Since 1968, the blue cornflower has been the national flower of Estonia. During the Soviet rule, this flower also served as a symbol of the resistance. For this reason, composer Rob Goorhuis gave this work—which is based on Estonian folk melodies—the title The Land of the Cornflower. Estonia has a rich folk dance tradition. The dance melodies are often related to the folk music of surrounding countries or even further away, for example the padespaan, a corruption of the term Pas d’Espagne (Spanish dance). In The Land of the Cornflower, Rob Goorhuis gives us an impression of Estonia, and then brings the folk melodies Kohaanuška, Minoorne labajalg and Padespaan into the limelight. The work was commissioned by the Vabariiklik Orkestrijuhtide Puhkpilliorkester (conductor Bert Langeler)
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