Miina Härma
Encyclopedia
Miina Härma was a widely-recognised Estonian composer
. She was the second Estonian second musician
with higher education.
Her greatest contribution is perhaps the fact that she took organ music to the countryside, as virtually no skilled organist
s gave concerts outside of towns.
During her 60-year period of creativity, she wrote more than 200 choral songs, 10 cavatina
s, a canto
, "Kalev
and Linda
" and much more. Most of her works were forms of vocal music
, rather than instrumentals.
, Livonia, Russian Empire
to a local teacher and his wife. There were seven children in the family. Both of her parents were musically educated.
Härma began to learn music on her own with a small organ
her father bought her. When she was 15, Härma began studying with K. A. Hermann, who gave her lessons in both musical composition
and piano
.
In 1883, Härma entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory
as its only organ student that year. She graduated in 1880, but continued to live in Saint Petersburg
because it was very hard to find work in the Baltic governorates. In 1894, the fifth Estonian Song Festival
took place, which led to the formation of Härma's own choir.
In 1903, as financial problems overwhelmed her, Härma moved to Kronstadt
, Governorate of Saint Petersburg. She had to leave the city in 1915 because of the beginning of the First World War, as no civilians were allowed to stay there.
Despite the fact that music had rapidly developed in Tartu
, it was still hard to find a job as a music teacher, since there were almost no students due to the war. In 1917, Härma became a music teacher in a school that is now the Miina Härma Gymnasium.
Miina Härma died on November 16, 1941 in Tartu. She is buried in the Raadi Cemetery
.
Music of Estonia
The earliest mentioning of Estonian singing and dancing dates back to Saxo Grammaticus' Gesta Danorum . Saxo speaks of Estonian warriors who sang at night while waiting for an epic battle. The Estonian folk music tradition is broadly divided into 2 periods...
. She was the second Estonian second musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
with higher education.
Her greatest contribution is perhaps the fact that she took organ music to the countryside, as virtually no skilled 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 gave concerts outside of towns.
During her 60-year period of creativity, she wrote more than 200 choral songs, 10 cavatina
Cavatina
Cavatina is a musical term, originally a short song of simple character, without a second strain or any repetition of the air...
s, a canto
Canto
The canto is a principal form of division in a long poem, especially the epic. The word comes from Italian, meaning "song" or singing. Famous examples of epic poetry which employ the canto division are Lord Byron's Don Juan, Valmiki's Ramayana , Dante's The Divine Comedy , and Ezra Pound's The...
, "Kalev
Kalev (mythology)
In Estonian mythology and Kreutzwald's epic poem "Kalevipoeg", King Kalev was the father of King Kalevipoeg and the husband of Linda.Toompea, a hill in the centre of Tallinn, was said to be the tumulus over his grave, erected by Linda in memory of him. It is now Estonia's centre of government.In an...
and Linda
Linda (Estonian mythology)
In the Estonian mythology and Kreutzwald's epic "Kalevipoeg", Linda was the mother of Kalevipoeg and the wife of Kalev.She has given the name to several Estonian locations, including the Lindakivi in Lake Ülemiste...
" and much more. Most of her works were forms of vocal music
Vocal music
Vocal music is a genre of music performed by one or more singers, with or without instrumental accompaniment, in which singing provides the main focus of the piece. Music which employs singing but does not feature it prominently is generally considered instrumental music Vocal music is a genre of...
, rather than instrumentals.
Biography
Härma was born Miina Hermann in 1864 in KõrvekülaKorveküla
Kõrveküla is a small borough in Tartu Parish, Tartu County in eastern Estonia.-External links:*...
, Livonia, 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 local teacher and his wife. There were seven children in the family. Both of her parents were musically educated.
Härma began to learn music on her own with a small organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
her father bought her. When she was 15, Härma began studying with K. A. Hermann, who gave her lessons in both musical composition
Musical composition
Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
and 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...
.
In 1883, Härma entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory
Saint 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:...
as its only organ student that year. She graduated in 1880, but continued to live in Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
because it was very hard to find work in the Baltic governorates. In 1894, the fifth Estonian Song Festival
Estonian Song Festival
The Estonian Song Festival is one of the largest amateur choral events in the world, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity...
took place, which led to the formation of Härma's own choir.
In 1903, as financial problems overwhelmed her, Härma moved to Kronstadt
Kronstadt
Kronstadt , also spelled Kronshtadt, Cronstadt |crown]]" and Stadt for "city"); is a municipal town in Kronshtadtsky District of the federal city of St. Petersburg, Russia, located on Kotlin Island, west of Saint Petersburg proper near the head of the Gulf of Finland. Population: It is also...
, Governorate of Saint Petersburg. She had to leave the city in 1915 because of the beginning of the First World War, as no civilians were allowed to stay there.
Despite the fact that music had rapidly developed 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...
, it was still hard to find a job as a music teacher, since there were almost no students due to the war. In 1917, Härma became a music teacher in a school that is now the Miina Härma Gymnasium.
Miina Härma died on November 16, 1941 in Tartu. She is buried in the Raadi Cemetery
Raadi cemetery
The Raadi cemetery) is one of the oldest and largest cemeteries in Tartu, in Estonia, dating from the 18th century. Many prominent historical figures from the history of Estonia are buried here. It is also the largest burial ground of the Baltic Germans in Estonia after the destruction of Kopli...
.