The primal energy of old folk music forms the foundation that brings Veljo Tormis’ (1930–2017) compositions to life. The internationally renowned Estonian composer once emphasized: “I don’t exploit the folk song, the folk song exploits me.” This very sentiment is reflected in the intense interpretations by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Tõnu Kaljuste—a musician closely associated with Tormis for many years. Four orchestral cycles are dedicated to the different seasons: autumn landscapes, winter scenes, spring sketches, and summer motifs. In addition, three works, “Sorrow Breaks the Spirit,” “Hamlet’s Songs,” and “Shepherd’s Calls,” present new arrangements by Tõnu Kaljuste, who continues and honors Tormis’ musical legacy. The album opens with “The Church Bell in My Village,” a composition Kaljuste commissioned 45 years ago. The words of Fernando Pessoa, set to music, seem particularly fitting in this musical tribute: "O death, you are a bend in the road/You are not to be seen when you have passed by/Yet your steps continue..." The recording of "Reminiscentiae" was made in October and November 2020 in the Methodist Church of Tallinn.
