The Land of the Cornflower

Since 1968, the blue cornflower has been the national flower of Estonia. During the Soviet rule, this flower also served as a symbol of the resistance. For this reason, composer Rob Goorhuis gave this work—which is based on Estonian folk melodies—the title The Land of the Cornflower.Estonia has a rich folk dance tradition. The dance melodies are often related to the folk music of surrounding countries or even further away, for example the padespaan, a corruption of the term Pas d’Espagne (Spanish dance). In The Land of the Cornflower, Rob Goorhuis gives us an impression of Estonia, and then brings the folk melodies Kohaanu¹ka, Minoorne labajalgand Padespaan into the limelight.The work was commissioned by the Vabariiklik Orkestrijuhtide Puhkpilliorkester (conductor Bert Langeler)