Baltic Unity Day is commemorated on 22nd September, remembering the alliance of Baltic people against the German military order of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the 13th-century. Many cultural events are scheduled in the Baltic countries and their diasporas around the world to highlight the deep historical links uniting them. Musica baltica is a florilegium of representative works from Baltic composers, notably their rich contemporary schools with such composers as Pēteris Vasks or Arvo Pärt (whose 90th birthday will be celebrated on September 11th), but also earlier ones such as Lithuanian-born César Cui or Leopold Godowsky. Among the artists featured in this compilation are Paavo Järvi, Gidon Kremer, Renaud Capuçon or John Eliot Gardiner.
We also highlight the great choral tradition of this region with a collection of profane calendar pieces of outstanding beauty on folkloric Estonian texts, composed by Veljo Tormis.