Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1949

Death

:

2001

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Orchestral

 

Raimo Kangro was a renowned Estonian composer who was born on October 26, 1949, in Tallinn, Estonia. He was the son of a well-known Estonian composer, Eugen Kapp, who was also a professor at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Kangro grew up in a musical family and was exposed to music from a very young age. He started playing the piano at the age of six and later learned to play the violin and the guitar. Kangro attended the Tallinn Music High School, where he studied composition under the guidance of his father. He later went on to study at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, where he received his degree in composition in 1973. During his studies, Kangro was heavily influenced by the works of composers such as Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók, and Sergei Prokofiev. After completing his studies, Kangro worked as a composer and music teacher in Tallinn. He also became a member of the Estonian Composers' Union in 1975. Kangro's early works were heavily influenced by the neoclassical style, which was popular in Estonia at the time. However, he later developed his own unique style, which was characterized by a blend of traditional Estonian folk music and modernist techniques. Kangro's early works include his Symphony No. 1, which was composed in 1974. The symphony is a neoclassical work that features a traditional four-movement structure. It was well-received by audiences and critics alike and helped establish Kangro as a promising young composer. In the 1980s, Kangro's style began to evolve, and he started incorporating elements of Estonian folk music into his compositions. This can be seen in works such as his Symphony No. 2, which was composed in 1982. The symphony features traditional Estonian folk melodies and rhythms, which are combined with modernist techniques to create a unique and innovative sound. Kangro's most famous work is his opera, "The Fire and the Nightingale," which was composed in 1987. The opera is based on a traditional Estonian folk tale and tells the story of a young girl who is kidnapped by a dragon. The opera features a blend of traditional Estonian folk music and modernist techniques, which creates a haunting and atmospheric sound. In addition to his opera, Kangro composed a number of other works that were inspired by Estonian folk music. These include his "Estonian Suite," which was composed in 1985, and his "Concerto for Flute and Orchestra," which was composed in 1990. Both works feature traditional Estonian folk melodies and rhythms, which are combined with modernist techniques to create a unique and innovative sound. Kangro's later works were characterized by a more experimental and avant-garde style. This can be seen in works such as his "Concerto for Piano and Orchestra," which was composed in 1995. The concerto features a complex and dissonant sound, which is created through the use of unconventional harmonies and rhythms. Kangro continued to compose music until his death in 2001. His contributions to Estonian music were significant, and he is remembered as one of the country's most important composers. His unique blend of traditional Estonian folk music and modernist techniques helped to establish a new sound in Estonian music, which has influenced generations of composers since.

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