(Texts from the books of Habakkuk and Isaiah)
Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
Tallinn Chamber Orchestra
Conductor Tõnu Kaljuste
Video of a new piece "For Ukraine" written by Estonian composer Erkki-Sven Tüür, who has been distressed and in pain since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As the composer explained to the Estonian Music Information Center (EMIC): "I wanted to compose something to provide immediate and direct spiritual support to people in Ukraine who are fighting for their freedom and suffering from the power of incredible evil." The work for mixed choir and orchestra uses texts from the books of Isaiah and Habakkuk.
"For Ukraine"
Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity! (Habakkuk 2, 12)
God, save Ukraine!
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,
who replace darkness with light
and light with darkness,
who replace bitter with sweet
and sweet with bitter.
(Isaiah 5, 20)
God, save Ukraine!
Woe to you, destroyer,
you who have not been destroyed;
Woe to you, traitor, you who have not been betrayed.
When you have finished your work of destroying, you will be destroyed;
and when you have completes your betrayal, you will be betrayed.
Lord, be gracious to us,
for we wait for you.
Be our strength every morning
and rescue us when troubles come.
(Isaiah 33, 1-2)