Mihkel Lüdig
Encyclopedia
Mihkel Lüdig was an Estonian composer, organist
and choir
conductor. As a composer, he particularly worked on a cappella
choral songs. Lüdig is considered one of the major organisers of large-scale musical events in 20th century Estonia. He was a student of Nicolai Soloviev
.
of the Kaarli kirik.
In 1920–1922, Lüdig was an organ
teacher in the Tallinn Higher School of Music, one of whose founders he had been in 1919. Lüdig was also a director of the school in 1919–1923.
In 1925, Lüdig moved to Argentina
, hoping to find better work. However, the rumours of lack of organist
s in Buenos Aires
turned out to be severely overblown, so his career there began at the post of an inn pianist; later he also conducted for a local German male choir. In 1929, Lüdig moved back to Estonia
. Until 1932, he taught organ
playing and played it himself in Tallinn
; then, he moved to Pärnu
and became a conductor of the Endla
society. In 1934–1958 — until his death — he lived and worked in Vändra
.
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 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...
conductor. As a composer, he particularly worked on a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
choral songs. Lüdig is considered one of the major organisers of large-scale musical events in 20th century Estonia. He was a student of Nicolai Soloviev
Nicolai Soloviev
Nicolai Feopemptovich Soloviev sometimes Solovyov was a Russian music critic, composer, and teacher at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. His notable composition students include Samuel Maykapar, Mihkel Lüdig, and Artur Lemba...
.
Events
Lüdig initiated and led a number of events:- the Singing Day of PärnuPärnuPärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
in 1903; - the opening of new building of VanemuineVanemuineVanemuine, a literal translation from is a theatre in Tartu, Estonia. It is the first Estonian language theatre, founded as the Vanemuine Society on June 24, 1865 following the idea of Johann Voldemar Jannsen. In 1869 Vanemuine Society organised the first song festival in Estonia...
in 1906; - the Music Day of TartuTartuTartu 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...
in 1909; - the seventh General Singing Party of Estonia in 1910;
- the opening of EndlaEndlaEndla may refer to several places in Estonia:*Endla Theatre, theatre in Pärnu*Endla, Jõgeva County, village in Jõgeva Parish, Jõgeva County**Lake Endla, lake in Kärde village, Jõgeva Parish, Jõgeva County...
in 1911.
Business
Lüdig was among the founders of Esto-Muusika, the most successful music supply business in Estonia of the time, and the short-lived monthly journal Helikund, edited by Eduard Visnapuu.Career
In 1918–1924, Lüdig worked as an organistOrganist
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...
of the Kaarli kirik.
In 1920–1922, Lüdig was an organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
teacher in the Tallinn Higher School of Music, one of whose founders he had been in 1919. Lüdig was also a director of the school in 1919–1923.
In 1925, Lüdig moved to Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, hoping to find better work. However, the rumours of lack of 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...
s in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
turned out to be severely overblown, so his career there began at the post of an inn pianist; later he also conducted for a local German male choir. In 1929, Lüdig moved back to 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...
. Until 1932, he taught organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
playing and played it himself in 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...
; then, he moved to Pärnu
Pärnu
Pärnu is a city in southwestern Estonia on the coast of Pärnu Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Riga in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular summer vacation resort with many hotels, restaurants, and large beaches. The Pärnu River flows through the city and drains into the Gulf of Riga...
and became a conductor of the Endla
Endla
Endla may refer to several places in Estonia:*Endla Theatre, theatre in Pärnu*Endla, Jõgeva County, village in Jõgeva Parish, Jõgeva County**Lake Endla, lake in Kärde village, Jõgeva Parish, Jõgeva County...
society. In 1934–1958 — until his death — he lived and worked in Vändra
Vändra
Vändra is a borough with a municipality status in Pärnu County, Estonia. Vändra is surrounded by Vändra Parish in which the borough itself is not part of. It has a population of 2,500 and an area of 3.28 km²....
.