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-Ja ...

, in the

Governorate of Livonia The Governorate of Livonia, also known as the Livonia Governorate, was a province (''guberniya'') and one of the Baltic governorates of the Russian Empire, Baltic Governorate-General until 1876. Governorate of Livonia bordered Governorate of E ...

of the

Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire that spanned most of northern Eurasia from its establishment in November 1721 until the proclamation of the Russian Republic in September 1917. At its height in the late 19th century, it covered about , roughl ...

(now

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

), 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 188716 June 1970) was an Estonian composer and pedagogue, known as the founder of contemporary Estonian symphonic music. Life and career Eller was born in Tartu on 7 March 1887, where he took private lessons in violin and ...

. In addition, Kapp studied with his uncle

Artur Kapp Artur Kapp (28 February 1878 – 14 January 1952) was an Estonians, 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 mu ...

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 Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

where he ran many famous choirs. After

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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 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

and his cousin

Eugen Kapp Eugen Kapp (29 October 1996) was an Estonian composer and music educator. Characterized by simple harmonies, march rhythms and an appealing melodic style, his music is reflective upon the musical ideas favoured by the Stalinist regime of the 19 ...

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 () was fought near Viljandi (probably in Vanamõisa, Viljandi County, Vanamõisa) on 21 September 1217 during the Livonian Crusade. The adversaries were the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, Sword Brethren (a German Cr ...

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 approximatel ...

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 Americans, Estonian American conductor. Early life Järvi was born in Tallinn. He initially studied music there, and later in Saint Petersburg, Leningrad at the Leningrad Conservatory under Yevge ...

and the

BBC Philharmonic Orchestra The BBC Philharmonic is a national British broadcasting symphony orchestra and is one of five radio orchestras maintained by the British Broadcasting Corporation. The Philharmonic is a department of the BBC North Group division based at Media ...

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

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

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

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

, 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: * String instruments, such as the violin, viola, cello, ...

Bibliography

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

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kapp, Villem 1913 births 1964 deaths People from Suure-Jaani People from Kreis Fellin Estonian male classical composers 20th-century Estonian classical composers Estonian music educators 20th-century Estonian composers 20th-century Estonian conductors (music) 20th-century Estonian male musicians Soviet composers Academic staff of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre People's Artists of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic Honoured Workers of the Arts Industry of the Estonian SSR Recipients of the Estonian SSR State Prize Recipients of the Order of the Badge of Honour