the west. The Helsinki Philharmonic, the Hilliard Ensemble, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are among those who have commissioned works from him.
His Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, entitled '"Illuminatio"', was premiered by violist Lars Anders Tomter and South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in October 2008.
Since 1985, Tüür is member of the Estonian Composers' Union.

Style

Tüür's early work is polystylistic. Influencing styles were Rock, Post-Romantic, Minimalism, Gregorian Chant./>
His music is characterized by expressive, energetic, organic amalgamation of opposite styles: tonality vs. atonality; repetitive rhythm vs. complex rhythm; meditation vs. explosive power; intellectual vs. emotional. The first pure example is his opus Oxymoron.
Tüür developed a vector based voice leading technique. The vectors are sequences of intervals, expressed as numbers. He compares this compositional method with a source code, a germ that grows, or a gene that mutates.
Starting point of the composition process is an abstract drawing, that visualizes the music.

Tonal

Atonal

Awards

Tüür received numerous national awards.
He was awarded the Cultural Prize of Estonia in 1991 and 1996 and the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature, the Arts and Science in 1998.

Works

Tüür's works are published by Edition Peters and Fennica Gehrman.

Stage

Wallenberg, Opera in 2 acts ; libretto by

Symphonies

  • Symphony No. 1
  • Symphony No. 2
  • Symphony No. 3
  • Symphony No. 4 Magma in one movement for solo percussion and orchestra
  • Symphony No. 5 for electric guitar, orchestra and big band
  • Symphony No. 6 Strata in one movement
  • Symphony No. 7 Pietas for mixed chorus and orchestra
  • Symphony No. 8
  • Symphony No. 9 Mythos
  • Symphony No. 10 ''ÆRIS''

Orchestral

Insula Deserta for string orchestra Searching for Roots Zeitraum Architectonics VI for chamber orchestra Show for string orchestra Crystallisatio for chamber orchestra Lighthouse for string orchestra Exodus Aditus: In memoriam Lepo Sumera Aqua for string orchestra Rada ja jäljed for string orchestra Flamma for string orchestra De Profundis for orchestra Le poids des vies non vécues for orchestra Tormiloits / Incantation of Tempest for orchestra L'ombra della croce for string orchestra Sow the Wind... for orchestra Phantasma for orchestra

Concertante

  • Concerto for cello and orchestra
  • Concerto for violin and orchestra
  • Concerto for marimba and orchestra Ardor Magma, Symphony No. 4 in one movement for solo percussion and orchestra
  • Concerto for bassoon and orchestra
  • Concerto for violin, clarinet and orchestra Noesis
  • Concerto for piano and orchestra Whistles and Whispers from Uluru for recorder and string orchestra Prophecy for accordion and orchestra
  • Concerto for viola and orchestra Illuminatio
  • Concerto for clarinet and orchestra Peregrinus Ecstaticus Solastalgia for piccolo flute and orchestra
  • Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 2 Angel's Share
  • Concerto for violin and orchestra No. 3 Kõnelused Tundmatuga
  • Concerto for cello and orchestra No. 2 Labyrinths of Life
  • Concerto for oboe and orchestra ''Desert Wind''

Architectonics

Architectonics I for woodwind quintet Architectonics II for clarinet, cello and piano Architectonics III "Postmetaminimal Dream" for flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 pianos, synthesizer, percussion, violin and cello Architectonics IV "Per Cadenza ad Metasimplicity" for violin, bassoon, baritone saxophone and piano Architectonics V for electric guitar and amplified piano Architectonics VI for chamber orchestra Architectonics VII for flute, cello and harpsichord

Chamber music

Graafiline leht for flute and harp
  • String Quartet "In memoriam Urmas Kibuspuu" Sisemonoloog for flute solo Dedication for cello and piano Dick ja Toff imedemaal for flute and tuba Kaljukitse märgi all for flute, clarinet, vibraphone, violin, electric guitar and MIDI electronics Miraaž for electronics Spiel for cello and guitar Drama for flute, violin and guitar Spectrum II for organ, trumpet and percussion ad libitum Conversio for violin and piano Lamentatio for 4 saxophones Mängu võlu for double bass, live electronics and MIDI percussion Symbiosis for violin and double bass Motus I for percussion Motus II for percussion Fata Morgana for violin, cello and piano Sisemonoloog II for flute and electronicsOxymoron for chamber ensemble and live electronics Spectrum IV for cello and organ Confession for violin solo Synergie for violin and cello
  • String Quartet No. 2 "Lost Prayers"

Organ

Spectrum I
  • ''Spectrum III''

Piano

Kristiinale
  • Sonatina for 2 pianos
  • Piano Sonata Mõeldes Hiiumaast Ülekanne for 6 pianos Short Meeting of Dark and Light Mida nägin mäetipule jõudes, Music for Children

Vocal

Excitatio ad Contemplandum for alto, 2 tenors, baritone and organ Questions... for countertenor, 2 tenors, baritone and string orchestra

Choral

Raerituaal for mixed chorus, early music ensemble, electric guitar and chamber orchestra Ante Finem Saeculi, Oratorio for soprano, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and orchestra ; Biblical text and words by Viivi LuikLumen et Cantus, Mass for male chorus and orchestra Inquiétude du Fini for male chorus and chamber orchestra ; words by Tõnu ÕnnepaluPsalmody for mixed chorus and early music ensemble ; Biblical textRequiem "In memoriam Peeter Lilje" for soprano, tenor, mixed chorus and chamber orchestra Rändaja õhtulaul for mixed chorus a cappella Meditatio for mixed chorus and saxophone quartet Salve Regina for male chorus and orchestra Igavik for male chorus and chamber orchestra ; words by Doris KarevaQuestions... for countertenor, tenor, baritone, mixed choir and string orchestra Triglosson trishagion for mixed chorus a cappella Väike eestimaine laul for children's chorus Ärkamine for mixed choir and orchestra Missa brevis for mixed choir

Film scores

  • ''Elu ilma Gabriella Ferrita''

Discography