Tamberg, Eino

Tamberg, Eino, oustanding Estonian composer and pedagogue; b. Tallinn, May 27, 1930. He was a composition student of Eugen Kapp at the Tallinn Cons., graduating in 1953. From 1953 to 1959 he was a sound engineer for the Estonian Radio. He served as artistic consultant to the Estonian Composers Union from 1960 to 1969. In 1968 he became a teacher of composition at the Estonian Academy of Music, where he was made chairman of the composition dept. in 1978. In 1999 he was honored with the Estonian State Cultural Award in recognition of his eminence as a composer and as an influential teacher. Tamberg’s most important contribution to Estonian music is found in his dramatic and symphonic scores. His music is notable for its mastery of form, and for its inventive use of extended tonality and free atonality.

Works

dramatic: Opera: The House of Iron (Tallinn, July 15, 1965); Cyrano de Bergerac (1974; Tallinn, July 2, 1976); Flight (1982; Tallinn, Dec. 30, 1983); Creatures, chamber opera (1992). Ballet: Ballet-Symphony (1959; Schwerin, March 10, 1960); The Boy and the Butterfly (Tallinn, Nov. 30, 1963); Joanna tentata (1970; Tallinn, Jan. 23, 1971). ORCH.: Concerto Grosso (1956; Moscow, July 10, 1957); Symphonic Dances (Riga, Dec. 22, 1957); Toccata (1967); Trumpet Concerto (Tallinn, Nov. 21, 1972); 4 syms.: No. 1 (1978; Tallinn, Jan. 27, 1979), No. 2 (Tallinn, Oct. 23, 1986), No. 3 (Tallinn, Nov. 12, 1989), No. 4 (1998); Violin Concerto (Tallinn, Oct. 17, 1981); Alto Saxophone Concerto (1987; Tallinn, May 6, 1988); Journey for Strings (1990; Toronto, May 15, 1991); Prelude (Tallinn, May 15, 1993); Nocturne (1994); Music for Percussion and Orch. (1994; Tallinn, March 23, 1995); Clarinet Concerto (1996); Sensitive Journey for Clarinet and Chamber Orch. (1996). CHAMBER: String Quartet (1958); 5 Pieces for Oboe and Piano (1970); 2 wind quintets (1975, 1984); Waiting for Alto Flute, Clarinet, Percussion, Violin, and Cello (1991); Musica triste for Flute, Vibraphone, and Strings (1991); Music for 5 for 5 Instruments (1992); A Play for 5 in 4 Acts for Saxophone Quartet and Percussion (1994); piano pieces. VOCAL: Moonlight Oratorio for 2 Narrators, Soprano, Baritone, Chorus, and Orch. (1962; Tartu, Feb. 17, 1963); Fanfares of Victory, cantata for Bass, Chorus, and Orch. (1975); Amores, oratorio for Vocal Soloists, Chorus, and Orch. (1981; Tallinn, March 27, 1983); Concerto for Mezzo-soprano and Orch. (1985; Tallinn, Sept. 15, 1986); Night Songs for Mezzo-soprano, Flute, Violin, and Guitar (1992); other songs.

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire