Vabadus
Kimmo Pohjonen: Vabadus
for accordion, electronics and a chamber choir
Kimmo Pohjonen composed the work Vabadus to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Vabadus (Freedom) is for Kimmo Pohjonen (accordion and electronics) and a chamber choir. The choral arrangement is done by Pohjonen and Jussi Chydenius.
The political turmoil in Europe and the Russian invasion of Ukraine had Kimmo Pohjonen reflect on freedom and peace – the two concepts that we hold to be self-evident and yet again are being tested. These reflections were the origin of Kimmo Pohjonen’s work Vabadus.
There are two main themes behind the work: the singing revolution in Estonia and the Russian invasion to Ukraine. Singing represented a crucial way to keep the Estonian national awareness, identity and culture alive. Kimmo Pohjonen explains that the following thoughts circled his mind when composing the work : “the dangers of taking things for granted and feeling satisfied, disappointment, facing sorrow, the cruelties of war, death souls, hope, the rebirth of freedom and peace”. The core of the work is very simple: singing does create freedom!
