ESTONIAN SYMPHONIC MUSIC. THE FIRST CENTURY 1896-1996.
Tubin’s wife, produced a libretto. A peasant creates a magical creature, Kratt, from
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Eesti muusika II, pp. 265.
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A type of Golem, even though evil the Kratt can enrich his creator with worldly wealth.
wood, straw and other odds and ends, in order to gather wealth. To bring this monster to
life the peasant has to give three drops of blood to the Devil, and thereby sells his soul.
To enrich and brighten this gloomy story, a love affair between the peasant’s daughter
and a farmhand was added. Eventually Kratt sets the farm on fire and strangles the
peasant so that the Devil may take his soul.
Tubin began composing in 1938 and completed the work at the beginning of
1940. The music is very colourful, typical and varied in accordance with the events of
the story. It is vividly nationalistic. The ancient tunes have been processed with
appropriate novel means. His imagination is in places amazing, reminiscent of Bela
Bartók’s use of Hungarian folk tunes
annaabi.ee 
