Mirjam Tally (1976- )
Sound
is central in Mirjam Tally’s creations. Her music brims with playful
contrasts – humorous, dramatic and poetic mixes of sound. She has
written chamber and electronic music in which acoustic and electronic
sounds often interweave, sometimes using Nordic or exotic
instruments (Estonian kannel, didgeridoo, tanpura, accordion and
others), treating sound material with a modernist open
mind. According to Tally, "Work with electronics has considerably
widened my imagination of sound. To me, colour
is really important in music. Lately I have discovered
the recording of
environmental sounds. This is a bit similar to photography – you just
need to be at the right place at the right time to get a fascinating
sound on tape, be it, for example, yacht masts swaying in the wind,
clinks of ice floes on the coast or wind generators, not to mention the
sounds of birds and nature in general. The further result (i.e. the
composition) depends on if you have good ingredients; you don’t
need to process and “bend” it in the studio at all. The main thing is
to
collect valuable sound material from the living environment." Mirjam
Tally graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music in 2000 as a student
of Lepo Sumera. During her studies she also received guidance in
electronic music from Rauno Remme. In 2003 she obtained the master
degree at the Estonian Academy of Music and released her own CD. Since
the autumn of 2006, Tally has lived and worked in Visby on the
island of Gotland, Sweden. From 1998–2004 Tally was active as a
freelance program host in the
Estonian classical music channel Klassikaraadio, and
from 2003-2006
she worked as an editor of the Estonian music magazine Muusika and has
published articles on music also in other editions. Presently Tally is
working at the Visby International Centre for Composers and
also at
Gotlands School of Music Composition. Tally's work Swinburne participated at the International Rostrum of Composers in 2001, and in 2008, her orchestral work Turbulence
participated in ISCM World Music Days in Vilnius and at TheVenice
Biennale's International Festival of Contemporary Music. In 2009, Turbulence was one of 10 recommended works at International Rostrum of Composers. In 2009, Tally’s work Blow
(with video by Ülo Pikkov) will participate in ISCM WMD in Gothenburg.
Her prizes and awards include The Heino Eller prize
(2004); the annual prize of the Society of Swedish Composers
(2008); the Composer Prize at the Estonian Music Days Festival
(2007) and the small Christ Johnson Music Prize (2008) by the Swedish
Kungliga Musikaliska Akademien. Tally has collaborated with
ensembles/ musicians/orchestras, such as BIT20 Ensemble (Norway),
Altera Veritas and Kaspars Putninsh (Latvia), Ensemble Courage
(Germany), The Gothenburg Combo (Sweden), Duo Violoncellissimo
(Ukraine), the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Estonian Dream
Bigband, Estonian National Male Choir; Tallinn Chamber Orchestra,
Küberstuudio, Weekend Guitar Trio, Wirbel, Reval Ensemble, Improloo,
Una Corda; Kristi Mühling, Meelis Vind, Mari Targo, Jaak Lutsoja, Külli
Kudu, Vambola Krigul, Risto Joost, Mikk Murdvee, Anto Õnnis, etc.
Presently Tally is collaborating with Ülo Pikkov in the realm of
animation.COMPOSITIONS Tally Links ~ ~ ~ Works by Genre
Struktuurid (Structures), Estonian zither (kannel) (1996)
Dialogue, flute and Estonian zither (kannel) (1996/1997)
Quasi Q, Estonian zither ensemble (1997)
Moonscape, electronics (1997)
Naked, female voice and Estonian zither (kannel) (1998)
Forget-Me-Not-Flowers, female voice, flute and Estonian zither (kannel) (1998)
Aquarium, female voice, flute and Estonian zither (kannel) (1998)
Confession, female voice, flute and Estonian zither (1998)
The Glass Bead Game, synthesizers (1998)
Shearwaters, electronics (1998)
Planarity, electronics (1998)
Sketch, guitar and vibraphone (1999)
Fragment, guitar and live electronics (1999)
Air, accordion and phonogram (1999)
Rainbow, Estonian zither (kannel) (1999)
Unfading Snow (Närbumatu lumi), male voice, female voice, piano, percussion and phonogram (1999)
Two Views of the Sea (Kaks vaadet merele), mezzo-soprano, piano, cello and electronics (1999)
Broken Radio, electronics (1999)
Mythos, 4 players: 2 Estonian zithers (kannel), bass zither and phonogram (2000)
Arlequin (Harlequin), accordion and percussion (2000)
Gammas, 3 Estonian zithers (kannel) (2000)
Last Year's Sun Still Glitters in the Drop of Water, flute and phonogram (2000)
Swinburne, reciter, soprano, baritone, accordion, percussion and electric guitar (2000)
Elysium, 3 electric guitars (2000)
When the Trees Are Bare, the Year Appears, bass flute/flute and 3 electric guitars (2001)
Firs Falling into December, flutes (picc/fl/a-fl), percussion and tape (2001)
Quietude, piano, percussion and phonogram (2001)
In the Evening, Goldenrod Dust, soprano saxophone, percussion and piano (2001)
The Rowan Sea, bass clarinet (2001)
Swimming Bach, harpsichord and phonogram (2001)
I know I’ll be reborn as a bird (Tean, et taassünnin linnuna), 15 players: flute, didgeridoo, tanpura, electric guitar, orchestra bells, vibraphone, piano, accordion, 2 violins, viola, violoncello, double bass, bass clarinet, tuba, flexaton (2001/2009)
Exercises for the Tail, music for dance performance (5 mvts), bass clarinet, percussion, electric guitar, phonogram (2002)
Small Fish, flute, oboe, double bass, piano (2002) [part of “Fishes for Four”, co-written with Kangur, Kozlova & Maltis]
All Landscapes are Waxen, flutes, percussion and 3 electric guitars (2002)
Aura, 7 players: flute, bass clarinet, glockenspiel, marimba, 3 conga-drums, 3 gongs, chromatic zither (or Estonian folk kannel), violin, viola, violoncello (2002)
Ghost Song, soprano saxophone (2002)
Desire is the Flower, 2 female voices, 1 male voice, bowed harp (Estonian Hiiu-kannel), Estonian zither (kannel), crotta cello (2002)
Our School, reciter, cello, percussion, saxophone, phonograms (electronics if needed); 2nd redaction: reciter, violoncello, percussion, saxophone, phonograms (electronics if needed), flute (2002/2006)
Aria With Walking Cat, big band (2003)
Nicks in wrangle, 2 cellos (2003)
Solaris [Estonian zither (kannel), Finnish zither (kantele), Latvian zither (kokle), Lithuanian zither (kankles)] (2003)
Flageolets, music for children, piano (2003)
Different Rains, music for children, piano (2003)
Night is Night is Night, children’s chorus, perc, elec gtr, Estonian zither (kannel), synthesizer & str orch (2003/2004)
Night (Öö), youth chorus, soloists, elec gtr, accordion, synthzr, Estonian zither (kannel), perc & chamber orch (2003/2007) [version of "Night is Night is Night"]
Flow (Vool), chamber ensemble (2004/2006) [flute, 2 Latvian zithers (kokle), accordion (or: flute, Estonian zither (kannel), accordion; or: flute, 2 Estonian zithers (kannel), accordion]
I Have Seen Seen, 2 guitars (2005) [2 Estonian zithers (kannel), 2005/2007]
Stone Song, chorus (2005)
2 pages, 122 words on music & dance, 4 male voices, male chorus, elec gtr, perc, 2 singing bowls (ad lib) & tape (ad lib) (2005)
Breathe, electronics (2005)
Blow, electronics and video (2005)
Staircase Music, electronics (2005)
Turbulence, amplified orchestra and live-electronics (ad libitum) (2006; version for orchestra, 2008)
Läänemerelinik (Tablemat of Baltic sea), animated film score (2006) [from the film project "Must lagi/Black Ceiling"]
The Taste of Life (Elu maitse), animated film score (2006)
Line (Joon), fl, vc and pf (2006) [fl, vc and Estonian zither (kannel), 2006/2007; Estonian zither, harpsichord and harp, 2006/2007]
Yacht Masts in Slow-Motion, electronics (2006)
Sad Factory, electronics (2006)
A Rowan rain (Pihlakate vihm), soprano sax, alto sax, electric guitar, accordion and live-electronics (2007)
Teel olla on veel (2007)
- 1st version: vocal ensemble, claves, 2 wine glasses (played by members of vocal ensemble), accordion, synthesizer or positive organ, Estonian zither (kannel) or harp
- 2nd version, 2008: soprano, claves (played by soprano), accordion and cello
The Therapist (Ravitseja), animated film score (2007)
Portree (Portrait), animated film score (2004/2008) ????
Shift, chamber ensemble (2008)
Birds and Shadows, concertino, violin and string orchestra (2008)
Norse Dusk, female voice and accordion/or big band (2008)
Dialogos, animated film score (2008)
Sqeak (Sada aastat üksildust/Hundred years loneliness), film score (2008-09)
Long way to go, soprano, accordion and cello (2007) [text: Doris Kareva]
Autumn whispers, amplified flute and chamber orchestra (2009)
Winter island, string trio; or string quartet; or viola, cello and string orchestra (2009)
The shadow of the moon, Estonian zither and accordion (2009)
Spring. Hommage à Joseph Haydn, violin, percussion and strings (2009)
Steps, piano (also for other instruments) (2009)
Call love to mind, chorus (2009)
Déjà vu, Estonian zither (or harp) and string orchestra (2010)
Etude X, trumpet (2010)
Eye Pool, voice, flute, Estonian zither and cello (2010)
WORKS BY GENRE Tally Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Exercises for the Tail, music for dance performance (5 mvts), bass clarinet, percussion, electric guitar, phonogram (2002)
Orchestra
Turbulence, amplified orchestra and live-electronics (ad libitum) (2006; version for orchestra, 2008)
Jazz Big Band
Aria With Walking Cat, big band (2003)
Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Birds and Shadows, concertino, violin and string orchestra (2008)
Autumn whispers, amplified flute and chamber orchestra (2009)
Winter island, string trio; or string quartet; or viola, cello and string orchestra (2009)
Déjà vu, Estonian zither (or harp) and string orchestra (2010)
Chorus w/Orchestra
Night is Night is Night, children’s chorus, perc, elec gtr, Estonian zither (kannel), synthesizer & str orch (2003/2004)
Night (Öö), youth chorus, soloists, elec gtr, accordion, synthzr, Estonian zither (kannel), perc & chamber orch (2003/2007) [version of "Night is Night is Night"]
Choral
Stone Song, chorus (2005)
2 pages, 122 words on music & dance, 4 male voices, male chorus, elec gtr, perc, 2 singing bowls (ad lib) & tape (ad lib) (2005)
Call love to mind, chorus (2009)
Chamber
Dialogue, flute and Estonian zither (kannel) (1996/1997)
Quasi Q, Estonian zither ensemble (1997)
Sketch, guitar and vibraphone (1999)
Mythos, 4 players: 2 Estonian zithers (kannel), bass zither and phonogram (2000)
Arlequin (Harlequin), accordion and percussion (2000)
Gammas, 3 Estonian zithers (kannel) (2000)
Elysium, 3 electric guitars (2000)
When the Trees Are Bare, the Year Appears (Kui puud jäävad raagu, tuleb nähtavale aasta), bass fl/fl and 3 elec gtrs (2001)
Firs Falling into December (Detsembrisse vajuvad kuused), flutes (picc/fl/a-fl), percussion and tape (2001)
Quietude, piano, percussion and phonogram (2001)
In the Evening, Goldenrod Dust, soprano saxophone, percussion and piano (2001)
I know I’ll be reborn as a bird (Tean, et taassünnin linnuna), 15 players: flute, didgeridoo, tanpura, electric guitar, orchestra bells, vibraphone, piano, accordion, 2 violins, viola, violoncello, double bass, bass clarinet, tuba, flexaton (2001/2009)
Small Fish, flute, oboe, double bass, piano (2002) [part of “Fishes for Four”, co-written with Kangur, Kozlova & Maltis]
All Landscapes are Waxen (Kõik maastikud on vahast), flutes, percussion and 3 electric guitars (2002)
Aura, 7 players: flute, bass clarinet, glockenspiel, marimba, 3 conga-drums, 3 gongs, chromatic zither (or Estonian folk kannel), violin, viola, violoncello (2002)
Our School, reciter, cello, percussion, saxophone, phonograms (electronics if needed); 2nd redaction: reciter, violoncello, percussion, saxophone, phonograms (electronics if needed), flute (2002/2006)
Nicks in wrangle, 2 cellos (2003)
Solaris [Estonian zither (kannel), Finnish zither (kantele), Latvian zither (kokle), Lithuanian zither (kankles)] (2003)
Flow (Vool), chamber ensemble (2004/2006) [flute, 2 Latvian zithers (kokle), accordion (or: flute, Estonian zither (kannel), accordion; or: flute, 2 Estonian zithers (kannel), accordion]
I Have Seen Seen, 2 guitars (2005) [2 Estonian zithers (kannel), 2005/2007]
Line (Joon), fl, vc and pf (2006) [fl, vc and Estonian zither (kannel), 2006/2007; Estonian zither, harpsichord and harp, 2006/2007]
A Rowan rain (Pihlakate vihm), soprano sax, alto sax, electric guitar, accordion and live-electronics (2007)
Shift, chamber ensemble (2008)
Winter island, string trio; or string quartet; or viola, cello and string orchestra (2009)
The shadow of the moon, Estonian zither and accordion (2009)
Spring. Hommage à Joseph Haydn, violin, percussion and strings (2009)
Solo Instrument
Struktuurid (Structures), Estonian zither (kannel) (1996)
Fragment, guitar and live electronics (1999)
Air, accordion and phonogram (1999)
Rainbow, Estonian zither (kannel) (1999)
Last Year's Sun Still Glitters in the Drop of Water (Veetilgas sätendab veel möödundaastane päike), flute and phonogram (2000)
The Rowan Sea (Pihlakate meri), bass clarinet (2001)
Ghost Song, soprano saxophone (2002)
Steps, piano (also for other instruments) (2009)
Etude X, trumpet (2010)
Piano/Harpsichord
Swimming Bach, harpsichord and phonogram (2001)
Flageolets, music for children, piano (2003)
Different Rains, music for children, piano (2003)
Steps, piano (also for other instruments) (2009)
Vocal
Naked, female voice and Estonian zither (kannel) (1998)
Forget-Me-Not-Flowers, female voice, flute and Estonian zither (kannel) (1998)
Aquarium, female voice, flute and Estonian zither (kannel) (1998)
Confession, female voice, flute and Estonian zither (1998)
Unfading Snow (Närbumatu lumi), male voice, female voice, piano, percussion and phonogram (1999)
Two Views of the Sea (Kaks vaadet merele), mezzo-soprano, piano, cello and electronics (1999)
Swinburne, reciter, soprano, baritone, accordion, percussion and electric guitar (2000)
Desire is the Flower (Iha ongi õis), 2 female voices, 1 male voice, bowed harp (Estonian Hiiu-kannel), Estonian zither (kannel), crotta cello (2002)
Teel olla on veel (2007)
- 1st version: vocal ensemble, claves, 2 wine glasses (played by members of vocal ensemble), accordion, synthesizer or
positive organ, Estonian zither (kannel) or harp
Long way to go, soprano, accordion and cello (2007) [text: Doris Kareva]
- 2nd version, 2008: soprano, claves (played by soprano), accordion and cello
Norse Dusk, female voice and accordion/or big band (2008)
Eye Pool, voice, flute, Estonian zither and cello (2010)
Incidental/Film
Läänemerelinik (Tablemat of Baltic sea), animated film score (2006) [from the film project "Must lagi/Black Ceiling"]
The Taste of Life (Elu maitse), animated film score (2006)
The Therapist (Ravitseja), animated film score (2007)
Portree (Portrait), animated film score (2004/2008) ????
Dialogos, animated film score (2008)
Sqeak (Sada aastat üksildust/Hundred years loneliness), film score (2008-09)
Electronic
Moonscape, electronics (1997)
The Glass Bead Game, synthesizers (1998)
Shearwaters, electronics (1998)
Planarity, electronics (1998)
Broken Radio, electronics (1999)
Breathe, electronics (2005)
Blow, electronics and video (2005)
Staircase Music, electronics (2005)
Yacht Masts in Slow-Motion, electronics (2006)
Sad Factory, electronics (2006)
A Rowan rain (Pihlakate vihm), soprano sax, alto sax, electric guitar, accordion and live-electronics (2007)
TALLY LINKS Works by Genre ~ top of page ~
Helilooja Mirjam Tally saab Rootsi muusikaakadeemia preemia/Tally Awarded Swedish Royal Academy of Music Christ Johnson Prize (uudised.err.ee) [in Estonian]
In the National Paradise (Christian Scheib & Susanna Niedermayr, Kontakt)
Mirjam Tally Interview (Frans Waltmans, Waltmans Early and Contemporary Music)
Mirjam Tally Interview (Niklas Alicki, Svensk Musik)
Mirjam Tally is the New Composer in Residence of Swedish Radio (klassikaradio)
Mirjam Tally kirjutab muusikat eesti luuletajate tekstidele (Anneli Remme, Eesti Ekspress) [in Estonian]
Mirjam Tally muusika kõlas Maailma Muusikapäevadel Vilniuses (uudised.err.ee) [in Estonian]
Mirjam Tally - Turbulence (2006) (Estonian Public Broadcasting)
Mirjam Tally’s “Turbulence” Recommended by Rostrum 2009 (klassikaradio)
Composer's website
Tally @ Wikipedia/Estonian
Tally @ Answers.com
Tally @ Discogs
Tally @ estmusic.com
Tally @ EHL / Estonian Composers Union
Tally @ Estonian Music Information Centre
Tally @ Estonian Music Information Centre/International Rostrum of Composers
Tally @ Gotland School of Music Composition
Tally @ klassikaraadio
Tally @ Swedish Music Information Centre
Tally @ Waltmans Early and Contemporary Music
Publisher
Tally @ Composer's website
Streaming Audio
Tally @ composer's website
Tally @ estmusic.com
Tally @ Estonian Music Information Centre
Tally @ klassikaraadio
Tally @ last.fm
Recordings
Tally @ Discogs
Tally @ estmusic.com
Video
Tally @ YouTube
Tally @ Google Video
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