Swiss Estonian Association
NETWORK
The Swiss Estonian Association has its own song entitled "Mountain and the sea"
Music by Pärt Uusberg
Words by Meribel Hagen
The birth of the song of Mägi and Meri (M.Hagen)
When the 2020 Christmas party was canceled due to the corona virus, we sent SEA's members a Christmas Newspaper. It was a newspaper that told about our activities during the year and about our people. The newspaper continued to be published in the following years, which is why we were looking for a new name for the newspaper so that it was not only related to Christmas. As a result of the voting, the name "Mountain and the sea" proposed by Aire Albrecht won the name contest.
Aire: "I was looking for symbols that would unite Estonia and Switzerland. Also from nature and landscape. I am from Võru County and belong to the so-called "forest people", but I grew up by a lake and being close to water is important to me. That's why I can also enjoy the sea. There are no mountains in Estonia and Switzerland is not located by the sea. Therefore, these features of the landscape seemed very suitable to symbolize our home countries."
The pair of words turned around in my mind for several years, and I had the idea that these words could somehow be transferred into our song. Good things sometimes take a long time, and that's how this idea was planted on paper, but didn't find a voice. In September 2024, we invited my dear friend, the beloved composer and conductor of Estonian classical music, Pärt Uusberg, to hold a musical discussion evening and choir rehearsals at the Rheinau Musikinsel.
After the official discussion, we headed to a free discussion group with the participants. Uusberg was asked about his dreams in the and he mentioned that he would like to write music for Estonian professional teams. He has already done this for some associations, but not yet for ERSO, for example. Grabbing the word by the horn, the former president of the Swiss Estonian Association, Mirjam Loertscher, thought that then P.Uusberg could write at least 2 bars of music for our association! That thought became a journey.
Inspired by the name of the SEA's newspaper, I had already tried to write some lines of thought before. I felt that if there is going to be born out of those lines, it could happen on the Musikinsel. I secretly put my notebook in Musikinsel's travel bag. I gave these lines of poetry to Pärt Uusberg at a discussion round in the evening. Since I do not consider myself a writer or a poet, this step was not too easy. But in a trusting and loving environment, it is easier to publicize your work..
Pärt looked at these words, smiled and asked if it was possible to adjust a little? We changed one word. But something in his head and eyes seemed to sparkle, he left and a quarter of an hour later came back shyly and played this piece for us. "If there are moments to live for, this is one of them", said Kairi, a member of the society. Liina added: "I've always thought that how music is born, and that's how it is born."
This song still moved us the next day. If something moves, it creates dreams. From that came the idea that we could also record the song. Pärt said before the performance of the song that Meribel is going to sing it later. Since I flew to Estonia a few days later, I thought that it could be recorded in Estonia, specifically in Rapla. I called Sigfried, told my idea and he immediately agreed. Coincidentally, this time was also suitable for Pärt, and that's how Pärt, I and Sigfried met at the Rapla music school, where we both started our musical journey - a symbolic and heart-warming feeling.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the birth of the SEA's song: Pärt, Sigfried, Aire, Annika, Mirjam, Alex.
Listen and keep this song in your hearts.
Meribel Hagen
President of the Swiss Estonian Society 2020-2025
Mägi ja meri
Mägi ja meri
kaugel teineteisest
aastaid igatsenud kohtumist.
​
Mägi vaikib
meri vahutab
tuuled kannavad tervitusi.
​
Seisan mäel
vaatan mere poole.
Hõikan - ja vastu kostab kaja.
​
(Meribel Hagen 2024)
Mountains and the sea
Mountains and the sea
Stand at a distance
Ancient longings to meet again.
Mountains hold their silence
The sea crashes on
With wind, it sends its greetings.
Standing on the mountain
I look towards the sea
I shout - only the echo returns.
(Translation by Katie Howatson)
If you want to get this song on the CD, contact us via the KONTAKT section.