The Art of Canon - An artistic approach to the unpublished collection of Cyrillus Kreek.

Abstract

This project explores the 75 unpublished choral pieces from a collection of 150 mixed choir canons written by Cyrillus Kreek. A closer artistic look is being taken at three selected pieces – “Kas sureb nii mu kõige armsam elu?”, “Den signade dag, som vi nu här se” and “Oh Jeesus, sinu valu”. The thesis starts with outlining my analytic approach as a journey towards the three canons and follows with the artistic and technical work done with the pieces. My aim at beginning of the thesis was to conclude the project with a concert, which, however, could not be realized due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Music examples on a domestic harmonium are given as attachments, instead. The discussion in the last part of the thesis concerns the following topics – estimating the analytic approach taken to explore Kreek’s unpublished compositions, trying to answer the raised questions, looking at new research possibilities, and estimating the practical outcome of the thesis.