«Hundred / 100»
The core idea and theme of the 2025 Estonian Music Days festival, «Hundred / 100,» is primarily inspired by the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Composers’ Union. The legal and substantive predecessor of the ECU, the Estonian Academic Society of Musical Artists, was founded on November 19, 1924. The ECU will highlight this significant jubilee in the spring season of 2025 through public celebrations.
This time, the contemporary music festival Estonian Music Days 2025 will not only feature plentiful new compositions but will also focus more than before on composers who have significantly influenced Estonia’s musical landscape over the past century. In addition, a special anniversary publication by the Estonian Composers’ Union will be released.
The history of Estonian composers and musicologists working together under the umbrella of the same union directly reflects the complex fate of the Estonian state. A persistent theme throughout has been the ability to adapt to ever-changing circumstances, remain open to the wider world, and uphold artistic excellence despite challenges. Of course, sustaining this level of excellence requires continuous effort.
For over four decades, the Estonian Music Days festival has played a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of Estonia’s professional music composition, offering creative opportunities to many domestic composers and providing stimulating listening experiences for audiences.