Ester Mägi

Ester Mägi ( born January 10, 1922 in Tallinn) is an Estonian composer.

Training

Ester Mägi began as a 16 -year-old taking piano lessons. Until 1951 she studied composition with Mart Saar at the Conservatory in Tallinn, the Estonian Academy of Music today. From 1951 to 1954 she studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Vissarion Schebalin.

Work

Ester Mägi is arguably the most important composer of Estonia in the 20th century. Famous are especially her piano sonata (1949 ), the Trio in D Minor ( 1950), a piano concerto (1953), a violin concerto (1958), a symphony (1968) and their composition Pietà ( 1990).

In addition, ester Mägi has composed numerous works of chamber music and choral music. In her artistic work, the influences of traditional Estonian folk music are recognizable.

In addition to her work as a composer, she was from 1954 to 1984 lecturer in music theory at the Conservatory in Tallinn.

Awards (selection)

• State Prize of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic ( 1980)
• Estonian Annual Prize for Music ( 1985)
• Order of the National Coat of Arms IV Class (1998)
• Honorary doctorate from the Estonian Academy of Music (1999)