Tormis, Veljo

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Tormis, Veljo

Tormis, Veljo, Estonian composer; b. Harjamaa, Aug. 7, 1930. His musical studies led him to pursue an interest in Estonian folk music. This initial interest prompted him to explore the rich musical heritage of the Baltic-Finnish peoples, which served as an inspiration for his creative work. Tormis has composed many choral works that approach the stature of symphonic scores. Particularly outstanding is his large choral cycle Forgotten Peoples (1970-89). His works have been performed widely abroad, and many have been recorded.

—Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire