This release is the world première recording of Estonia’s first major work in art music in its original score and sung in Estonian. Rudolf Tobias (1873–1918) is widely celebrated in Estonia as the ‘father of Estonian music’ and considered as the first Estonian composer to have obtained a degree in composing after completing his studies at the St Petersburg Conservatoire. In this recording the composer’s magnum opus, Joonas (Jonah Oratorio) is performed by a first-class Estonian line up led by the award-winning ensembles Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and conductor Tõnu Kaljuste.

Groove of ESSR III marks the next chapter in highlighting the musical heritage trapped behind the Iron Curtain during the Soviet occupation. The tracklist spans recordings from 1971–1983 by Estonian artists, most of whom were born under a foreign regime after the war. Nevertheless, they had relatives in the West and antennas tuned in to Finnish radio signals. In a closed up world, they had the courage to explore the groove without borders. Many performers and songwriters became the most sought-after artists throughout all of Soviet Russia, not because they blindly followed the communist party"s canon.

Recorded by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra and various soloists and ensembles in churches in Tallinn as well as the Estonian Concert Hall, the five compositions heard on Arboles lloran por lluvia (Trees cry for rain) give deeper insight into the unique sound-world of Estonian composer Helena Tulve, into music that is nourished by both contemporary and ancient currents. Tulve draws upon a wide-range of inspirational sources. She explores the raw fabric of sound and the nature of timbre in both analytical and instinctive ways, in compositions that are unmistakably her own, yet her work is inclusive - here incorporating aspects of Gregorian chant, melody from Yemenite Jewish tradition, and texts from Sufi, Sephardic and Christian mystic poetry. Reyah hadas 'ala (The Perfume of the Myrtle Rises) unites the ensemble of the Gregorian chant and the early music instruments. This is the only work in which Tulve has used a pre-existing melody, a song of the Yemenite Jews. Extinction des choses vues (The Extinction of the Things Seen) is an orchestral piece in which the musical ideas are derived from a text by the Jesuit thinker Michel de Certeau called Extase blanche (White Ecstasy).

From the twelfth century (Saint Hildegard) to the twenty-first, the voices of The Gesualdo Six weave a meditative reflection around the ancient Office of Compline in a moving sequence of music from fourteen composers.

Veljo Tormis, born in Kuusalu near Tallinn in 1930, is considered by Estonians to be one of their most important composers of the 20th century. He has preserved the song heritage of peoples in the region between Estonia and Finland, peoples whose languages and songs have all but disappeared. The context for his work is the strong choral tradition and the history of Estonia (ancient and contemporary). Recently, its appeal has reached far beyond the Baltics. Having studied organ and choral conducting, he turned to composition in 1950. Almost all of his choral works are based on ancient Estonian and other Finno-Ugric folksongs. Tormis has been hailed for his colourful, almost orchestral style of writing for voices.

Estonian composer Tõnu Kõrvits (b. 1969) belongs to his country’s most prominent composers. His works are rich with delicate atmosphere possessing a particularly Northern feel combined with a romantic and Impressionistic touch. This new album by the award-winning Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra and conductor Risto Joost is the final volume in a trilogy of works for choir and orchestra.

The folk music of the Baltic peoples can be traced back to pagan times whereas the development of their art music did not start until around 100 years ago. Every country has it's own founding fathers where music is concerned: the Estonians admire Heino Eller and the Latvians Jazeps Vitols as the founder of their respective national music culture. Arvo Part was one of Eller's students. The founding figure of Lithuanian art music and art is Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, who created fugues and sonatas as well as symphonic poems, music for piano, and choral works. This is the ninth and last installment of the SWR Vokalensemble series dedicated to musical portraits of different countries and the last release with it's chief conductor Marcus Creed. The SWR Vokalensemble is internationally renowned as one of the best choirs for modern a cappella repertoire, it's performances are characterized by exquisite mastership.

At times it is good to step out of your own flat to take a broader look at the whole block. The Eastern Block in this case. Soul Service and GAD Records have prepared for you a journey full of grooves from the 1970s. A must-go trip for lovers of funk rhythms, psychedelic colors and soulful grooves.
Nowadays the ‘inter-‘ prefix is perhaps chiefly associated with the Internet or interactivity, but some decades ago it would be incorporated into the names of many international organizations and initiatives of the Eastern Bloc, e.g Interkosmos, Interelektro, Intersputnik or Intervision. Following this path (and to pay tribute to the Sopot Intervision Festival) Soul Service collective proposes a groovy selection of records from countries which were actively involved in those initiatives. A jazz big-band from the GDR rubs shoulders with psychedelia from Czechoslovakia, and the Estonian cover of Frida’s song with the soul expressiveness of Polish Bizony band. You will find here real funk monsters and moments of chill in slightly washed-out colours from a few decades ago.

On the occasion of the 85th birthday of Arvo Pärt (September 2020) and the 75th anniversary of the Bavarian Radio Chorus (May 2021). The Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, born in 1935, has succeeded in bringing sacred music back to a broader audience, and away from the confines of the church service, more than almost any other contemporary composer. The meditative character of his works, and his return to the simplest and most basic musical forms, convey moments of intense spirituality. Before his emigration from the Soviet Union, Pärt had already invented what he termed the tintinnabuli style of composition (from the Latin word for a bell). He produced an early and important example of this expressive style in 1977 with his “Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten”, scored for string orchestra and bell.

Groovier side of the Iron Curtain is uncovered via the 11-track compilation out on 12" vinyl, CD and digitally. First of its kind for Funk Embassy Records, the compilers have dug the archives of Estonian Radio for funk, soul-jazz, disco, instrumentals, library music and covers. Influences from West made it to Soviet Estrada musicians on one hand; to rock, jazz, folk and fusion artists on the other. Recorded between 1974-1988, this is the sound of Estonian artists as heard at music halls, stadiums, radio, TV shows and cafeterias.

Homegrown multi ARIA award winning, singer-songwriter Amy Shark unleashes her highly anticipated sophomore album, 'Cry Forever'! 'Cry Forever' includes ARIA winning, Platinum accredited 'Everybody Rise' which is nearing 20 million streams globally and spent 12 weeks in the top 10 Australian airplay chart. 'Cry Forever' is the follow up to Amy Shark's 2018 #1 ARIA Album Of The Year, 'Love Monster.' Written and recorded between the US, UK, New Zealand and Shark's home studio on the Gold Coast, her exceptional songwriting is on full display here, co-producing with A-List producers: Dann Hume (ARIA 2018 & 2019 Producer Of The year), M-Phazes (Ruel, Eminem), Joel Little (Lorde, Taylor Swift), Jamie Hartman (Lewis Capaldi, Rag 'n' Bone Man), Dan Wilson (Adele, Leon Bridges) and Sammy Witte (Harry Styles, King Princess). 'Cry Forever' will also see Shark team up with Grammy award winning artist Keith Urban following on from her latest collaboration with Blink 182's Travis Barker on new single, 'C'MON'.

Dark Green Glow tells a conceptional horror story, which is set in a mysterious green glowing forest. This theme is musically underlined with crushing jungle beats, many percussive elements and a lush forest-ambience throughout. Memorable hooks and melodies, as well as a defined Prog-Metal-sound take center stage in our music.