Veljo Tormis, Estonian composer, Died at 86

  Music

Veljo Tormis was born on August 7, 1930, and died on January 21, 2017.

He was an Estonian composer.

Velijo was regarded as one of the greatest living choral composers and one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia.

On a global scale, his fame arises chiefly from his extensive body of choral music, which exceeds 500 individual choral songs, most of it a cappella.

Most of these pieces are based on traditional ancient Estonian folk songs (regilaulud), either textually, melodically, or merely stylistically.

Recently, Tormis’ works have been lionized in worldwide performances and several recordings by Tõnu Kaljuste and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

During the 1990s, Tormis also began to receive commissions from some of the pre-eminent a cappella groups in the West such as the King’s Singers and the Hilliard Ensemble.

Veljo Tormis passed away at 86 years old.