Cult Classic-Reet Hendrikson-Reet.
Sadly, Estonian folksinger Reet Hendrikson only ever released one album during her carer. This was 'Reet,' which was released in 1969, on the Estonian-Canadian label Reindeer Records. However, this stunning album of folk and psych-folk failed to find the wider audience it deserved.
Nowadays, though, Hendrikson's music is starting to reach a new generation of music fans. However, the problem they had was finding a copy of the album. Copies of 'Reet' are now much-prized rarities. It's showcases a truly talented singer-songwriter whose music has been compared to Bridget St. John, Linda Perhacs, Sibylle Baier and Vashti Bunyan.
Hendrikson was born in Estonia a few months before the "great escape" into exile in 1944. This resulted in her family moving to Sweden, where she was brought up and educated. However, because of the high standard of Estonian schools in Sweden Hendrikson spoke perfect Estonian. Growing up, she also received a formal musical education. She would put both to good use when she embarked upon a musical career.
In 1967, Hendrikson received a Fulbright scholarship and studied in the US. Then in 1968, she headed to Canada, where her musical career began in earnest.
It wasn't long before Hendrikson was making her mark as a folk singer. Her arrangements of Estonian folk songs were stripped down, with just her guitar accompanying her beautiful, heartfelt, impassioned and tender vocal. There was a simplicity to her delivery, and a purity and ethereal quality to her voice as she breathed life and meaning into the traditional Estonian folk songs. They were a reminder of Estonia's past, and Hendrikson's delivery sounded authentic, as if she was from another time and place. It was almost otherworldly.
For Estonians living in exile in Canada, who heard Hendrikson sing her music spoke to them, and for them. She was singing at an Estonian summer seminar when Andres Raudsepp of the Estonian-Canadian label Reindeer Records heard her sing. This fortuitous meeting resulted in Hendrikson recording her one and only album.
Not long after hearing Hendrikson sing under the Muskoka pines, she entered the studio to record the twelve songs that would become Reet. It was just Hendrikson and her guitar. Raudsepp took charge of production, and was joined in the control room by engineer Mel Crosby. The producer captured the beauty, purity and ethereal quality of Hendrikson's vocal on an album that was a mixture of folk and psych-folk. When the album was recorded it would the Reindeer Records' second release.
'Reet,' which was Subtitled "Estonian Folksongs"/"Folklore d'Estonie en chansons" on the back cover and label was released in 1969, by Reindeer Records. Because The Ontario-based label was small, and they didn't press huge quantities of the album. Their audience was mainly Estonian expats, mostly those living in Canada, as well as fans of folk music. After all, Hendrikson's music epitomised the late-sixties folk sound where female singer-songwriters were hugely popular.
However, when 'Reet' was released, although it found an audience within the Estonian expat community, sadly, it never found the wider audience it deserved. Maybe if the album had been released on a bigger label who had a worldwide distribution network, 'Reet' would've been a commercial success and received the critical acclaim it deserved. And maybe Hendrikson would've gone on to release further albums. Sadly, she didn't.
Following the release of 'Reet,' Hendrikson decided to stay in Canada for a while. During that time, she devoted herself to music. However, during this period, she travelled to Austria to attend summer courses at the Orff Institute. That's where her friendship with Karen Schumacher began. Later, she would champion her friend's music and in 2014, was part of a tribute to Hendrikson that took place at on '1st' July, 2014 at the Museum of Occupations in Tallinn.
After leaving Canada, Hendrikson settled in Boston. She was a talented multi-instrumentalist and joined forces with a group of folk musicians. However, Boston was only a temporary home for Hendrikson.
By the eighties, she had returned to Sweden where she grew up. Hendrikson was invited to join a scholarly society of Estonian young women, and lead them during musical sessions. She enjoyed those sessions and being with women from home country. One day, she hoped to return to the country of her birth.
Russia recognised Estonian independence on '6th' September 1991. Hendrikson was able to travel to her homeland and was supportive of Estonian musicians. She brought with her much-needed sheet music. The other thing she donated was repertoire from the Swedish National Radio Archives, where she had worked for some time. The repertoire was used and appreciated by both the Radio Symphony and the Philharmonic Chamber Choir, plus a variety of groups including Heinavanker and Linnamuusikud. This was Hendrikson's way of helping Estonian's musicians and its musical institutions who had suffered under Soviet rule.
Sadly, Reet Hendrikson died on '21st' October, 2000, in Stockholm, Sweden. She was only fifty-six. Hendrikson was a hugely talented singer and multi-instrumentalist who only recorded one album 'Reet.
However, 'Reet' is oft-overlooked hidden gem that's a magical mixture of folk and psych-folk. It's a breatkakingly beautiful album that showcases Hendrikson's beautiful, heartfelt, impassioned and tender vocal. There's a simplicity and purity to her voice on the twelve songs on the album. Other times, her vocal is ethereal and otherworldly as she breathes life and meaning into the traditional Estonian folk songs. They're a reminder of Estonia's past, and Reet Hendrikson, a truly talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who should've enjoyed a long and successful recording career.
Cult Classic-Reet Hendrikson-Reet.
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