Collaborative project by ToTarTu featuring musician Vladimir Frank:
ToTarTu is on a Berlin project to record the street musicians he finds in the city of Berlin.
However, on the way to Berlin, he stopped in the oldest city of Northern Europe (as noted by Wikipedia), Tallinn, Estonia, and came across a very charismatic character who was making music out the front of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, located on the hilltop of Tallinn Old Town in Lossi Plats.
The hill is known in Estonian mythology as Toompea and is said to be the grave of Kalev, erected in loving memory by his wife Linda, as written in the national epic Kalevipoeg (Estonian folklore about a giant hero named Kalevipoeg):
“Linda mourned for Kalev for one month after another till three months had passed, and the fourth was far advanced. She heaped a cairn of stones over his tomb, which formed the hill…” (English Translation by W.F.Kirby, 1895).
The Cathedral was built during the period of late 19th century Russification and is not typical of the churches of this city, being a Lutheran country. The church for example was built on a site that formerly housed a statue of Martin Luther.
That noted, it was indeed a very special place for a street musician by the name of Vladimir Frank to play.
Furthermore, the number of tourists to the area is significant. Tallinn’s old Town, for example, is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Perhaps Vladimir could also be on UNESCO’s list.
Vladimir’s performance was absolutely awesome and ToTarTu didn’t expect to get such a lengthy music rendition from him, done with great passion…but very happy nonetheless!
The music incorporates “Hound Dog” song written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller and originally recorded by Willie Mac “Big Mama” Thornton in 1952. However, the best know version of “Hound Dog” is the July 1956 recording by Elvis Presley. His recording is listed as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”.
Plus, “Tuttie Frutti” song co-written by Little Richard which was recorded in 1955 and went on to become his first major hit record. The song has been credited as “the sound of the birth of rock and roll” by Mojo’s The Top 100 Records That Changed The World.
And finally, “Blue Suede Shoes” written and first recorded by Carl Perkins in 1955. Elvis Presley performed his version of the song plus it was also recorded by Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran, among many others.
Vladimir’s performance in August 2013 has taken longer to remix than expected.
For example, there are many varied interpretations of the music pieces he plays allowing for such an infinite list of possibilities that the project took awhile to find its own rhythm.
However, ToTarTu’s first collaborative project has been a lot of fun.
Creative interpretation is to have the listener believe he/she is listening to someone tuning into a radio station. Or perhaps a person tuning into two radio stations on the same frequency.
Subsequently, Vladimir’s music works in unison with the electronica side creating a totally different medium.
Please visit Vladimir in Tallinn, Estonia, and make sure you walk around Tallinn Old Town especially the Hill of Toompea.
If you are lucky enough, you will hear Vladimir playing and you can buy one of his CDs for yourself, as well as watch and listen to this talented musician.
* Disclaimer – all work produced and posted is done so on an artistic basis and is there for the promotion of artists and musicians alike.