ESTONIAN SYMPHONIC MUSIC. THE FIRST CENTURY 1896-1996.
strong affinity for Estonian traditional music; he is using runes in their purity, adding
only what is necessary for expression. He comments:
It is not I who make use of folk music, it is folk music that makes use of me… I feel the
necessity to express the essence of it, its spirit, meaning and form. I believe that runic song is
one of the highest and typical expressions of Estonian culture. 1
Tormis can be seen as a radical, using contemporary devices; heterophony,
polytonality, poly-rhythms and clusters, however, their application is conditioned by the
need to reflect the national psyche. Tormis is an innovator and restorer simultaneously.
Acknowledging his merits Tormis was elected Honorary Doctor of the Estonian
Academy of Music (1992) and Professor of Liberal Arts of Tartu University (1997).
The Overture No. 2 in C minor2, though not a programme piece, the images are
vivid, energetic and create visions of a battle under leaden skies
annaabi.ee 
