Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1916

Death

:

1993

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Vocal

 

Erna Tauro was a Finnish composer born on January 22, 1912, in Helsinki. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father, Armas Tauro, was a composer and conductor, and her mother, Aino Tauro, was a pianist. Erna Tauro showed an early interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. Tauro studied at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, where she was a student of Selim Palmgren and Aarre Merikanto. She also studied in Paris with Nadia Boulanger, who was a renowned teacher of composition. Tauro's studies with Boulanger had a significant impact on her musical style, and she became interested in the neoclassical style of composition. Tauro's early works were influenced by Finnish folk music, and she often used folk melodies in her compositions. Her first major work was a piano concerto, which she composed in 1935. The concerto was well-received, and it helped establish Tauro as a promising young composer. In the 1940s, Tauro's music began to reflect her interest in neoclassicism. She composed several works in this style, including a string quartet and a piano sonata. Her neoclassical works were characterized by their clarity and simplicity, and they often featured a strong rhythmic drive. Tauro's most famous work is her Symphony No. 1, which she composed in 1953. The symphony is a large-scale work that reflects Tauro's interest in Finnish folk music and neoclassicism. The symphony is divided into four movements, and it features a prominent role for the timpani. The symphony was well-received, and it helped establish Tauro as one of Finland's leading composers. In addition to her symphony, Tauro composed several other orchestral works, including a suite for orchestra and a ballet. She also composed several chamber works, including a string quartet and a piano trio. Her chamber works were often characterized by their lyricism and expressive melodies. Tauro was also a prolific composer of choral music. She composed several works for choir, including a cantata and several settings of Finnish folk songs. Her choral works were often characterized by their rich harmonies and expressive melodies. Tauro's music was well-received in Finland, and she was awarded several prizes and honors for her work. In 1953, she was awarded the State Prize for Music, which was the highest honor for a Finnish composer. She was also awarded the Pro Finlandia Medal in 1962, which is a prestigious honor given to individuals who have made significant contributions to Finnish culture. Tauro continued to compose music throughout her life, and she remained active as a composer until her death in 1993. Her music has been performed and recorded by many prominent musicians and ensembles, and it continues to be admired for its lyricism, expressiveness, and clarity.

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