Event

Concert by Estonian-Ukrainian folk-rock music group Svjata Vatra

September 24, 2015

7 pm

Tartu College, 310 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1W4

On Thursday, September 24 at 7 pm at Tartu College, the Estonian-Ukrainian folk-rock music group Svjata Vatra will be performing a concert.

Entrance to Tartu College (310 Bloor St. West) through the wooden doors on Madison Ave.

A small donation would be appreciated.

Coffee and kringel

Info: piret.noorhani@vemu.ca, t. 416 925 9405

Biography

Svjata Vatra (“holy fire” in Ukrainian) is an Estonian-Ukrainian folk-rock band – a simmering pot of roots, folk, world and ethno with its flaming and vigorous performances – founded in 2005.

The band’s line-up is a specialty in itself; the temperamental trombone and the Estonian bagpipes together weave eerie sound patterns that burst into vibrant and exotic spheres, backed up by powerful yet dynamic rhythms, leaving no-one unaffected by the band’s versatility and virility.

The band’s trademark can rightfully be said to be their flaming live performances where the potent energy emanating from the leader of the band progressively spreads among the musicians and ultimately engulfs the entire audience in ”holy fire”.

Svjata Vatra have played more than 300 live-concerts in over 14 countries. They have performed in France, Russia, Ukraine, Sweden, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Czech Republic, Romania, England, Poland, Netherlands and Belgium in festivals like Colours of Ostrava, Urkult, Viljandi Folk Music Festival, FelSziget, Positivus, London International Festival of Exploratory Music, Maailmakülä and the journey has only begun.

In 2009 Svjata Vatra’s song Kalyna was awarded as best folk/world music song in Estonia was performed at Showcase festivals: Tallinn Music Week and Eurosonic, Netherlands.

Svjata Vatra was also one of the creators of the world‘s first (and arguably also the greatest) Sailshadowtheatre where the spectacle “Fly bird” was displayed on the sail of a Viking ship, accompanied by music played by Svjata Vatra. The ship embarked on a voyage starting in Estonia 2010, visited Latvia, Gotland, Sweden, Åland, Finland and stopped in many ports to put up an Estonian festival, the highlight of which were Svjata Vatra’s concert and the Sailshadowtheatre.

In 2010 Svjata Vatra produced a musical documentary film called “Püha Tuli”, directed by Erik Norkroos. The film portrays the band’s musical expedition to Carpathians, it conveys the band’s ambition to integrate art in all aspects of life, and shows their impact on both Estonian and Ukranian folk music. Püha Tuli was shown in Estonian National TV, Ukrainian TV and in different festivals in Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, Finland and Canada.

February 2014 Svjata Vatra released a single “Vogon zapeklyh ne peche” (Fire does not Burn Toughened People), which is dedicated to all those brave people who were and are standing in Maidan square in protection of democracy and human rights. What is going on in Ukraine has transcended much further than the borders of just one country. The musicians of Svata Vatra have always valued family, a free state, everyone´s right to speak up in their community and to support democratic values. As musicians they can show support through their own personal example and, of course, through their music. Svjata Vatra was one of the organizers of the support concert “For Ukraine” at 16 of March in Tallinn (Estonia) at Freedom Square. There was performing lot of well-known Estonian artist and Svjata Vatra played together with Police and Border Guard Orchestra . The concert was broadcasted live by Estonian Public Broadcasting. By now Svjata Vatra has played about 10 support concerts to Ukraine. In November they went touring at East-Ukraine cities to play at schools and small places to give a support and hope to Ukrainian people.

Powerful performances by captivating audience, generating an energizing ambiance and setting aglow people’s hearts – that is what Svjata Vatra is about.

Instrumentation

Ruslan Trochynskyi – Vocal, Trombone, scythe
Madis Pilt – Vocal, Accordion
Juhan Suits – wooden horn, Whistle, Jew’s harp, Estonian bagpipes
Martin Aulis – Percussion, Drums

Arlet Tiigi – Bass guitar

Discography

1. Svjata Vatra CD – 2006 Svjata Vatra / Estonia
2. Kalyna CD – 2008 Svjata Vatra / Estonia
3. Zillja Zelenen‘ke CD/DVD – 2010 Svjata Vatra / Estonia
4. Zillja Zelenen’ke CD -2011 Svjata Vatra / Estonia

5. Svitlyi Shljah CD – 2013 Svjata Vatra / Estonia

Links

www.svjatavatra.com

www.myspace.com/svjatavatra

Video:

Video from live concerts, Kozak guljaje: http://youtu.be/GK9uKWbELes

Songs:

Singing game “Mak” (Ukr): https://soundcloud.com/svjatavatra/mak

Runo song “Tulesõnad” (Est): https://soundcloud.com/svjatavatra/svjata-vatra-tules-nad

Animation: