Heino Eller (1887 - 1970)

[madaboutmahler]

Our normal General Musicianship teacher at Junior Academy today was not here, so we had Sten Lassmann, who turns out to be the champion of the Estonian composer Heino Eller. We studied his Toccata, which is pretty impressive in terms of structure and melodic use, and a brilliant piece also. Quite keen to explore more of his music now, especially with the enthusiasm Lassmann expressed to us for this composer as you can imagine!

Here he is playing the Toccata:
http://www.youtube.com/v/4ekvD1GU0dY

Any thoughts?

[Scion7]

Another "just getting to know" musician.  He's got a fairly extensive list of compositions.  His life was struck hard by WW2, as his (pianist) wife was brutally murdered by the Nazis in an Estonian concentration camp in 1942 due to her being a Jew (from Warsaw).

Anna Kremer (Eller)



There have been some Meloydia LP's issued, which will be about as common as frog hair outside of the Baltic area.
Will take time for much of his output to be recorded and issued on CD.  Probably a long, long time, unfortunately.

[Scion7]

WORKS BY GENRE               

Orchestra
Pastime, suite for orchestra (1914 [for piano]; orchestrated 1930)
Twilight, symphonic picture, chamber orchestra (1917)
Dawn, symphonic poem (1915-18 [for piano]; orchestrated 1920)
Night Calls, symphonic poem, orchestra (1921/1960)
Symphonic Scherzo in A, orchestra (1921/1960)
Symphonic Legend, orchestra (1923/1938)
Phantoms, symphonic poem, orchestra (1924/1932)
In the Shade and in the Sunshine, symphonic picture, orchestra (1926/1969)
Symphonic Burlesque, orchestra (1928)
Nenia, string orchestra (1928/1969)
An Episode from the Revolution Time, symphonic picture, orchestra (1934/1967)
Waltz-Fantasy in B minor, orchestra (1936)
Symphony No. 1, "In modo mixolydio", orchestra (1936)
White Night, suite for orchestra (1939)
Music for Strings (1942/1963) [1st red. "Introduction and Fugato"]
Lyrical Suite, string orchestra (1945) [based on selections from piano work "10 Lyrical Pieces", 1942-43]
Dance Suite, orchestra (1944)
Festive Overture in D, orchestra (1945)
Symphony No. 2 in E minor, orchestra (1948, unfinished)
Flight of the Eagle, symphonic poem, orchestra (1950/1962)
The Singing Fields, symphonic poem, orchestra (1951)
Five Pieces for String Orchestra (1953) [from piano works dating from 1916-53]
Andante moderato (Romance) [D minor] and Dance [in G], string orchestra (1953?)
Symphony No. 3 in C minor, orchestra (1955-61)
Sinfonietta in G minor, string orchestra (1967)

Band or Wind Orchestra
Overture in C, wind orchestra (1948)
Festive March in B flat, wind orchestra (1951)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
Prelude in G minor, cello and orchestra (1917)
Elegy in E minor, harp and string orchestra (1931/1969)
Lyrical Piece No. 1 in B flat minor, oboe and orchestra (1932)
Violin Concerto in B minor (1937/1964)
Ballad in E minor, cello and orchestra (1944/1966)
Capriccio in D dorian, violin and orchestra (1968) [3rd mvt of violin and piano work "Three Pieces", 1949]
Three Pieces, flute and piano (or string orchestra (1952)
Lyrical Piece No. 2 in G major, oboe and string orchestra (1955)
Fantasy in G minor, violin and orchestra (1964)

Chamber
Lyrical Piece No. 1 in E, violin, cello and piano (1915)
Lyrical Piece No. 2 in F minor, violin, cello and piano (1915)
String Quartet No. 1 in C minor (1925)
String Quartet No. 2 in F minor (1931)
Two Subminiatures, string quartet (1960) [from 2 mvts of piano work "13 Pieces on Estonian Motifs"1940–41]
String Quartet No. 3 in B flat (1945)
String Quartet No. 4 in D minor (1953)
Four Pieces, string quartet (1954)
String Quartet No. 5 in G minor (1959)
Lento assai in D minor (Sad Song), string quartet (1950-60)
Intermezzo in G minor, string quartet (1960?)
Allegro moderato in G, string quartet (196?)

[Scion7]

Instrument and Piano
Réverie, violin and piano (1912, lost)
Northern Tune in E minor, violin and piano (1912)
Moment musicale in F sharp minor, violin and piano (1912)
Canzonetta in G, violin and piano (1912)
Old Dance in G, cello and piano (1913)
Scherzo in D, violin and piano (1914)
Intermezzo in E flat, violin and piano (1916)
Fantasy in G minor, violin and piano (1916)
Allegretto in D, violin and piano (1917)
In the Moonlight, violin and piano (1918)
Berceuse (Lullaby) in E minor, violin and piano (1920?)
Poem in A flat, cello and piano (1921)
Evening Song in G, cello and piano (1921?)
Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor (1922)
Romance in G, cello and piano (1924)
Pines, violin and piano (1929)
Lyrical Waltz in D minor, violin and piano (1930?/1931)
Improvisation in C minor, violin and piano (1931?)
Andante religioso (Andante serioso) in D minor, cello and piano (or organ) (1931)
Andante and Allegro, violin and piano (1932)
Valse mélancolique in G minor, violin and piano (1933)
Prelude in G minor, cello and piano (1933)
Méditation in B minor, double bass and piano (1935)
Ballad in B minor, violin and piano (1937)'Little Waltz in E, violin and piano (194?)
Sostenuto in B minor, violin and piano (194?)
Prelude in E minor, cello and piano (1956) [from piano work "10 Lyrical Pieces", 1942-43]
Ballad in E minor, cello and piano (1944)
Violin Sonata No. 2 in D minor (1946)
Three Pieces, violin and piano (1949)
Molto sostenuto–Allegro vivo–Molto sostenuto in D, violin and piano (195?)
Wedding Song and Dance, violin and piano (1951)
Three Pieces, flute and piano (1952)
Evening Song in G flat, violin and piano (1952?)
Lyrical Piece No. 2 in G, oboe and piano (1955)
Old Dance in G, basson and piano (1956?)
Adagio in A minor, violin and piano (1956)
Evening Song in C, horn and piano (1957?)
Dance in G, violin and piano (1960?)
Violin Sonata No. 3 (1969, unfinished)

Solo Instrument
Fantasy, violin (1931)
Open Spaces, violin (1940)

Piano
Piano Music in Folk Tune (14 pieces) (1965)
12 Bagatelles, piano (1961)
Allegro animato in F minor, piano (196?)
Waltz in B flat minor, piano 4-hands (196?)
Romance in B flat major, piano (1950-60)
Piano Sonata No. 4 in E minor (1958)
Sonatina in F sharp minor, piano (1956?)
Ballad in C sharp minor, piano (1955)
Six Pieces, piano (1953)
Moderato cantando in D, piano (195?)
Eight Pieces, piano (1948)
Four Lyrical Pieces, piano (1945-47)
Six Pieces (Estonian Suite), piano (1941-47)
Sonatina in G minor, piano (1946)
Piano Sonata No. 3 in E flat minor, piano (1944)
14 Piano Pieces (1943)
Intermezzo in G minor, piano (1943)
10 Lyrical Pieces, piano (1942-43)
Prelude in C sharp minor, piano (1942)
Prelude in E minor, piano (1942)
Prelude in B minor, piano (1942)
In the Character of a Dance, in F sharp minor, piano (1941)
13 Pieces on Estonian Motifs, piano (1940-41)
Piano Sonata No. 2 in C sharp minor (1940)
Sostenuto for left hand, in C sharp minor, piano (1940)
Estonian Wedding March in D, piano (194?)
Lyrical Waltz in D minor, piano (194?)
Moderato assai in G, piano (194?)
Allegro animato in D sharp minor, piano (1939)
Moderato assai (Variations) in B minor, piano (1939)
Tempo di marcia in F sharp minor, piano (1939?)
Allegro scherzando in D, piano (1938)
Intimate Moment in E flat minor, piano (1938)
Rumination in B, piano (1938)
Prelude in G minor, piano (1938?)
Danse-caprice, piano (1936?)
Méditation, piano (1936)
Butterfly, piano (1935)
Scherzino in B minor, piano (1935)
Little Waltz in E, piano (1935)
Estonian Dance, piano (1934)
Nocturne in E flat minor, piano (1934?)
Five Preludes, piano (1932-34)
Perpetuum mobile in D, piano (1933)
Four Preludes (Book III), piano (1921-32)
Waltz in B, piano (1931)
Prelude in B flat minor, piano (1930)
Dance in B minor, piano (193?)
Vivace in A flat, piano (193?)
Bells, piano (1929)
Prelude in B flat minor, piano (1929)
Prelude in C, piano (1929)
Prelude in E flat minor, piano (1929?)
Evening Song in G flat, piano (1921)
Elegiac Dance in C minor, piano (1921)
Spiritoso in D flat, piano (1921)
Toccata in B minor, piano (1921)
Piano Sonata No. 1 in A minor, piano (1920)
Seven Preludes (Book II), piano (1920)
Allegro (Toccata) in B, piano (1919)
Andante sostenuto in G, piano (1919?)
Etude in G flat, piano (1919)
La fille du nord, piano (1919)
Largo in E minor, piano (1919)
Moderato sostenuto in B minor, piano (1919/1960)
Pastorale in A flat, piano (1919)
Etude (Allegro) in A flat, piano (1918)
Homeland Tune in E, piano (1918/1945?)
Caprice in B minor, piano (1917/1924)
Danse du Faune, piano (1917)
Episode from "Revolution Time" in A flat minor, piano (1917)
Etude in G flat, piano (1917)
Sheperd's Song in F sharp minor, piano (1917?)
Seven Preludes (Book I), piano (1914-17)
Etude in F minor, piano (1916)
Humoresque (Annoying Fly) in F, piano (1916)
Two Dances, piano, piano (1916)
Miniature in G sharp minor, piano (1916)
Veloce e leggiero in A flat, piano (1916)
Impromptu in B flat minor, piano (1915)
Moderato assai in B flat minor, piano (1915)
Musical Moment in F sharp minor, piano (1915)
Nocturne in B, piano (1915)
Waltz in B flat minor, piano (1915)
Allegro con fuoco in F minor, piano (1914)
Andante moderato in G minor, piano (1914/1942)
Furioso in E flat minor, piano (1914?)
Molto vivo in F sharp minor, piano (1914?)
Presto in F sharp major, piano (1914?)
Romance in F sharp, piano (1914)
Allegretto No. 1 in F sharp minor, piano (1913)
Allegretto No 2 in F sharp minor, piano (1913)
Andantino in B minor, piano (1913)
Berceuse (Lullaby) in A flat, piano (1913)
Etude in E flat minor (time signature 12/8), piano (1913)
Etude in E flat minor (time signature 3/8), piano (1913)
Moderato in F, piano (1913)
Waltz in A flat, piano (1913)
Waltz in B flat, piano (1913)
Fantasy in B flat minor, piano (1912)
Musical Box in G major, piano (1912)
Moderato in A minor, piano (1912)
Theme and Variations in E, piano (1912)
Caprice in F sharp minor, piano (1911)
Andante in E, piano (1910)
Ballad in B flat minor, piano (1910)
Chanson triste in D minor, piano (1910)
Impromptu in F minor, piano (1910?)
Fantasy in F minor, piano (1910?)
Allegro moderato in C minor, piano (1909)
Larghetto in A, piano (1909)
Sostenuto in G minor, piano (1909)

[Scion7]

Vocal
Vocalise in G, voice and piano (1917)
Moderato sostenuto in D minor, voice, viola and piano (1921)
Three Songs from the collection "Aino Tamm's repertoire of Estonian folk songs", voice and piano (1922)
    - Slave's sigh
    - An orphan
    - Cuckoo, sing
Stalin – Flag Carrier of Peace, voice and piano (1951) [text: Lea Rummo]
In Spring Morning, voice and piano (1952) [text: Otto Roots]
Mother Volga, voice and piano (1952) [text: Otto Roots]

Choral
On the River (At the Riverside), male chorus (1951) [text: Otto Roots]
Song About a Smith, male chorus (1951) [text: Ilmar Sikemäe]
On the Sea, male chorus (1951) [text: Otto Roots]

[vandermolen]

I very strongly recommend this wonderful disc (it is also now part of a two CD collection 'Music from Estonia' but the single CD release is currently available dirt-cheap on Amazon UK and Amazon.com). It is a must because of the terrific First Symphony by Kaljo Raid.
[asin]B00007JISY[/asin]

[Scion7]

LOL, ok, but what about the Eller pieces on it?   

[vandermolen]

LOL, ok, but what about the Eller pieces on it?   

Good point 

Beautiful, all of them, lyrical, poetic and moving. The double CD album contains another Eller piece too.

[springrite]

Good point 

Beautiful, all of them, lyrical, poetic and moving. The double CD album contains another Eller piece too.

Wish I bought the double CD, but I had already purchased the single one. Good stuff, all of pieces. But the Raid stands out more, though.

[vandermolen]

Wish I bought the double CD, but I had already purchased the single one. Good stuff, all of pieces. But the Raid stands out more, though.

Paul, you could buy 'Music from Estonia Volume 2' which is the other CD in its original manifestation. It contains Eller's 'Twilight' and other worthwhile material by other composers. On Amazon UK you can pick it up for £1.99 second hand. Agree with you about the magnificent Raid Symphony - one of my favourite works.

[springrite]

Paul, you could buy 'Music from Estonia Volume 2' which is the other CD in its original manifestation. It contains Eller's 'Twilight' and other worthwhile material by other composers. On Amazon UK you can pick it up for £1.99 second hand. Agree with you about the magnificent Raid Symphony - one of my favourite works.

Thanks for the pointer!

[vandermolen]

Have always admired the music of Eller and this CD is marvellous. I like every work but especially the 'Symphonic Legend' - an eloquent, mysterious and poetic work with echoes of the sea or Liadov's 'The Enchanted Lake':
[asin]B07HN4B33B[/asin]
There is something heartwarming about Eller's music which I find very appealing. There are echoes of Ravel in places.

[SymphonicAddict]

The 3 discs above have given me much enjoyment, each has memorable works which I'm discovering. The 1st disc features music for string orchestra, imbued with soulful melodies and longing feelings, a lovely disc overall. The Five Pieces for string orchestra and the Elegy for harp and string orchestra were my favorites, they contain the deepest and most touching music.

The 2nd disc contains his symphonic poems (Dawn, The Singing Fields, Phantoms, In the Shadow and in the Sun, and Twilight) and the Violin Concerto. They are highly atmospheric, colourful, sometimes delicate, and the orchestration is remarkable. Superb music in all respects.

The last disc is the newest one, being the clear highlight on it the Symphonic Legend. I agree with Jeffrey about its greatness. It's just marvelous, evocative, magical, mystical, exuberant, with plenty of Impressionism. For me it's an early masterpiece.

Now we need the proper recordings of his other 2 symphonies (1 & 3).

[Irons]

Thanks to Jeffrey who pointed me in the direction Ondine CD. It holds pride of place in my admittedly smallish CD collection.

On LP, I have a recording of the first two string quartets. This is a different sound world to the violin concerto and Symphonic Legend. I find both quartets a tough listen.

[vandermolen]

The 3 discs above have given me much enjoyment, each has memorable works which I'm discovering. The 1st disc features music for string orchestra, imbued with soulful melodies and longing feelings, a lovely disc overall. The Five Pieces for string orchestra and the Elegy for harp and string orchestra were my favorites, they contain the deepest and most touching music.

The 2nd disc contains his symphonic poems (Dawn, The Singing Fields, Phantoms, In the Shadow and in the Sun, and Twilight) and the Violin Concerto. They are highly atmospheric, colourful, sometimes delicate, and the orchestration is remarkable. Superb music in all respects.

The last disc is the newest one, being the clear highlight on it the Symphonic Legend. I agree with Jeffrey about its greatness. It's just marvelous, evocative, magical, mystical, exuberant, with plenty of Impressionism. For me it's an early masterpiece.

Now we need the proper recordings of his other 2 symphonies (1 & 3).

All fine CDs Cesar and totally agree with you about the other Eller symphonies. Am glad that Lol likes the Ondine disc as well.

[SymphonicAddict]

All fine CDs Cesar and totally agree with you about the other Eller symphonies. Am glad that Lol likes the Ondine disc as well.

I just found a recording of the 1st Symphony on YouTube. It seems like a live recording, but it has good sound.

http://www.youtube.com/v/etBKv5SNjiE

[vandermolen]

I really enjoyed this new release. Possibly even more than the earlier volume. 'Night Calls' and the Symphonic Suite from 'White Night', apparently one of Eller's most important works, were great new discoveries. I can play this CD right through with much pleasure. Poetic and atmospheric scores:
[asin][/asin]

[Roy Bland]

https://www.emic.ee/?sisu=heliloojad&mid=58&id=11&lang=eng&action=view&method=teosed

[some guy]

Interesting dates.

Very close to the 1882 to 1971 dates of a close neighbor....

(Geographically close, not musically.)

[Roasted Swan]

for what its worth - most of these Eller/Ondine etc discs can be heard on Spotify