Rudolf Tobias

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Rudolf Tobias
Kreis Wiek, Governorate of Estonia, Russian Empire
Died29 October 1918(1918-10-29) (aged 45)
Berlin, German Empire
Resting placeKullamaa
OccupationComposer
EraRomantic
Spouse
Louise Vilde
​
(m. 1902)​
Children

Rudolf Tobias (29 May [O.S. 17 May] 1873 – 29 October 1918) was the first Estonian professional composer,[1] as well as a professional organist. He studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. His compositions include among others piano works, string quartets[2] and an oratorio, Des Jona Sendung (Jonah's Mission) (1908, revised and premiered 1909, later reconstructed by Vardo Rumessen).

Early life

Rudolf Tobias was born in

Selja, Käina Parish, on the island of Hiiumaa. He was the son of local parish clerk Johannes Tobias and his wife Emilie.[3] Tobias received his first musical training from his father. Under his father's tutelage, he began musical training at an early age and composing his first composition exercises from 1882 when he was 9 years old.[4] In 1885 he entered the Haapsalu school and studied piano under Catharina von Gernet, a local pianist. After he graduated, Tobias moved with his parents to Kullamaa, where his father had become the parish clerk. In 1889 Tobias entered Tallinn Nicolai High School, where he passed the tutor's exam and studied both organ and music theory with Ernst Reinicke, the Tallinn Cathedral organist.[4]

In 1893 Tobias furthered his studies at the

Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov. In 1897 Tobias graduated from conservatory with two special subjects, presenting as his graduate work the cantata "Johannes Damascenus". After graduation Tobias worked as organist and choir conductor of the Saint Petersburg Estonian St. John's Church from 1898 to 1904. During this time he also performed there his own compositions.[4]

Career

In 1904 Tobias moved to

Noor Eesti
.

In January 1908 Tobias briefly moved to Paris, France. Shortly after that he lived briefly in Munich and Dresden in Germany and Prague and Dubí in present-day Czech Republic. At the end of 1908 he moved to Leipzig.

In 1910 Tobias moved to Berlin, where he worked as both an organist and journalist. In 1911 he was an active member of the evaluation committee of the

Consortium of German Composers (Genossenschaft Deutscher Tonsetzer).[4] In 1914 he acquired German citizenship, and then full professorship at the Royal Academy of Music.[4]

In August 1913 Tobias visited his homeland to view opening ceremonies of the new Estonia Theatre, where he also conducted his own compositions. After returning to Berlin, Tobias arranged his authorship concert where passages of his oratorio "Mission of Jonah" were performed. After the outbreak of World War I Tobias was enrolled in the German army where he worked as an interpreter. Tobias was released from service for medical reasons in 1916 and he returned to work in the Royal Academy of Music.

Death and legacy

Tobias died of

Republic of Estonia, Tobias's remains were reburied on 7 June 1992 in Kullamaa.[4]

In commemoration of Rudolf Tobias' life and work, a monument was erected in

Selja, Käina Parish in the house where he was born.[4]

Rudolf Tobias was engraved on the front side of the Estonian 50 krooni bill used between 1994 and 2010.

The Tobias String Quartet (Tobiase keelpillikvartett) is named after this composer.[5]

Gallery

References

  1. ^ "Tobias, Rudolf". Estonian Music Information Centre (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  2. ^ Tobias String Quartet at www.tobiasquartet.com
  3. ^ "Rudolf Tobias - esimene suurkuju Eesti muusikaajaloos" (in Estonian). Miksike. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Rudolf Tobiase biograafia". Eesti Muusika Infokeskus. Archived from the original on 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2010-06-01.
  5. ^ "Tobias String Quartet". Estonian Music Information Centre. Retrieved 2022-05-27.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rudolf Tobias.
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