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 was a series of events from 1987 to 1991 that led to the restoration of independence of the three Soviet-occupied Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania at the end of the Cold War. The term was coined by a ...

including the ‘Five Patriotic Songs’ series.

Early life and education

Alo Mattiisen was born in the town of

Jõgeva Jõgeva 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 recently on the lands ...

. 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 ...

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 wi ...

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 Rita Rätsepp (born 17 July 1962) is an Estonian actress and psychologist whose career began in the mid-1980s. She has performed on onstage, in television and in motion pictures. Early life and education Rita Rätsepp was born in rural Lääne-Vi ...

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 capital city, capital and List of cities in Estonia, most populous city of Estonia. Situated on a Tallinn Bay, bay in north Estonia, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea, it has a population of (as of 2025) and ...

, Harjumaa, at the age of 35.

Awards

* In 1988 and 1989, Mattiisen was given the Yearly Culture Award of Music of

Estonian SSR The Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic, (abbreviated Estonian SSR, Soviet Estonia, or simply Estonia ) was an administrative subunit ( union republic) of the former Soviet Union (USSR), covering the occupied and annexed territory of Estonia ...

. * 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 Estonian male composers Burials at Metsakalmistu Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni 20th-century Estonian composers 20th-century Estonian musicians 20th-century Estonian male musicians {{Estonia-composer-stub