The contemporary music festival Estonian Music Days released a video recording of Maria Faust’s “Kootud relvad”/ Woven Weapons premiere. The concert took place as part of the “DNA”-themed festival and opened the Estonian Theater Festival Draama.
Maria Faust (b. 1979) is one of the most internationally recognized Estonian jazz artists. As a composer, Maria Faust loves to tell stories that use contrasts and paradoxes from her own life and employ these as tools for creating music. Woven Weapons gets its tools from epigenetics as well as knitting patterns that are both repetitive patterns. Estonian traditional folk costumes were worn as everyday clothes until as recently as within the last century. The patterns on the clothes functioned as a language, communicating and telling stories between generations, and contained variations of symbols of protection. The only part of the traditional clothes that didn’t change over the centuries was the knitting patterns used for gloves – like a powerful shield to protect one’s, family members.
Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes to DNA that do not involve alterations in DNA sequences. Heritable traumas are passed on from parent to child – for example, slavery, starvation, wars, and violence… also alcoholism, and depression. DNA tells the stories and carries symbols of protection in the same way knitting patterns do. The paradox is that something that protects you can also kill you.
The video highlights part 3, subtitled “Kilplase”. It tells the story of Estonian stubbornness, which is both a blessing and a burden.
The work is performed by wind ensemble: Maria Faust – alto saxophone, Indrek Vau – trumpet, Andres Kontus – trombone, Liudas Mockunas – bass saxophone, Peter Bruun – percussion
Watch the video recording of the premiere of Maria Faust’s “Woven Weapons” on the website of the Estonian Music Days.