Documentary Film
Estonia 2010
77 min
Direction: Marianne Kõrver
Language: Estonian with English subtitles

Trailer

Erkki-Sven Tüür is one of the best known Estonian composers in the world today, influenced by the music of King Crimson, Emerson Lake & Palmer, Frank Zappa and Genesis, and employing a broad spectrum of compositional techniques, from Gregorian chant to explosive theatricality.

What does it mean to be a composer? How is musical work born? How do the first thoughts and by graphical illustrations the first measures come up and finally there is the whole opus? Which responsibility should a composer bear in front of his audience?

The film gives us insight into this successful artist’s life and music: we meet up with him composing at his rural manor within lone forests of Hiiumaa island, follow him onstage with world renowned conductors Paavo Järvi and Anu Tali in Frankfurt, Amsterdam and within Estonia. Concert visitors as well as participating top-level musicians report directly after the performance about their impressions and emotions. Additionally, we experience a reunion of his progressive rock band “In Spe”.