Mart Saar, So Far!

One of my sabbatical projects—a rather ambitious one—is to create a selected edition of choral works for mixed voices, by Estonian composer, Mart Saar (1882-1963). Saar was a virtuoso organist and pianist, music critic, pedagogue, and one of the founders of the Estonian national music style, particularly in choral and vocal music. He was trained in organ at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, and studied composition with Rimsky-Korsakov. He was an important influence on the generation of composers to follow him, including Veljo Tormis and Ester Mägi.

Saar's Music - Out of Print

 

All of his choral music is out of print (as are many of the rest of his works). I have found musty editions in the Estonian Music Academy library. The first edition of his mixed choir pieces date from 1909 and are in poor condition. Subsequent editions came out as Saar added to his opus. The quality of the print and paper vary greatly. Some early editions were rebound in the ‘80’s using staples and laminated card stock!   Two collected editions of his choral works, Valimik Koorilaul (ed., Villem Kapp. , 1957) and Kogutid Koorilaule ( ed., Vardo Rumessen. 1982) are hardbound and of slightly better quality.  Efforts to take shortcuts with the 1982 edition, possibly to save costs, resulted in even poorer quality reproduction. The scale of the notation has been reduced in size compared to the 1957 edition and is harder to read. In some cases, the individual parts have been condensed onto single staves.  As a result, the 1982 edition is even harder to use because of smaller dimensions and crowed staves. The quality of the paper is poor. It has been suggested that during Soviet times, the quality of publishing was generally poor and the editions were filled with errors. Nevertheless, Estonian choral singers have adjusted to such editions and have grown used to reading SATB scores in piano score (two lines, bass and treble, for 4-8 parts).

 

1982 edition

 

In order to make Saar’s music more accessible to audiences outside Estonia (particularly in America), it must be republished and, in my opinion, notated in choral score (SATB, four lines). It is unclear who holds the copyright to his music, particularly that which was published during the Soviet Era. Some Estonians justify copying, performing and recording his works freely for this reason. This approach would not work in the U.S.  Even if copies were available, they are difficult to read, especially where 8-part divisi occur. Further, no word-for-word translations, critical commentary, or  pronunciation guides exist for Saar’s music.

Mart Saar, so far (here’s where my project stands):

Proposed Selected Edition

(corresponds to recording by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir,  Mikk Űleoja)

Meie elu Our Life 1910. Folk poetry (folklore)

Sööt Fallow 1934. Juhan Liiv (1864-1913)

Seitse sammeldanud sängi Seven Mossed-grown Beds 1919.  Kalevpoeg

Mestalaul Forest Song 1934. Kanteletar

Põhjavaim Northern Guardian 1910. Marie Heiberg (1890-1942)

Allik Spring 1913. Karl Eduard Sööt (1862-1950)

Mets Kohiseb The Winds are Sighing 1907. Anna Haava (1864-1957)

Kasehaldjate laul Birch Fairies Song 1924. Julius Oro (1901-1941)

Luule, se ei tule tuulest Poetry comes not of the Wind 1934. Anna Haava

Lindude laul Bird’s Song 1924. Julius Oro, fairytale drama: The Lost Princess

Kõver  kuuseke A Humped Spruce 1931.Eduard Ludwig Wöhermann (1863-1934)

Latsõ Hällütamise laul Lullaby 1933. Jacob Hort, Songs of the Setu.
Imäl oli jo Mother Once Had 1912. Folklore
Vihmakõne, vellekõne Oh Rain, My Brother 1915. Folklore
Karjase kaebus Herd boy’s Lament 1919. Folklore
Noore veljo veeritäge Young Brethren, Sing! 1930. Folklore
Tere kuusi, tere petäj Hello Spruces, Hello Pines! 1924 Folklore
Si om leelo liinast tuudu They brought the Singsong from the City 1924. Folklore
Jaan läheb jaanitulele Jann is Going to Midsummer Bonfire 1926. Folklore
Miks sa nutad, tammekene Oak tree, Why are You Crying?  1930. Folklore

RESEARCH RESOURCES:

Estonian Music Information Center. Director, Evi Arujärv, has offered valuable advice. She was able to share information on securing copyright permission to Saar’s choral works.

Estonian Academy of Music and Theater. Musicologist, Professor Mart Humal, has provided a wealth of information on Saar (there are no resources printed in English beyond CD liner notes) and locating his manuscripts.
Estonian Authors Society. This agency is the go-to for copyright information and permission to reprint texts of the various poets from which Saar draws his texts. They can help determine which texts are in the public domain
Estonian Museum of Theater and Music.  I am told that manuscript copies of Saar’s choral works are housed here.
Estonian National Library. Heather MacLaughlin-Garbes, a recent acquaintance, and University of Washington DMA, has done an outstanding dissertation on Ester Mägi, a student of Mart Saar and a prolific Estonian composer.
Heather used this resource in doing her research of Mägi and I am checking it out for resources on Mart Saar!