The jury of the Prince Pierre of Monaco Music Composition Prize with a participation of Arvo Pärt choose Helena Tulve’s „Reyah hadas ´ala” (2005) as the best among 13 works. Tulve’s work written for period instruments ensemble and a vocal group singing archaic sacred music uses Yemen folk tune and lyrics of Yemen poet Shalom Shabaz.
Prince Pierre Foundation of Monaco was set up in 1966 by Prince Rainier III in memory of his father to promote culture and the arts. The composition prize of the Foundation was established in 1960 and consists of 15000 euros today. Prince Pierre Foundation also awards literary and art prizes.
Besides Estonian composers Helena Tulve and Toivo Tulev, composers from Belgium, France, Germany, Canada, China and Spain applied for the prize this year. In previous years, John Tavener, György Ligeti, Heinz Holliger, George Crumb, Elliott Carter and György Kurtág among others have got the prize.
The Tulve’s winning work performed by sopranos Kädy Plaas and Veronika Portsmuth and ensembles Vox Clamantis and Hortus Musicus, has been recorded by Estonian Radio in St. Nicholas Church, Tallinn.