Estonia’s Oldest Male Choir Releases a New Album

The Tartu Academic Male Choir (TAM) released a new album this week, based on folk texts from Northern and Southern Estonia. This is the choir’s first album after a 17-year hiatus.

The album’s artistic director, Kuno Kerge, noted that the album would not have come to life without the richness of dialect texts. “To understand how people thought hundreds of years ago, what they dreamed of, and what they feared, you don’t need to dig them out of the ground. It’s enough to open old folklore texts. It’s a treasure trove without end,” said Kerge.

“The album features dialect texts from both Southern and Northern Estonia. This also reflects the makeup of the Tartu Academic Male Choir – 60 men singing, coming from Saaremaa, Tallinn, Tartu, Võru, and elsewhere,” he added.

According to the choir’s president, Jako Arula, the choir still sounds robust and rich on the album, capturing a unique moment in Estonian choral music history. “Today we have nearly 60 members, ranging from high school students to men who’ve sung in the choir for more than 45 years. Such a range of voices adds depth and gives the choir its unique sound,” said Arula.

He pointed out that the album also features folk musician Mari Kalkun, known for her deep connection to Southern Estonian heritage and nature. “The collaboration between the choir and Mari Kalkun builds a bridge between the tradition of male choir singing and contemporary composition,” added Arula.

Regarding the timing of the album’s release, Arula mentioned that a few years ago the choir celebrated its 110th anniversary, and the concert program prepared for that occasion is now preserved on this album.

The Tartu Academic Male Choir is Estonia’s oldest continuously operating male choir. Over its 113-year history, the choir has included more than 1,000 members. Today, there are nearly 60 active singers, and TAM is the only concert-performing male choir outside of Tallinn.

Album Information:

The album can be purchased via the Tartu Academic Male Choir’s website (tam.eu) or streamed on platforms like Spotify.

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Translated with the help of AI.