Curious. While the wonder of the night sky has captivated the slimster for as long as he can remember online media has only recently jumped on the bandwagon, informing of upcoming stellar events. Pardon the pun, should be lunar, actually in this case, no eclipses but full frontal views. Perhaps so as to deflect from the misery of our corporeal existence, for otherwise the news is naught but bad. The focus ever since the corona virus (corona also being an astronomical sight that is rare) has been on blue moons – which are, as one may remember the second full moon in a month – and super moons, that are called that because of their perigee - their orbit is at that point closest to Earth.
The most recent such lunar stunner happened on the night of August 30. It was special. Blue supermoons come around only every 20 years or so. The next one is expected in 2037. And yep, the slender one was out in the backyard, clad only in boxers, transfixed by the stunning presence of Luna in the cloudless evening sky. It was as if a huge searchlight shone on the third planet from the Sun. Visibility was amazing, and one could almost swear that the Man in the Moon was smiling. For the craters that make up his visage on the lunar landscape were clearly visible.
Enthralled and rapt, the gracile guy understood yet again why the Moon has been such a source of inspiration for creative souls, from poets to musicians, artists. And it occurred to him that in writing about other special moons (Harvest, for example and the many colours- blue, black, purple etc.) he has only focused on English language songs. The beauty has also captured Estonian composers and poets, the wonders of the special things that can occur under the benevolent rays of the Moon. Nothing can compare to the quiet of night, the whispering rustling of a gentle breeze in the leaves, the occasional squeak of a small nocturnal mammal, in the countryside the hoot of an owl.
‘Twas no wonder then, that perhaps the best song ever written for male chorus, a gorgeous paean to the Moon, Kuu, both the lyrics and music are by Tuudur Vettik sprung to the lips. Quietly, as directed by the composer himself. This extraordinary composition requires a chorus with both basso profundos, deep, deep voices as well as true first tenors, able to sing clearly and high without resorting to falsetto.
There are numerous versions of this gem by Estonia’s best male choruses available on YouTube, but the slimster chanced upon an arrangement by Toronto-born composer Riho Esko Maimets, which more than merits a listen. This is, in keeping with Vettik’s original for four voices, but for mixed ensemble. The sopranos handle the high tenor parts beautifully as the following video proves.
Then there is the wonderful reflective musical meandering composed by Riho Sibul, Kuulaps (Moonchild) a 1986 recording with the VSP Project. Riho’s genius as a composer shines through clearly, evoking the image of a child captured by the beauty, living in the moment, in thrall to the powers of the distant unknown. Strangely, after a long, long enjoyment of the super moon other memories came to the fore. Leading to the library, and making renewed acquaintance with the works of Artur Alliksaar. To describe him as an existentialist is inadequate. There was a reason that his works were banned from print by the Soviets in the inter-freedom occupation years. One beautiful poem Keegi ei tea (Nobody knows) begins with the line Kuu oma kannudest valas (The Moon poured from her tankards) all forms of beauty. Alas, this poem has not been set to music.
But one classic has captured the attention of many top Estonian artists. Hedvig Hanson, unfortunately, takes liberties with the words, adding to the lyrics of the poem Sa oled mägi. But the violinist, singer, composer non-pareil Tõnu Raadik remains true to the words. His version, also on YouTube, on the, for these ears classic CD Kadunud maailma teedele (To the roads of a lost world) captures Alliksaar’s erudite and mystical introspection. For those with a good poetic command of our mother tongue the poem just must be read, found on YouTube as well. Here is the title track from that CD, lyrics by Ann Tenno, capturing more than a moment, perhaps eternity itself.
Just beautiful how the outside and unknown, the ethereal, a word meaning delicacy and light, a quality that seems to be too perfect for this world can capture us all. A rapture that is peaceful, blissful and welcoming in a cruel world hell-bent on destroying itself. Lunar inspirations can for a brief moment or many, many minutes banish the quotidian. Thanks be to the Moon, once again.
