Video Information

• Choir: Downtown Voices
• Piece: Laulu Algus
• Composer:  Veljo Tormis
• Conductor:  Stephen Sands
• Voices:  SATB
• Genres: A cappella, Classical
• Veljo Tormis: Laulu algus (The Beginning of Song)
  Hando Runnel
  
  Downtown Voices http://DowntownVoices.net
  Stephen Sands, Conductor moreVeljo Tormis: Laulu algus (The Beginning of Song)
  Hando Runnel
  
  Downtown Voices http://DowntownVoices.net
  Stephen Sands, Conductor http://StephenSands.net
  
  TRANSLATION:
  Listen!
  Faraway centuries, on the shores of Estonia
  there once began a song.
  In the language of mothers, the spirit of fathers
  it was carried across to us.
  In sonorous language, in the spirit of a million
  it lives on.
  
  This song began in a dusky time and was born
  from the work of voiceless ones.
  This song was born in a lowly house and it
  rose as an oath in the night.
  .
  A powerless clan began listening,
  the song was good for the soul,
  for it spoke a heavenly story,
  that freedom must come to them.
  
  And the powerless clan awoke,
  and felt the heads on their shoulders.
  This song will not die, nor this story,
  this song for us is good.
  
  I stepped out to start my voice,
  ringing on the rocky hillside,
  lifting up the celebration,
  cheering up the ring of friends.
  
  I know my friends by their eyes,
  I know my foes by their power.
  I do not want enemies,
  Wars have worn me out completely.
  
  I want, I want to be, I want to sing,
  sing my own song.
  Sing this land’s language,
  where there is my fine home.
  
  Where there is my cradle,
  where there is my youthful swing,
  bright days of children
  running over fields.
  
  Listen!
  Faraway centuries, on the shores of Estonia
  begins, begins our song, this song.
  
  ORIGINAL TEXT
  
  
  Kuulata!
  Sajandi kaugusel Eestima randadel algas,less