Atlas

Estonia

The ensemble Atlas that has been active in Estonia for the past couple of years concentrates on arranging Christian Caucasian, mainly Armenian folksongs and Estonian spiritual folksongs. The group has two singers, Erle and Maria. A medieval instrument rebec is played as a bass instrument by Heléna, Prita plays different flutes, Brigitta’s instrument is a widespread Caucasian string instrument canon, and Kristjan plays a drum called dhol from the same region.

Although oriental folk music plays a big role in the repertoire of Atlas, the band has not focused on providing highly authentic presentations of that particular music. It is rather that they are trying to find this common ground between Armenian and Estonian music. In their arrangements they proceed first and foremost from their own musical experiences, thus it may happen that some Caucasian folk songs get another, crisp Nordic sound.

Atlas was founded by Brigitta who studied folk music in Yerevan Conservatory for a year. For the members of the ensemble it is not, however, their first musical group, some of them began their performances in old music, the others in popmusic ensembles.

• Erle Võsa-Tangsoo – vocal
• Maria Mölder – vocal
• Prita Purre – flutes
• Brigitta Davidjants – canon (Caucasian string instrument)
• Kristjan Jõemägi – dhol, vocal
• Heléna Vooglaid – rebec, vocal

• Brigitta Davidjants: +372 564 894 43 brigitta@bahamapress.org