This year marks 80 years since the fateful autumn of 1944, when Estonia fell under Soviet occupation for decades. During the Second World War, nearly 80,000 Estonians left their homeland. The escape culminated in the fear of new Soviet repressions in the fall of 1944.

To commemorate the tragic destinies of the Second World War, Raimo Kangro’s “Mass for Estonians who Died Innocently, op. 40.” will be performed in three churches in Estonia: Haapsalu Cathedral (24th August at 5pm), Tartu St Paul’s Cathedral (31st August at 7pm), and Tallinn St. Charles’ Cathedral (21st September, 2024 at 7pm).

The Mass is dedicated to refugees and victims whose lives, families and communities were torn apart and thrown into chaos. The concerts are free, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Leelo Tungal, the composer’s widow, has written:

“Raimo Kangro’s “Mass for Estonians who Died Innocently” was written in 1989 – a rare time for our nation, when (already and still) we were of the same mind: the most important thing is freedom! The beautiful ideals of independence were given depth by knowing that before us there were hundreds and thousands of Estonians who perished in prison camps, accused of love for their country. There were just as many who were forcibly recruited into foreign armies – sometimes the Soviet, another time the German army was called the “right” side. In fact, the “right side” of the Estonians who were starved to death in the Arkhangelsk labor battalion and killed in the ranks of Hitler’s army was located here, by the Baltic Sea.
Raimo Kangro’s mass is not a political, but a humanistic work: it is dedicated to all those who could not see the restoration of Estonia’s independence. When writing the text, I was influenced by my own family history: seeing my mother and two uncles sent to Komi and Mordva prison camps, the deportation of my aunt with two toddlers, and my 84-year-old grandmother to Siberia – and the fact that my grandmother’s ashes remained in the soil of the Novosibirsk Region… We can’t change the past, but to remember both the good and the bad and to commemorate those who were wronged by fate. The composer’s wish was that the piece should not depress the listener, but that alongside the tragedy, bright moments should also be felt: we are alive, the future is up to us. In the Mass, Raimo Kangro used canonical texts as well as my poems born during the Singing Revolution. The interweaving of the past and the present was very important to him in this work. Four days before his fatal sudden heart attack, Raimo wrote to a young colleague: “When talking about rhythm, I believe that rhythm (or certain periods of time) is the basis of life, or being.” I believe that everyone who listens to them can feel this “basis of being” both in the mass and in Raimo’s other works – no matter what nationality, what education and what age they are.”

Mass for Estonians who died innocently
op. 40 (1989)
Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei

Composer: Raimo Kangro
Text composition: Leelo Tungal

Performed by: Kädy Plaas-Kala (soprano), Juuli Lill (alto), Olari Viikholm (bass), Tartu Youth Choir, Project Choir of the Union of Estonian Mixed Choirs,

ÜENSO Orchestra:
I violin: Melissa Carita Ots, Aleksandra Serebrjakova, Danae Taamal (24.08 and 21.09), Toomas Hendrik Ellervee (31.08), Ingel Mättas, Eva-Maria Sumera, Diana Voronina (24.08 and 21.09), Ingel Tagaküla (31.08)
II violin: Kati Meibaum, Merily Leotoots, Helina Sommer, Elbe Reiter
Viola: Talvi Nurgamaa, Merike Heidelberg, Liisa Välja, Teele-Liis Tiidor (24.08 and 21.09), Kristiina Talen (31.08)
Cello: Oliver Ott, Anna Ryland Jones, Riina Erin
Double bass: Kaupo Olt, Janel Altroff (31.08 and 21.09), Regina Udod (24.08)
Flute: Eneli Hiiemaa (24.08 and 21.09), Anna Kelder-Prees (31.08)
Harp: Saale Kivimaker-Rull (31.08 and 21.09), Lisanne Rull (24.08)
Percussion: Maarja Nuut, Anni Karu, Miikael Metsala, Lars Erik Lend, Karl Johan Kullerkupp (24.08), Joosep Oliver Vinkel (31.08 and 21.09)
Organ: Ulla Krigul (24.08), Kadri Toomoja (31.08 and 21.09)
Choir master: Markus Leppoja
Conductor: Jüri-Ruut Kangur

RAIMO KANGRO (1949-2001)

Composer, pedagogue and music critic Raimo Kangro received his composer education as a student of Jaan Rääts and Eino Tamberg. For some time he worked at Estonian Radio and ETV, but then a large part of his life was connected with the Composers’ Union: as a consultant, director of the Estonian Music Fund and later as chairman of the Composers’ Union.
Raimo Kangro’s students are Tõnis Kaumann, Tõnu Kõrvits, Ülo Krigul, Timo Steiner and others. Raimo Kangro brought the rhythms and intonations of rock and beat music to deep music. Active, syncopated and varied rhythm are the most important elements of his work. The melodic drawing is sometimes angular and with big jumps, making his work grotesque and ironic. But the composer is also no stranger to lyrical moods and soft humor. Kangro was especially charmed by the stage music. His works include full-length operas, chamber and television operas, and children’s musicals. Together with Andres Valkonen, he wrote the first rock opera “Northern Maiden”. Kangro’s instrumental concerts, several choral songs (“Proverbs of Solomon”), chamber works are also known. An important work is the textbook series “Helisev maal” (Jingling Painting) for grades V-VIII and the book “Pillilugu” (Instrument Story).

The ÜENSO orchestra (formerly the All-Estonian Youth Symphony Orchestra) was founded in 1995 under the leadership of Jüri-Ruut Kangur as the orchestra of the nationwide Haapsalu summer course for string players. With a flexible lineup, the project orchestra gives 20-25 concerts a year with very different programmes, from film music to operas and from symphonies to rock music arrangements. The orchestra has performed at many representative events (celebratory concert-act of the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia, the 10th anniversary of the restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia, as an accompanying orchestra at a song festival, etc.), at our top festivals (Pärnu Music Festival, Birgitta Festival, Saaremaa Opera Days, Tallinn Old Town Days, Oistrahhi Festival, etc.), also in Germany, Finland, Latvia and Russia, and several performances have been broadcast on television and radio. During 29 years, more than 430 concerts have been given, the repertoire has included a few hundred major forms and more than 2000 works. ÜENSO has released several records and collaborated with more than 100 conductors and 350 soloists, more than 900 musicians have participated in the orchestra.

ÜENSO has participated in international cooperation projects, in cooperation with the Estonian Concert and Tallinn Philharmonic, as well as with many top Estonian and foreign soloists, choirs and guest conductors. The orchestra has been repeatedly conducted by Neeme Järvi, Eri Klas, Paavo Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Tõnu Kaljuste, Paul Mägi and others. The chief conductor of the orchestra is Jüri-Ruut Kangur and the producer is Tõnno Piigli.

More information:

Solveig Jahnke
Institute of Estonian Memory
Communications Manager
solveig.jahnke@mnemosyne.ee
Phone 5626 4949