Mart Saar
Encyclopedia
Mart Saar was an Estonian
composer
, organist
and collector of folk songs.
, then part of the Livonian Governorate, Russian Empire
, to a family of forest keepers. He received his education in the village school at Kaansoo
and the Suure-Jaani
parish school. His music teacher in the Suure-Jaani parish school was Joosep Kapp, the father of Artur Kapp
, another famous Estonian composer
. Additionally, Saar's father was a talented organist
, who gave him lessons at home.
. He graduated in 1908 but chose to continue his studies. After graduation in 1911, he became a music teacher in Tartu
. Ten years later, in 1921, he moved to Tallinn
, Estonia
as a freelance composer and organist. He spent his summers in his native borough Hüpassaare.
an music of the early 19th century.
Later in his life, Saar combined Estonian folk music
with more contemporary sounds. He mixed vocals into his symphonies
. In addition to composing, Saar also wrote lyrics
to some of his song
s. Usually, these lyrics express a love for Estonia and nature
. They also address the brevity of life. Saar's lyrics have been compared to the poetry
of Anna Haava and Juhan Liiv
.
choir
include:
Works for an all-male
choir include:
Works for an all-female
choir include:
Solo
songs include:
Piano
music tracks include:
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
and collector of folk songs.
Childhood
Saar was born at the small borough of Hüpassaare, EstoniaEstonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, then part of the Livonian Governorate, Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
, to a family of forest keepers. He received his education in the village school at Kaansoo
Kaansoo
Kaansoo is a village in Vändra Parish, Pärnu County in western-central Estonia....
and the Suure-Jaani
Suure-Jaani
Suure-Jaani is a town in the northern part of the county of Viljandimaa in Southern Central Estonia, 25 kilometres north of the town of Viljandi. Suure-Jaani is the centre of Suure-Jaani rural municipality.-History:...
parish school. His music teacher in the Suure-Jaani parish school was Joosep Kapp, the father of Artur Kapp
Artur Kapp
Artur Kapp was an 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 musician...
, another famous Estonian composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. Additionally, Saar's father was a talented organist
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, who gave him lessons at home.
Adult life
In 1901, Saar left home to study music at the Saint Petersburg ConservatorySaint Petersburg Conservatory
The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory is a music school in Saint Petersburg. In 2004, the conservatory had around 275 faculty members and 1,400 students.-History:...
. He graduated in 1908 but chose to continue his studies. After graduation in 1911, he became a music teacher in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
. Ten years later, in 1921, he moved to Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
as a freelance composer and organist. He spent his summers in his native borough Hüpassaare.
Career
Early in his career, Saar was influenced by the EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an music of the early 19th century.
Later in his life, Saar combined Estonian folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
with more contemporary sounds. He mixed vocals into his symphonies
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
. In addition to composing, Saar also wrote lyrics
Lyrics
Lyrics are a set of words that make up a song. The writer of lyrics is a lyricist or lyrist. The meaning of lyrics can either be explicit or implicit. Some lyrics are abstract, almost unintelligible, and, in such cases, their explication emphasizes form, articulation, meter, and symmetry of...
to some of his song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s. Usually, these lyrics express a love for Estonia and nature
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
. They also address the brevity of life. Saar's lyrics have been compared to the poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
of Anna Haava and Juhan Liiv
Juhan Liiv
Juhan Liiv is one of Estonia's most famous poets.-Childhood and education:...
.
Selected works
Works for a mixed-genderGender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
include:
- Põhjavaim (Northern Spirit)
- Seitse Sammeldunud Sängi (Seven Moss-Clad Tombs)
- Oh Kodumaa (Oh, My Homeland)
- Mis Sa Nutad, tammekene? (Why Are You Weeping, Oak Tree?)
- Kõver Kuuseke (Crooked Fir)
- Mälestus (A Memory)
- Allik (Wellspring)
Works for an all-male
Male
Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
choir include:
- Küll ma Laulaks (I Would Sing)
Works for an all-female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
choir include:
- Päikesele (To The Sun)
Solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
songs include:
- Must Lind (Black Bird)
- Lauliku Talveüksindus (Singer's Winter Loneliness)
Piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
music tracks include:
- 20 Rahvaviisi (20 Folk Songs)
- Eesti Süidid (Estonian Suites)
- Prelüüd ja Fuuga G-duur (Prelude and Fugue in G)
- Humoresk (Humoresque)
- Skizze (Preludes)