Artist page
Kiri-uu is a choir that was formed in 1986 in Sydney by first-generation expatriates Anni Meister and Olev Muska, with a focus on exploring modern Estonian folk songs, particularly through the works of neoclassically-influenced composer Veljo Tormis. The name "Kiri-uu" originates from Tormis's arrangement of a lament in the traditional Estonian swing song "The swing yearns for gifts," where he invented the word after much effort to find a suitable term from folklore. The choir gained recognition during their first concert tour of (Soviet) Estonia in 1989, culminating in a "standing room only" performance in Tallinn, where they were welcomed on stage by Tormis, who declared, “Estonia has adopted you!” Following the choir's disbandment in 1990, Kiri-uu evolved into a ‘desktop a cappella’ duo featuring Coralie Joyce and Olev, and currently serves as a platform for Olev’s multimedia and remixing projects. The cultural intuition of Veljo Tormis through music continues to inspire Kiri-uu and many others.
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