Time Machine: Toronto Eesti Meeskoor’s Canadian musical memories

VINCENT TEETSOV

Toronto Eesti Meeskoor (TEM, or Toronto Estonian Male Choir) is a choir that needs no introduction.

Founded in the year 1950, its accomplishments are well established on a global Estonian community level. As TEM declares, they are “the only expatriate Estonian [male choir] still active outside Estonia.” The current reduced array of perhaps 25 to 35 voices is among the persevering force of Estonian culture in the Canadian cultural scene.

Historically, one of the choir’s most famous concerts, on the occasion of their 50th concert, was at Massey Hall on April 19th, 1964. Imagine that, Estonian songs filling the rafters of the Grand Old Lady of Shuter Street! Nearly seven years later, Neil Young would play there, taped for the classic album Live at Massey Hall 1971.

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