Nationality: Estonian

Categories
20th Century Estonian

ELLER, Heino

Born in Tartu, March 7, 1887
Died in Tallinn, June 16, 1970

  • Eller was educated at St. Petersburg Conservatory and later taught composition at schools of music in Estonia.
  • One of Eller’s composition students was Arvo Pärt.
  • Style: Eller’s music is influenced by Impressionism and Estonian folk music. 1

Biography

Pieces

Categories
Contemporary Estonian

PÄRT, Arvo

Born in Paide, Sept 11, 1935

  • Pärt’s music is known for the influence of early music, expressions of faith, and a gently dissonant style he calls tintinnabuli, in which a melody is built around repeating tonal triads, creating a diatonic dissonance that resembles the ringing of bells.
  • Pärt and his family relocated to Berlin after 1980, because the overtly religious and seeming archaic/simplistic style of his music met with disapproval from Soviet authorities and academics.2

Biography from the Arvo Pärt Centre

Pieces

Categories
Late Romantic Estonian

TOBIAS, Rudolf

Rudolf Tobias

Born in Käina, Hiiumaa Island, May 29, 1873
Died in Berlin, Oct 29, 19183

  • Rudolf Tobias was an extremely important figure in the founding of an Estonian classical music tradition. His “Julius Caesar” Overture is considered to be a foundational symphonic work in the emergence of a distinct classical music culture in the country.4 
  • Tobias’s compositional output includes works for orchestra, chamber ensemble, choir, solo piano and organ, and solo voice.5

Biography (translated)

Pieces