Erkki-Sven Tüür (born 16 October 1959) is üüan Estonian composer.
Life and career
Tüür () was born in Kärdla on the Estonian island of Hiiumaa. He studied flute and percussion at the Tallinn Music School from 1976 to 1980 and composition with Jaan Rääts at the Tallinn Academy of Music and privately with Lepo Sumera from 1980 to 1984. From 1979 to 1984 he headed the rock group In Spe, which quickly became one of the most popular in Estonia.
Tüür left In Spe to concentrate on composition, and with the advent of perestroika soon found an audience in the west. The Helsinki Philharmonic, the Hilliard Ensemble, the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra are among those who have commissioned works from him. He was awarded the Cultural Prize of Estonia in 1991 and 1996 and the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature, the Arts and Science in 1998.
His Concerto for Viola and Orchestra, entitled "Illuminatio", was premiered by violist Lars Anders Tomter and South Jutland Symphony Orchestra in October 2008.
Selected works
Tüür's works are published by Edition Peters, Henry Litolff's Verlag, Fennica Gehrman (owner of the Warner/Chappell Music Finland and Edition Fazer's serious music catalogues), Sovetsky Kompozitor, Antes Edition and Eres Edition.
Stage
Wallenberg, Opera in 2 acts (2001); libretto by Lutz Hübner
Symphonies
Symphony No. 1 (1984) Symphony No. 2 (1987) Symphony No. 3 (1997) Magma, Symphony No. 4 in one movement for solo percussion and orchestra (2002) (also see under Concertante) Symphony No. 5 for electric guitar, orchestra and big band (2004) Symphony No. 6 "Strata" in one movement (2007) Symphony No. 7 "Pietas" for mixed chorus and orchestra (2009) Symphony No. 8 (2010) Symphony No. 9 "Mythos" (2017)
Orchestral
Insula Deserta for string orchestra (1989) Searching for Roots (Hommage a Sibelius) (1990) Zeitraum (1992) Architectonics VI for chamber orchestra (1992) (also see under Architectonics) Show (Action – Passion – Illusion) for string orchestra (1993) Action Passion Illusion Crystallisatio for chamber orchestra (1995) Lighthouse for string orchestra (1997) Exodus (1999) Aditus: In memoriam Lepo Sumera (2001–2002) Aqua for string orchestra (2003) Rada ja jäljed (The Path and the Traces) for string orchestra (2005) Flamma for string orchestra (2011) De Profundis for orchestra (2013) Le poids des vies non vécues for orchestra (2013) Tormiloits / Incantation of Tempest for orchestra (2014) L'ombra della croce (Dedicated to Manfred Eicher) for string orchestra (2014) Sow the Wind... for orchestra (2015) Phantasma for orchestra (2018)
Concertante
Concerto for cello and orchestra (1996) Concerto for violin and orchestra (1999) Ardor, Concerto for marimba and orchestra (2001) Magma, Symphony No. 4 in one movement for solo percussion and orchestra (2002) Concerto for bassoon and orchestra (2003) Noesis, Concerto for violin, clarinet and orchestra (2005) Concerto for piano and orchestra (2006) Whistles and Whispers from Uluru for recorder and string orchestra (2007) Prophecy for accordion and orchestra (2007) Illuminatio, Concerto for viola and orchestra (2008) Peregrinus Ecstaticus, Concerto for clarinet and orchestra (2013) Solastalgia for piccolo flute and orchestra (2016) Angel's Share, Concerto no. 2 for violin and orchestra (2017)
Architectonics
Architectonics I for woodwind quintet (1984) Architectonics II for clarinet, cello and piano (1986) Architectonics III "Postmetaminimal Dream" for flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 pianos, synthesizer, percussion (2 players), violin and cello (1990) Architectonics IV "Per Cadenza ad Metasimplicity" for violin (or electric violin), bassoon, baritone saxophone and piano (or synthesizer) (1990) Architectonics V for electric guitar and amplified piano (1991) Architectonics VI for chamber orchestra (1992) Architectonics VII for flute, cello and harpsichord (or flute, bass clarinet and piano) (1992)