Jaan-Eik Tulve was born in Tallinn (Estonia). After obtaining his diploma in choral conducting at the Tallinn Conservatory in 1991, he learned to conduct Gregorian chant at Le Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSM), where he had the diploma in 1993. He then worked at the CNSM as assistant to Louis-Marie Vigne, who had a determining influence on his musical development. He has also given many courses in Gregorian Chant, in France, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Scotland, the Faeroe Islands, Israel, Tasmania, Lithuania, Finland, and Estonia. In 1996 he took up a post teaching Gregorian Chant at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. He is often invited to conduct work sessions in monasteries. In his musical training – Gregorian, in particular – Jaan-Eik Tulve has learned a great deal from his work in common with Dom Daniel Saulnier of Solesmes Abbey.

In 1992 Jaan-Eik Tulve became conductor of the Paris Gregorian Choir, with which he has appeared in many countries. In 1993 Jaan-Eik Tulve formed the Lac et Mel ensemble in Paris, for the performance of medieval polyphonic works. He also formed the female-voice section of the Paris Gregorian Choir in 1994. Finally, in 1996, he formed the Vox Clamantis ensemble in Tallinn. Many of the recordings made with Vox Clamantis have received great critical acclaim (Diapason d’Or in France, Album of the Year Award in Estonia, nomination for the BBC Music Magazine Award and the Danish Classical Radio Award). Jaan-Eik Tulve has also conducted Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Estonian National Male Choir, Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Helsinki Chamber Choir, ensemble Hortus Musicus, etc.

Jaan-Eik Tulve was chosen as the Musician of the Year 2017 by music editors of the Estonian Public Broadcasting.