EARTH AND SEA REJOICE

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Ansamble TRISKELE

Ansambel Triskele
Tarmo Tabas - vocals
Ergo-Hart Västrik - vocals
Heikki-Rein Veromann - flutes, vocals
Toivo Sõmer – lute, mandola, zither, vocals
Janno Mäe - drums, zither, viola da gamba, vocals

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The factor unifying the members of ANSAMBEL TRISKELE is their keen interest in a variety of music traditions from all over the world, the influences of which can be found in the group’s performing style. Since 1997 the group has released seven CD albums: in addition to Estonian folk hymns Ansambel Triskele has been inspired by the rich heritage of age-old folksongs and the music of European middle ages.
Ansambel Triskele has given concerts in many churches all over Estonia and performed in folk and church music festivals. The group has performed, for example, at the Montalbane and Usedom festivals in Germany, the Holy Vaclav music festival in Prague, the Sommelo folk music festival in Finland, the international festival Skamba skamba kankliai in Vilnius and a dozen times at the Viljandi Folk Music Festival. In October 2017, Ansambel Triskele received the annual award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment for performing and carrying on traditions of Estonian folk hymn singing.

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The program of the concert is mostly made up of Estonian folk hymns, the melodies of which were written down from oral tradition at the beginning of the 20th century. These melodies represent the spiritual singing tradition that survived in the periphery of Estonia and date back to the time before the use of the organ to accompany congregational singing. “Hymns with twists” were sung by the lead singer and also outside the church, where they began to “live their own lives” so to speak. In these folk hymns, the melodies used in the Lutheran Church can often be recognized, but they are simplified in some cases, and, on the other hand, more decorated.
Next to the folk hymns, the program includes sentimental songs of the Moravian Bretheren the melodies and texts of which come from 19th century manuscript songbooks at the Estonian Literary Museum. At the beginning of the 18th century, the movement of the Moravian Bretheren spread in Estonia, with the emphasis on sincere and ecstatic “faith of the heart” among its followers. Within the brotherhood religious practice, song lessons were really important, and they were so appealing for the people so much that offences were punished by banning the participation in these lessons. It is known that singing in song lessons was accompanied with instruments, such as flute and zither, which are the main accompanying instruments in this program too.
The arrangements of folk hymns have been composed jointly by the members of the group, the soundscape has been enriched with Estonian folk instruments as well as with the European early music instruments.

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