University of Pretoria Camerata - Voice of Africa Guild GMCD 7246
Recorded at the Musaion of the University of Pretoria and St. Alban's Cathedral, Pretoria, South Africa during October 1999 and October 2000. Released in 2002. Balance engineer, editing and recording producer:Ceisar D'Almeida, Ceisar's Sound; Design:Paul Brooks, Design & Print - Oxford; Art direction:Guild Music Limited; Executive co-ordination:Guild Music Limited.

Composition by Veljo Tormis (1930-)

Track 7. Raua needmine (Curse Upon Iron)(1972)[Text based on Runo IX from the Finnish national epic Kalevala, translated into Estonian and arranged by August Annist, supplemented by Paul-Eerik Rummo and Jaan Kaplinski](9:50) Soloists:Werner Badenhorst, Pieter Odendaal, Marko Fourie, Christo Burger & Brandon Hill; Percussion:Barend Stapelberg. University of Pretoria Camerata / Johann Van Der Sandt

Other composers on this disc

The other composers whose works are performed on this CD are Roelof Temmingh, Felix Mendelssohn, Anton Bruckner, Giuseppe Verdi, Arvo Pärt, Lars Jansson, Sven-Eric Johanson, Thomas Jennefelt, Niel van der Watt, Jaakko Mäntyjärvi, Traditional Spiritual arr. by Anders Paulsson, William Spevery arr. by Niel van der Watt.

Commissions, Dedications and Awards

Raua needmine was written for the 10th anniversary of the Tallinn Chamber Choir (founded in 1962) and was premiered by them on May 6, 1973 under conductor Arvo Ratassepp (1926-1986). Veljo Tormis himself performed the shaman drum part at the premiere.

Music Publishers

Raua needmine is published by Fennica Gehrman Oy Ab (previously by Warner Chappell Finland and/or Fazer Music Estonia).

Other Points of Interest and Links

There are booklet notes from the University of Pretoria (no specific author identified) on the composers and their compositions in English, German and French. There is also a brief history of the University of Pretoria Camerata (which mentions that they won the 1st prize in the mixed choir category at the Tallinn '94 Choir Festival held in Estonia) and a brief biography of conductor Johann Van Der Sandt, also in English, German and French. Original texts with an English translation are provided for most of the non-English texts, but the text of Raua needmine is provided in its English translation only.  This disc can be ordered directly from the Guild Music Limited website at www.guildmusic.com.

Back to the Veljo Tormis Discography

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