Kapp, Artur
Kapp, Artur
Kapp, Artur, significant Estonian composer, father of Eugen (Arturovich) Kapp and uncle of Villem Kapp; b. Suure-Jaani, Feb. 28, 1878; d. there, Jan. 14, 1952. He began his music training with his father, an organist and choral conductor; then continued his studies at the St. Petersburg Cons., where he received degrees in organ (1898) and composition (1900), studying the latter with Rimsky-Korsakov and Liadov. From 1903 to 1920 he was director of the Astrakhan Cons.; returning to Estonia, he was prof, of composition at the Tallinn Cons. (1924--43). He was the first Estonian composer to use native folk material, which he utilized in his first orch. suite (1906). His 4th Sym. was awarded the State Prize (1949) and the 1st Stalin Prize (1950).
Works
orch.:Don Carlos, symphonic poem (1900); 4 suites (1906, 1930, 1936, 1947); 5 syms. (1924–49); 5 concertos (1934–6). chamber: Violin Sonata (1897); String Quintet (1918); Trio for Violin, Cello, and Organ (1936); String Sextet (1951). vocal:Hiob, oratorio (1929); 4 cantatas, including For Peace (1951); choral works; numerous songs.
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire