Villem Kapp (7 September 1913 – 24 March 1964) was an

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also

...

composer, organist and music teacher.

Life

Born in

Suure-Jaani Suure-Jaani is a Populated places in Estonia, town in the northern part of the county of Viljandi County, Viljandimaa in Põhja-Sakala Parish, Põhja-Sakala rural municipality, 25 kilometres north of the town of Viljandi. Until 2017, Suure-Jaani ...

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

, Villem Kapp was the son of who was a sacristan, teacher and choir director. Villem Kapp graduated in 1938, having studied organ with August Topman and again in 1944 having studied composition with

Heino Eller 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 addition, Kapp studied with his uncle Artur Kapp 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 ...

. From 1938 Kapp was the organist in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after the Northern European country's political and financial capital, Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 91,407 (as of 2021). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of ...

where he ran many famous choirs. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he worked mainly as a composer and taught composition at the State Conservatory of Tallinn from 1944 until his untimely death in 1964. His students included Helmut Rosenvald, Lembit Veevo, Ülo Vinter,

Veljo Tormis Veljo Tormis (7 August 1930 – 21 January 2017) was an Estonian composer, regarded as one of the great contemporary choral composers and one of the most important composers of the 20th century in Estonia.Daitz, Mimi. Ancient Song Recovered: The ...

, Harri Otsa and others. Villem Kapp's works are characterized by rich melodies and he is strongly connected to the national romantic movement. In 1950, Kapp was awarded the

State Prize of the Estonian SSR The State Prizes of the Soviet Republics were each republic counterpart to the USSR State Prize. Each republic granted several different prizes, generally named after writers or artists from the republic, as well as a blanket Komsomol prize for you ...

and, in 1963, he was awarded the People's Artist of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic.''Eesti Elulood.'' Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2000 (= Eesti Entsüklopeedia 14) , S. 139 In 1971 a museum was opened in

dedicated to the life and work of the Kapp family musicians, including Kapp, his uncle Artur Kapp and his cousin Eugen Kapp.

Works

Incomplete List: * ''Ööpoeem'' (for Symphony Orchestra, 1942) * ''Põhjarannik'' (Heroic Choral Poem, 1958) * ''Lembitu'' (Opera, 1961) - Perhaps Kapp's Magnum Opus; An historical opera based on Estonia's fight for independence in the 13th century, including the

Battle of St. Matthew's Day The Battle of Matthew's Day ( et, Madisepäeva lahing) was fought near Viljandi (probably in Vanamõisa) on 21 September 1217Battle of St. Matthew's Day (September 21) @ during the Livonian Crusade. The adversaries were the Sword Brethren ...

and the eponymous Estonian elder of

Sakala County Sakala County ( Estonian: ''Sakala'', Latin: ''Saccalia'') was an ancient Estonian county that was first mentioned in print by Henry of Latvia in the early 13th century. Geography Sakala County is in northwestern Livonia, covering approximately ...

and military leader. The ancient Sakala County included the areas where Kapp grew up, so the themes were particularly close to his heart. * ''Kevadele'' (Cantata, 1963) In addition to these, Kapp also wrote two symphonies (In 1947 and 1955), as well as more than sixty choral and solo songs.

Partial discography

* ''Symphony No. 2'' - on "Baltic Voyage: Heroic Symphonies From Estonia",

Neeme Järvi Neeme Järvi (; born 7 June 1937) is an Estonian American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn. He initially studied music there, and later in Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevgeny Mravinsky, and Nikolai Rabinovich, ...

and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. * ''Elegie'' - on "Silent Moods", Juha Kangas and the

Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra The Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra (Finnish: ''Keski-Pohjanmaan Kamariorkesteri'') is an Musical ensemble, ensemble based in Kokkola, Western Finland. When configured as a larger symphony orchestra, reinforced with local musicians, the orchestra i ...

. * ''Põhjarannik'' - on "Neeme Jarvi: 70th Birthday Jubilee", Neeme Järvi,

Kristjan Järvi Kristjan Järvi (, alternate (U.S.) spelling: Kristian Järvi) (born 13 June 1972, Tallinn) is an Estonian American conductor, composer and producer born in Estonia, younger son of the conductor Neeme Järvi and brother of conductor Paavo Järv ...

, Estonian National Male Choir &

Symphony Orchestra An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families. There are typically four main sections of instruments: * bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, ce ...

Bibliography

* Helga Tõnson: ''Villem Kapp.'' Tallinn 1967

References

External links

1913 births 1964 deaths People from Suure-Jaani People from Kreis Fellin Estonian conductors (music) Male classical composers 20th-century classical composers Estonian music educators 20th-century Estonian composers 20th-century conductors (music) 20th-century male musicians Soviet composers Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre faculty People's Artists of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic {{estonia-composer-stub