Fotol Aarne Saluveer prooviprotsessis
Press Announcement. 12 May 2021
Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
The Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (EPCC) has started recording the repertoire of the 13th Youth Song and Dance Celebration this week. The recordings will be an important learning tool for choirs in their preparations for the Celebration. Singers can also use the recordings in independent practice to learn and rehearse the songs. The recording session marks the launch of the long-awaited collaboration project between the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir and the Estonian Song and Dance Celebration Foundation.
The EPCC will make a separate recording of each voice part of all the songs in the programme of the Celebration scheduled for July 2023, paving the way for smooth and safe preparation and making the learning process more enjoyable and simpler. Each piece is recorded with the conductor who will conduct it at the Celebration. The recording sessions kicks off between 12 and 14 May with Pärt Uusberg, Artistic Director of the 13th Youth Song Celebration and other well-known and popular Celebration conductors – Ingrid Kõrvits, Aarne Saluveer, Raul Talmar, Valter Soosalu, Ksenija Grabova, Markus Leppoja, Külli Kiivet, Andrus Siimon and Kuno Kerge.
Pärt Uusberg believes that this is a win-win process. He says that the Celebration conductors are honoured and excited to be given the thrilling opportunity to work with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, one of the flagships of Estonian choral music. The choir, on the other hand, will have the chance to meet many different conductors over the short recording period. „The main thing here is the noble goal of helping young singers prepare for the 13th Youth Song Celebration,“ says Uusberg and explains: „Singers can use the recorded voice parts both for individual practice and for vocal education where they can aim for and follow the standard set by professionals.“
Esper Linnamägi, Managing Director of the EPCC says that help with Celebration preparations is vital for the development and well-being of Estonian choral culture. „The recordings will make the learning of songs simpler and more enjoyable for thousands of singers and conductors,“ Linnamägi adds.
The high-quality recordings will be available on the Celebration home page in autumn. The recordings will help singers create a clear vocal image that matches the score and the vision of the conductor who will conduct the piece at the Celebration. Last but definitely not the least, the recordings simplify virtual choral rehearsals, in case these are needed because of the pandemic.
There are two more collaborators in the recording project of the Celebration repertoire – Scoremusic, an Estonian start-up and Valge Klaar, an Apple Authorized Reseller, who offered the innovative technology and digital tools. Instead of printed sheet music the EPCC singers use digital scores developed by Scoremusic and saved on the choir’s iPads. This makes the choir’s work user-friendly, mobile and environmentally sustainable and promotes Estonia’s e-governance in culture and education.
Registration for the 13th Youth Song and Dance Celebration starts in September. The 13th Celebration is held from 30 June to 2 July 2023.