![Alo Mattiisen Commemorative Plaque, Tartu](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8d/Alo_Mattiisen_Commemorative_Plaque%2C_Tartu.jpg)
Alo Mattiisen (22 April 1961 – 30 May 1996) was an Estonian musician and composer.
One of the most famous melodies that he composed was a patriotic song titled "No land is alone", with lyrics written by the Estonian poet Jüri Leesment. Several other of his patriotic compositions became staples for the
Singing Revolution
The Singing Revolution; lv, dziesmotā revolūcija; lt, dainuojanti revoliucija) was a series of events that led to the restoration of independence of the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the Soviet Union at the end of ...
including the ‘Five Patriotic Songs’ series.
Early life and education
Alo Mattiisen was born in the town of
Jõgeva
Jõgeva (german: Laisholm) is a small town in Estonia with a population of around 5000 people. It is the capital of Jõgeva Parish and Jõgeva County.
History
Jõgeva was first mentioned in 1599 as ''Jagiwa'' manor, being established only rec ...
. His father was Evald Mattiesen. In 1984, Mattiisen graduated from the
Tallinn State Conservatory
The Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (''Eesti Muusika- ja Teatriakadeemia'') began as a mixed choir of the Estonia Society Musical Department (EMD) on the eve of World War I. The assembly of the Estonia Society created the Tallinn Higher Musi ...
, becoming a specialist in
pedagogy of music. In 1988, he graduated from the same school, becoming a specialist in
composition
Composition or Compositions may refer to:
Arts and literature
*Composition (dance), practice and teaching of choreography
*Composition (language), in literature and rhetoric, producing a work in spoken tradition and written discourse, to include v ...
.
Creative period
In 1983, Mattiisen replaced
Erkki-Sven Tüür
Erkki-Sven Tüür (born 16 October 1959) is an Estonian composer.
Life and career
Tüür () was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition w ...
in
In Spe. Tüür was leaving the ensemble and seeking a replacement. The first performance of Mattiisen with In Spe was in January 1984.
Personal life
Mattiisen was married to actress
Rita Rätsepp and became the father of his only daughter Anna-Mariita Mattiisen. The two later divorced. Prior to his death he was in a relationship with Katri Varbola. He died of a heart attack on 30 May 1996 in
Tallinn
Tallinn () is the most populous and capital city of Estonia. Situated on a bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, Tallinn has a population of 437,811 (as of 2022) and administratively lies in the Harju '' ...
, Harjumaa, at the age of 35.
Awards
* In 1988 and 1989, Mattiisen was given the Yearly Culture Award of Music of
Estonian SSR.
* In 1996, Mattiisen was given the Culture Award of Republic of Estonia.
Sources
Brief biography at the Estonian Music Information Centre
References
1961 births
1996 deaths
People from Jõgeva
Male composers
Burials at Metsakalmistu
Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni
20th-century Estonian composers
20th-century Estonian musicians
20th-century male musicians
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