Now regarded as one of Estonia’s finest choral composers, Eduard Tubin (1905-1982) was forced to escape his homeland in 1944 for neutral Sweden, where he spent much of his later life. He drew inspiration from his Estonian heritage and often incorporated folk music of Estonia into his compositions. The present album features all of the choral songs from his pre-exile period, replete with attractive folk material and subject matter, as well as a few dating from his Swedish exile.

Among the most attractive of the early folk-inspired choral songs are Shepherd’s Song (1927) and the Wanderer’s Evening Song (1938). The CD includes two sombre works reflecting the tragedy of the Second World War: Requiem for Fallen Soldiers (1950/79) and Song of Warriors Retreating (1967). Here Tubin swaps the easy folk idiom of his early works for something altogether more serious and dark, as befits the subject matter of mourning for the lost youth who perished in the Second World War and its aftermath.

The marching tread of the Song of Warriors Retreating suggests affinity with Shostakovich. The Requiem for Fallen Soldiers is not a conventional liturgical requiem, but sets poetry by Marie Under and Henrik Visnapuu. In the third movement of the Requiem, the appearance of a solo female voice (a soldier’s mother) is a genuinely affective gesture, arresting and poignant in her message. Throughout, Üleoja and his forces, especially the excellent Estonian National Male Choir, reveal the message of Tubin’s settings with skill and commitment. The CD is an excellent introduction for anyone wanting to get to know this composer’s work.