Stamp of the Month: June 2020

Heino Eller

The Estonian composer and music educator Heino Eller was born on March 7, 1887 in Tartu. He died 50 years ago on June 16, 1970 in Tallin.
 
Heino Eller received violin lessons as a child. From 1907 he studied violin, composition, music theory and law in Saint Petersburg. From 1920 to 1940 he taught composition and music theory at the higher music school in Tartu and shaped the so-called “Tartu composition school” during

Estonia 7.3.2012
this time. From 1940 until his death, Heino Eller was a lecturer at the State Conservatory in Tallinn, today’s Estonian Music and Theater Academy. The focus of Eller’s compositional work was on instrumental music. He is considered the co-founder of Estonian symphony and chamber

 

Soviet Union 7.3.1987

music.In his work, he was inspired by traditional Estonian folk tunes as well as impressionism, expressionism and other music trends of the 20th century. Frédéric Chopin, Edvard Grieg and Jean Sibelius also influenced his work. Eller’s oeuvre comprises three symphonies, several symphonic pieces, a violin concerto, five string quartets, four piano sonatas, two violin sonatas and over 200 smaller pieces.

 
The video shows the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Risto Joost with Heino Eller’s orchestral piece “Kodumaine viis” (homeland melody). Soloist: Age Juurikas (piano), recorded at the Laulupidu (Song Festival) 2019 in Tallinn.