Elis Hallik

WORKS FOR ORCHESTRA

Works for symphony orchestra

• The Firehearted

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  • The Firehearted / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Olari Elts

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  The Firehearted was composed amidst the corona pandemic and was premiered in 2021. The work was commissioned by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra for the orchestra's Beethoven programme, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth, and is dedicated to ENSO and its chief conductor Olari Elts. The piece draws upon themes from Beethoven's Leonore overture, the motifs of which can be heard in the strings. A reviewer from the renowned classical music website Bachtrack has described the work as follows: Beethoven comes in and out of focus, amplified and distorted by rumbling percussion crashes. It's witty and somewhat disconcerting, as if seeing Beethoven through a magnifying lens, and displays Hallik's virtuoso orchestral writing at its most dazzling.
   
  Meeta Morozov

  Dedicated to Estonian National Symphony Orchestra
  2021
  6'
  symphony orchestra: 222(b.cl)2(cf), 4230, percussion (4), strings
  Fp: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Olari Elts; September 10, 2021, Estonia Concert Hall
  CD "Great Maestros XX. Scroll Over Beethoven", ERSO, ERP (2023); Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Neeme Järvi
  Distributor: EMIC EH 001
  
• Ouverture "Aegis"

  • Audio
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  • Aegis / Sinfonietta Riga, conductor Erki Pehk

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  The thematic material of the piece has been derived from phenomena connecting to the etymology of the word Aegis. 
   
  Aegis means “A shield”; or “a protection” and the modern concept of doing something “under someone’s aegis” means doing something under the protection of a powerful, knowledgeable, or benevolent source. The word aegis is identified with protection by a strong force with its roots in Greek mythology and adopted by the Romans; there are parallels in Norse mythology and in Egyptian mythology as well, where the Greek word aegis is applied by extension.
   
  Aegis (/ˈiːdʒɪs/; Ancient Greek: αἰγίς aigís) was in ancient Greece an attribute of Zeus and Athene (or their Roman counterparts Jupiter and Minerva), a leather cloak or breastplate generally associated with Zeus, the king of the gods, and thus thought to possess supernatural power – emblematic of majesty that was associated with Zeus and Athena, more as an emblem of strength and protection than a military shield. 
  Athena’s shield carried at its center the head of Medusa, brightly shimmering or darkly obscuring, the aegis refers to Athena’s protective yet potentially destructive power.
   
  Elis Hallik

  Dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia
  2018
  11'
  symphony orchestra: 2222, 2200, 1, strings
  Fp: Sinfonietta Rīga, conductor Erki Pehk; October 5, 2018, Müpa Budapest, festival CAFe Budapest, Hungary
  Distributor: EMIC EH 004
  
• Fluchtpunkt

  • Audio
  • Pdf

  • Fluchtpunkt / L'Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, conductor Pierre-André Valade

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  „Fluchtpunkt“ was written after the sketch was selected among 10 pieces for the Ircam Manifest 2017 Academy. After a privileged working time with the composer Toshio Hosokawa, the pieces were played by the Orchester Philharmonique de Radio France.
  
  Elis Hallik

  2017
  8'
  symphony orchestra: 2222, 2231, 1, harp, strings
  Fp: L'Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France, conductor Pierre-André Valade; June 28, 2017, Maison de la Radio, IRCAM's academy ManiFeste
  Distributor: EMIC EH 007
  
• Punctum concursūs in prospectu

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  • Punctum concursus in prospectu / Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Baldur Brönnimann

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  2017
  11'
  symphony orchestra: 4442, 4431, 4, harp, piano, strings, phonogram
  Fp: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conductor Baldur Brönnimann; October 27, 2017, Estonia Concert Hall, International Contemporary Music Festival Afekt
  
• En passant par la valleé

  • Video

  2012
  symphony orchestra: 2221, 3221, 3, strings
  Fp: Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Symphony Orchestra, conductor Toomas Vavilov; March 7, 2012, Tallinn Methodist Chruch
  

WORKS FOR SOLO INSTRUMENT(S) AND ORCHESTRA

Works for two or more soloists and orchestra

• Concerto for two violins and string orchestra "Stoicheia" [Kontsert kahele viiulile ja keelpillirokestrile "Stiihia"]

  • Audio

  • Stoicheia / Triin Ruubel (violin), Juta Õunapuu-Mocanita (violin), Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conductor Atvars Lakstīgala

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  Stoicheia is a state characterized by uninterrupted action of forces; existence of elements of chaos in a system and the freedom that follows. Thematic material of the piece has been derived from such phenomena, initiating from the etymology of the word στοιχεῖον/stoicheion, used in ancient philosophy for basic elements. Plato counts up Fire, Water, Air and Earth, Aristotle adds a fifth element – aether, or quintessence. According to Japanese Buddhist tradition, the elements (godai, „five great“) are Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Void – emptiness or heaven.
  
  The piece is dedicated to Triin Ruubel and Juta Õunapuu-Mocanita.
  
  Elis Vesik
  

  2015
  11'
  2 violins, string orchestra
  Fp: Triin Ruubel (violin), Juta Õunapuu-Mocanita (violin), Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conductor Atvars Lakstīgala; April 12, 2015, Studio 1 of Estonian Public  Broadcasting, Estonian Music Days
  
  Commissioned by: Estonian Music Days
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Triin Ruubel (violin), Juta Õunapuu-Mocanita (violin), Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, conductor Atvars Lakstīgala
  

WORKS FOR ENSEMBLE

Duos

• Impacts

  • Pdf
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  2014
  4'
  cello, double bass
  Fp: Joanna Gutowska (tšello), Mayuko Ichikawa (kontrabass); August 23, 2014, Mürzzuschlag, SÜDBAHN Museum, International Summer Academy of the mdw (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna)
  FpEst: Johannes Välja (cello), Regina Udod (double bass); August 28, 2021, Tallinn St. John's Church, Tallinn Chamber Music Festival
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Theodor Sink (cello), Regina Udod (double bass)
  Distributor: EMIC EH 003
  

Trios

• A Water-Bound Clock

  2018
  kannel, harpsichord, harp
  Fp: Una Corda; December 15, 2018, Tallinn, Old Town Music House
  
• To Silent Life, to Wavering Light

  2015
  12'
  saxophone, 2 percussionists
  Fp: clapTON ensemble: Chema Bañuls (saxophone), Víctor Barceló and Roberto Maqueda (percussion); May 22, 2015, Gallery Noorus, Tartu, Estonian Composers' Festival
  
• Auprès, au loin

  2014
  recorder, cello, harpsichord, live elctronics
  Fp: Roentgen Connection, Tammo Sumera (live electronics); September 27, 2014, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Chamber Hall, Autumn Festival of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
  
• Gorge de Loup

  • Video

  2013
  clarinet, percussion duo on Feed-drum
  Fp: Hugo Cledat (clarinet), Katalin La Favre (Feed-drum) and Galdric Subirana (Feed-drum); 2012, Edgar Varèse Hall, Lyon
  
• 2009
  violin, oboe, piano
  Fp: Mari Targo (violin), Kaspar Mänd (oboe), Mai Ots (piano); April 20, 2009, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Estonian Music Days
  

String quartets

• String Quartet

  • Video

  2012
  string quartet
  Fp: Virgile Guglielmi (violin), Sarah-Erin Bye (violin), Emmanuel Francois (viola), Amaryllis Jarczyk (cello); 2011, Edgar Varèse Hall, Lyon
  

Quintets

• To Become a Tree

  • Pdf
  • Video

  "To Become a Tree" observes daily life at the backdrop of technological singularity and biotic crisis. Our environment is constantly being monitored and even recreated, and yet it is more difficult than ever to maintain the balance of the ecosystem based on its simplest foundations. Data-driven industries and technological singularity (a threat of uncontrollable processes in the technological sphere) cause the more profound reality-driven insights – i.e. our inherent ability to form a decision by integrating various levels of intelligence that involve intuition, inspiration and differentiation capacity – to shift from the centre of focus."
  Elis Hallik
  
  Walkers who visit one of the ancient deciduous preserves in the forest  manage always report that their heart feels lighter and they feel right at home. If they walk instead through coniferous forests, and artificial places, they don't experience such feelings. Possibly it's because, in undisturbed forests, fewer "alarm calls" go out, and therefore, most messages exchanged between trees are contented ones, and these messages reach our brains as well, via our noses, so intuitively people can register the forest's health.
  Peter Wohlleben
  
  References and keywords:
  spatial-temporal organization
  bioaccumulation
  informational motives that characterize life
  emphatic forms of life
  Peter Wohlleben and trees as social beings
  wood wide web
  biotic stress monitoring
  remote sensing
  symbiosis
  tree talk
  bioengineering and the intrinsic self-organization ability to form organized structures
  safe chemicals policies – www.ipen.org

  2016
  11'
  flute/bass flute, bass clarinet, violin, cello, prepared piano
  Fp: Ensemble Fractales; August 25, 2016, Arnold Schönberg Centre, Vienna
  FpEst: Ensemble Fractales; October 25, 2016, Tallinn, Hopner House, International Contemporary Music Festival Afekt
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Ansambel Fractales
  CD „Fractales“, Cyprès (2022); Ensemble Fractales
  CD „New Estonian Chamber Music“, Estonian Music Information Centre (2017); Ensemble Fractales
  Distributor: EMIC EH 002
  
• Awakenings [Ärkamised]

  2009
  flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, bass trombone
  Fp: Linda Vood (flute), Margus Parind (clarinet), Kadri-Ann Suss (bassoon), Rodion Matvejev (French horn), Johannes Kiik (bass trombome); September 26, 2009, Autumn Festival of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre
  

Sextets

• Like a Swan

  • Audio
  • Pdf
  • Free download

  • Like a Swan / Ensemble for New Music Tallinn: Triin Ruubel-Lilleberg (violin), Sandra Klimaitė (viola), Paul-Gunnar Loorand (cello), Talvi Hunt (piano), Mari-Liis Vind (flute), Helena Tuuling (clarinet)

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  2022
  10'
  flute, clarinet, piano, violin, viola, cello
  Fp: Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, conductor Arash Yazdani; May 10, 2022, MARCO - museum of contemporary art, Vigo, Spain
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Triin Ruubel (violin), Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, conductor Arash Yazdani
  
• Touching the First Sounds

  2019
  flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, cello
  Fp: Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, Marcus Weiss (saxophone), conductor Arash Yazdani; May 19, 2019, Tallinn, The Great Guild Hall
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Marcus Weiss (saxophone), Ensemble for New Music Tallinn, conductor Arash Yazdani
  

Septets

• Some Paths Will Always Lead Through the Shadows [On radu, mis juhivad läbi varjude]

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  • Some Paths Will Always Lead Through the Shadows / Ensemble Synaesthesis, conductor Karolis Variakojis

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  Some Paths Will Always Lead Through the Shadows
  
  Elis Hallik: Walking along old, well-trodden paths, I remember these lines:
  
  Bitter and scarce is the northern light.
  The sledge here is drawn by heavy shadows,
  the owls and wolves keep watch.
  A word crunches between the teeth. [—]
  What I’m talking about, is
  the dance of the dust mote
  in the immeasurable sun.
  
  (Text: Doris Kareva, translation: Tiina Aleman)

  2021
  8'
  flute, clarinet, piano, 2 violins, viola, cello
  Fp: Ensemble Synaesthesis, conductor Karolis Variakojis; April 26, 2021, Online from Vilnius, Composers' House, Estonian Music Days & Baltic Music Days
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Ensemble Synaesthesis
  Distributor: EMIC EH 006
  

Works for large ensemble (8+)

• Born in Waves

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  • Born in Waves / Ensemble Musikfabrik, conductor Clement Power

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  As a composer, I value everything that influences our ability to consciously embrace the present moment and keenly observe that which surrounds us – the various facets of silence and noise as well as microscopic events in sounds and the musical process because, paradoxically, it seems that the more the composition process is tied to the music itself and the musical reality, the more it allows the music to mirror the surrounding existence and its patterns through moments of insight.
  
  In a way, Born In Waves is a continuation to my previous piece To Become a Tree (2016), which observes daily life at the backdrop of technological singularity and biotic crisis. In 2016 I wrote: Our environment is constantly being monitored and even recreated, and yet it is more difficult than ever to maintain the balance of the ecosystem based on its simplest foundations. Data driven industries and technological singularity (a threat of uncontrollable processes in the technological sphere) cause the more profound reality driven insights – i.e., our inherent ability to form a decision by integrating various levels of intelligence that involve intuition, inspiration and differentiation capacity – to shift from the centre of focus.
  
  In the meantime, everything has amplified. The changes are visible and tangible – the decline in the number of species; the sounds, scents and colours that no longer exist. When you don’t see these things that used to bring you daily joy, it saddens you and makes you think how much every person could do to help reduce our ecological footprint.
  So, in a sense, this composition is a reverberation of past years. On the other hand, it is also about rekindling my relationship with the sea, the the environment into which I was born.
  
  Elis Hallik

  2021
  10'
  bass clarinet, trumpet, tuba, piano, percussion (1 player), violin, viola, cello
  Fp: Ensemble Musikfabrik, conductor Clement Power; October 23.10.2021, Noblessner Foundry, Tallinn, International Contemporary Music Festival AFEKT
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Ensemble Musikfabrik, conductor Clement Power
  Distributor: EMIC EH 005
  
• La Passione

  2021
  10'
  flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, violin, cello, double bass
  Fp: Oksana Sinkova (flute), Riivo Kallasmaa (oboe), Eneko Iriarte Velasco (clarinet), Peeter Sarapuu (bassoon), Kreete Perandi (French horn), Maano Männi (violin), Johannes Välja (cello), Regina Udod (double bass); August 24, 2021, Tallinn House of Blacheads, Tallinn Chamber Music Festival
  Commissioned by: Tallinn Chamber Music Festival
  

WORKS FOR SOLO INSTRUMENT

Works for violin

• Sotto voce

  2011
  7'
  violin
  Fp: Kristjan Hallik (violin); March 23, 2011, Estonian Music and Theatre Academy Opera Studio, Estonian Music Days
  

VOCAL AND CHORAL MUSIC

Works for voice(s) and other instrument(s)

• Reverse

  2010
  voice, harp, piano
  Fp: Tui Hirv (soprano), Liis Jürgens (harp), Mai Ots (piano); March 24, 2010, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Opera Studio, Estonian Music Days
  

ELECTRONIC, ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC AND MULTIMEDIA WORKS

• Doch manchmal erhellt sich die Seele, wenn sie frohe Menschen denkt, dunkelgoldene Frühlingstage (Yet Sometimes the Soul Brightens When It Ponders Joyful People, Dark Golden Days in Spring)

  2019
  soprano, flute, electronics
  Text: Georg Trakl (in German)
  Fp: Sirje Aleksandra Viise (soprano), Monika Mattiesen (flute), Indrek Palu (electronics); May 4, 2019, Sakala 3, World Music Days 2019
  Commissioned by: Estonian Music Days/World Music Days
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Sirje Aleksandra Viise (soprano), Monika Mattiesen (flute), Elis Hallik (live electronics), Indrek Palu (assistant for live electronics)
  
• Following the Footsteps [Jälgedes]

  Audiovisual composition with live music. Author of the video: ELis Vesik
  2011
  saxophone, cello, video
  Fp: Jandra Puusepp (saksophone), Joosep Kõrvits (cello); May 4, 2011, Tallinn Writers' House
  
• Remembrances [Mälestused]

  2008
  4'
  Pre-recorded and processed material for speakers
  

UNSPECIFIED INSTRUMENTATION

• Above

  Listen: https://uuu.ee/player/above/

  2022
  2 or more instruments
  Fp: Ensemble U:; December 29, 2022, Tallinn, House of Blackheads, Basemant Hall
  CD „Elis Hallik. Born in Waves“, Kairos (2023); Ensemble U:
  

MUSIC FOR CHILDREN

Instrumental works for children

• Adventures of Sun Braid and Kitty [Päikesepatsi ja kassi seiklused]

  Fairy-tale with music. Violin schoolbook with the introduction of contemporary techniques for beginners.
  2013
  up to 8 violins
  Text: Elis Vesik
  
• Que la lumière soit

  Violin schoolbook with the introduction of contemporary techniques for advanced players.
  2013
  8 violins
  Fp: Students of Les Petits Solistes; June 30, 2013, Salle Bellecombe, Lyon
  

INCIDENTAL MUSIC

• Tuning the Iron [Raua häälestamine]

  2012
  7'
  Pre-recorded and processed material for four speakers
  Fp: Gallery of Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, Israel, May 10-31, 2012, Exhibition "Ritual" of the Jewellery and Blacksmithing Department of the Estonian Academy of Art
  

ORCHESTRATIONS AND ARRANGEMENTS

• Piano Cycle Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances, Op. 17 No. 12 [Klaveritsükkel Norra tantsud ja laulud op. 17 nr. 12]

  Orchestration of Edvard Grieg's piano cycle
  2012
  symphony orchestra
  Fp: Symphony Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Lyon, conductor David Chappuis; January 2013, Varèse Hall, Lyon
  
• Piano piece No. 139 from cycle Mikrokosmos [Klaveripala tsüklist Mikrokosmos, nr. 139]

  Orchestration of piano piece No. 139 from cycle Mikrokosmos by Béla Bartók
  2012
  symphony orchestra
  Fp: Symphony Orchestra of the National Conservatory of Lyon, conductor David Chappuis; January 2013, Varèse Hall, Lyon
  
• X Marginal [X marginaal]

  Orchestration of Jaan Rääts's piano piece
  2010
  symphony orchestra