Valter Soosalu teejuht meeskoorimuusikasse

A commentary-backed cultural history session with musical illustrations 

Cultural history insights by Marju Kõivupuu  

Conversation led by Joonas Hellerma  

Estonian National Male Choir  

Conductor Valter Soosalu 

Programme:  Gregorian chant, Perotinus, Britten, Poulenc, Saar, Kõrvits etc. 

One of the driving forces behind the Estonian National Male Choir stems from the knowledge that, historically, significantly fewer works have been composed for male ensembles spanning a much shorter period compared to mixed choirs. 

However, brushing the dust off history reveals that the roots of male choral singing reach far deeper into the past. Specifically, they trace back to the Early Middle Ages, when Gregorian chant resounded through European church music – a monophonic Latin song performed predominantly by male voices in monasteries and cathedrals. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Europe entered the era of polyphony, giving us the names of the first known composers, including Perotinus, who worked in Paris. Modern and contemporary times brought rapid changes to both social life and musical tastes, which is also reflected in the stylistic and geographical diversity of pieces that have become male choir classics.