Heino Eller (7 March 1887 – 16 June 1970) was an Estonian composer and pedagogue, known as the founder of contemporary Estonian symphonic music.

Life

Eller was born in Tartu, where he took private lessons in violin and music theory, played in several ensembles and orchestras, and performed as violin soloist. In 1907 he entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory to study violin. From 1908 to 1911 he was a law student. In 1920 Eller graduated from the conservatory renamed to Petrograd Conservatory. His younger brother was sculptor Aleksander Eller. From 1920 to 1940, Eller was a professor of music theory and composition at the Tartu Higher School for Music. During this time he formed the Tartu school of composition, which gave rise to many composers, including Eduard Tubin. In 1940 he became a professor of composition at the

Tallinn 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 ...

and taught there until his death in 1970. Eller was a teacher of composition. The school he formed in Tartu counterbalanced the so-called Tallinn school headed by

Artur Kapp Artur Kapp (28 February 1878 – 14 January 1952) was an Estonian composer. Born in Suure-Jaani, Estonia, then part of the Governorate of Livonia, Russian Empire, he was the son of Joosep Kapp, who was also a classically trained musician. K ...

. Eller's pedagogical talent is versatile. The list of his pupils offers the best proof of this: each of them has created a distinguished original style. Among his students were Eduard Tubin,

Villem Kapp Villem Kapp (7 September 1913 – 24 March 1964) was an Estonian composer, organist and music teacher. Life Born in Suure-Jaani, Estonia, Villem Kapp was the son of who was a sacristan, teacher and choir director. Villem Kapp graduated in 19 ...

Kaljo Raid Kaljo Raid (4 March 1921 – 21 January 2005) was an Estonian composer, cellist and pastor. He was born in Tallinn. One of three children, he had an older brother and a twin sister. He studied composition at Tallinn Conservatory under Heino Eller ...

, Boris Kõrver, Anatoli Garshnek, Leo Normet,

Valter Ojakäär Valter Ojakäär (10 March 1923 Pärnu – 27 October 2016 Tallinn) was an Estonian composer, instrumentalist, music publicist and author. In 1956 he graduated from Tallinn State Conservatory in composition specialty. 1945–1970 he was a concer ...

, Uno Naissoo, Arne Oit,

Jaan Rääts Jaan Rääts (15 October 1932 – 25 December 2020) was an Estonian composer who worked extensively on Estonian film scores of the 1960s and 1970s. He was born in Tartu and became a member of the Estonian Composers' Union in 1957. Compositi ...

, Heino Jürisalu, Arvo Pärt, Alo Põldmäe,

Lepo Sumera Lepo Sumera (8 May 1950 – 2 June 2000) was an Estonian composer and teacher. Life and career He was born in Tallinn and studied with Veljo Tormis in his teens, and from 1968, with Heino Eller at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (t ...

Boris Parsadanian Boris Khristoforovich Parsadanian (russian: Бори́с Христофо́рович Парсаданя́н; May 14, 1925 – May 14, 1997) was a Soviet-born Armenian-Estonian composer, violinist, and arts administrator. Biography Parsadanian w ...

, Alfred Karindi,

Eduard Oja Eduard Oja (17 January 1905 in Palupõhja – 16 April 1950 in Tartu) was an Estonian composer, conductor, music teacher and critic. His father was a forest warden. Between 1919 and 1925 he studied at Tartu Teachers' College at Tartu University ...

Olav Roots Olav Roots (26 February 1910 – 30 January 1974) was an Estonian conductor, pianist and composer. Roots was born in Uderna. He studied at the Music School of Tartu from 1923 to 1928, studying piano with Artur Lemba and composition under H ...

and

Karl Leichter Karl Leichter (13 October 1902 in Näpi, Rakvere Parish – 7 March 1987 in Tallinn) was an Estonian musicologist. He graduated in 1929 in theory and composition, studying under Heino Eller with pupils such as Eduard Tubin, Alfred Karindi, ...

Selected works

Eller primarily composed instrumental music. His symphonic works, especially ''Koit'' and ''Videvik'', break new ground for Estonian symphonic music. His musical language contains many national traits, but he was influenced by 20th-century styles as diverse as impressionism and expressionism. * ''Koit'' (''Dawn''), Tone Poem (1915–1918, 1920) * ''Videvik'' (''Twilight''), Tone Poem (1917) * ''Moderato sostenuto'' in D minor for voice, viola and piano (1921) * ''Elegia'' for harp and string orchestra (1931) * Concerto in B minor for violin and orchestra (1937) * ''Five Pieces'' for string orchestra (1953)

Family

Heino Eller was married to pianist Anna Kremer who was executed at a

concentration camp Internment is the imprisonment of people, commonly in large groups, without charges or intent to file charges. The term is especially used for the confinement "of enemy citizens in wartime or of terrorism suspects". Thus, while it can simpl ...

by German occupational authorities in 1942 because of her

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

ethnicity.

Bibliography

* Mart Humal, Reet Remmel. ''Heino Eller in modo mixolydio''. Tallinn: Eesti Teatri- ja Muusikamuuseum: SE&JS, 2008. ,

References

External links

Heino Eller at the Estonian Music Information Centre
* * * 1887 births 1970 deaths People from Tartu People from Kreis Dorpat 20th-century classical composers 20th-century Estonian composers 20th-century male musicians 20th-century violinists Estonian violinists Soviet composers Soviet male composers Male classical composers Saint Petersburg Conservatory alumni People's Artists of the USSR People's Artists of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Recipients of the Order of Lenin Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour Burials at Metsakalmistu {{Estonia-composer-stub