Miina Härma

Miina Härma (up to Estnisierung her last name in 1935 Miina Hermann; * 28 Januarjul / February 9 1864greg in Kõrveküla, then community Raadi, Livonia, today rural community of Tartu, Estonia; .. † November 16, 1941 in Tartu) was an Estonian composer, choir director and organist.

Life and work

Miina Härma was born into a family of musicians and teachers. She attended school in Tartu. From the age of 15, she received piano and composition lessons with the Estonian composer and writer Karl August Hermann ( no relation).

From 1883 to 1890 Miina Härma studied as one of the first Estonians ever on the St. Petersburg Conservatory, the organ compartments ( with Louis Homilius ) and composition. After graduating, she stayed in Saint Petersburg. There she worked as a music teacher and organist. She has toured and abroad.

Miina Härma returned in 1894 to Tartu back. There she was organist and founded a renowned mixed choir ( since 1920 Miina Hermanni Lauluseltsi segakoor ).

From 1903 to 1915 Miina Härma lived in Kronstadt, where she mainly worked as a music teacher. During World War II she moved back to Tartu. In 1917 she became a music teacher at a girls' school (until 1929 ). At the same time, she was editor in chief of the monthly magazine Eesti Muusika Kuukirja and chairman of the " Tartu Association of Music " (Estonian Tartu Helikunsti Selts ). In 1919 she founded with others the Higher Music School of Tartu. In 1939 she was awarded an honorary doctorate of the University of Tartu and Honorary Fellow of the Tallinn Conservatory.

Miina Härma lived until her death in Tartu. She is now on the Raadi Cemetery of Tartu buried. Built in 1965 grave monument of granite comes from the Estonian sculptor Alexander Eller. The girls' high school where she taught from 1917, since 1964 bears her name. 1984, a monument was erected in their honor before Miina Härma Gümnaasium.

Musical work

Miina Härma has become known addition to her work as an organist and an active supporter of the Estonian musical life mainly as a choir director at Estonian song festivals and as a composer. She has authored about 200 choral works. It is distinguished by its lyrical tone. She also wrote three books of songs for choirs, ten Cavatinas, the cantata " Kalev yes Linda " (1894 ), well-known folk-song arrangements and the Singspiel Murueide tütar (1902 ).