jmc's classics
Edward Tubin (1905-1982) is another obscure composer. he is from Estonia. When we think of Estonia we think of Arvo Part who is still alive at this time. Tubin lived out his life in Sweden. After WWll Estonia became part of the Soviet union along with Latvia and Lithuania and became independent in 1991. another famous Estonian musician is the famous conductor Neemi Jarvi. Tubin was not known or famous during his lifetime outside of his homeland. In the 1990's that orchestras and soloists began to explore and play his works. I have recently purchased a CD of his Second and Sixth Symphonies. They are both in three movements and they date from 1937 and 1954 respectively. There was a lot that happened in those 17 years. It is on the BIS label. It is the Swedish Radio Symphony orchestra conducted by none other that Neeme Jarvi himself! He wrote nine symphonies and a ballet called Kratt., two violin concertos, a concerto for double bass and a concerto for balalaika. A Balalaika is a Russian musical instrument used in Russian folk music. The Russian version of the guitar. Estonia has a population of a littile over one miullion with two thirds being Estonians. There are a lot of Russians living there. The Estonian language is not an Indo European language. it is part of the Fino- Uralic language family which includes Finish and Hungarian. The Estonians are mainly Lutheran but there is an Eastern Orthodox minority there. There are many similarities between Estonia and Finland. I have located a website on Estonian music site emic.ee which deals with the music of Estonia. It describes his music as nationalistic in spirit and the "strict spirit of neoclassicism" I would suggest that this page be checked out for more on Tubin and the music of Estonia. I hope that his music does become more popular. Estonia is a little known country to Americans. It is a secular state. In the past it has had a large population of Germans and Russians. which have influenced Estonian culture.
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