Kaljo Raid
Encyclopedia
Kaljo Raid was an Estonian composer, cellist and pastor.
He was born in Tallinn
. One of three children, he had an older brother and a twin sister. He studied composition at Tallinn Conservatory under Heino Eller
. His Symphony No. 1 was performed in 1944, the year of his graduation. He studied theology in Stockholm
from 1945 to 1946 and then at the Andover Newton Theological School
in Massachusetts
from 1946 to 1949. He taught music at Bethel College
in St. Paul, Minnesota, meeting Jacques Ibert
and Darius Milhaud
.
In 1954 he moved to Canada and became the pastor of the Estonian Baptist Church in Toronto
; he continued in this capacity for 35 years. As a result of a late marriage in 1982 he became stepfather to five children. After retiring in 1989 he devoted himself full-time to composition. He died at Richmond Hill, Ontario
in 2005.
Among his works are four symphonies and an opera on the life of Polycarp of Smyrna, Fiery Chariots (1993). He also completed the first movement of Eduard Tubin
's unfinished Symphony No. 11.
He was born in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
. One of three children, he had an older brother and a twin sister. He studied composition at Tallinn Conservatory under Heino Eller
Heino Eller
Heino Eller was an Estonian composer and composition teacher.Eller was born in Tartu, where he took private lessons in violin and music theory, played in several ensembles and orchestras, and performed as violin soloist. In 1907 he entered the Saint Petersburg Conservatory to study violin. From...
. His Symphony No. 1 was performed in 1944, the year of his graduation. He studied theology in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
from 1945 to 1946 and then at the Andover Newton Theological School
Andover Newton Theological School
Andover Newton Theological School is a graduate school and seminary located in Newton, Massachusetts. It is America's oldest graduate seminary and the nation's first graduate institution of any kind...
in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
from 1946 to 1949. He taught music at Bethel College
Bethel University (Minnesota)
Bethel University is a Christian higher education institution with approximately 6,000 students from 36 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs...
in St. Paul, Minnesota, meeting Jacques Ibert
Jacques Ibert
Jacques François Antoine Ibert was a French composer. Having studied music from an early age, he studied at the Paris Conservatoire and won its top prize, the Prix de Rome at his first attempt, despite studies interrupted by his service in World War I.Ibert pursued a successful composing career,...
and Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud
Darius Milhaud was a French composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six—also known as The Group of Six—and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. His compositions are influenced by jazz and make use of polytonality...
.
In 1954 he moved to Canada and became the pastor of the Estonian Baptist Church in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
; he continued in this capacity for 35 years. As a result of a late marriage in 1982 he became stepfather to five children. After retiring in 1989 he devoted himself full-time to composition. He died at Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Richmond Hill is a town located in Southern Ontario, Canada in the central portion of York Region, Ontario. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, being located about halfway between Toronto and Lake Simcoe...
in 2005.
Among his works are four symphonies and an opera on the life of Polycarp of Smyrna, Fiery Chariots (1993). He also completed the first movement of Eduard Tubin
Eduard Tubin
-Life:Tubin was born in Torila, Governorate of Livonia, Estonia. Both his parents were music lovers, and his father played trumpet and trombone in the village band. His first taste of music came at school where he learned flute and balalaika. Later, his father swapped a cow for a piano, and the...
's unfinished Symphony No. 11.
External links
- Official site with discography and list of works
- Obituary