Short bio Rudolf Tobias
Full biography Rudolf Tobias
Rudolf Tobias (1873-1918) was an Estonian composer and organist, widely considered to be the founder of Estonia's classical music tradition. Tobias was born into a musical family in Käina, Estonia, and began his musical studies at an early age. He went on to study music in St. Petersburg and Berlin, where he developed his distinct musical style, blending elements of Estonian folk music with the classical and romantic traditions.
One of Tobias' most significant works is Estonia's first oratorio titled "Jonah", which he composed in 1907. The oratorio was based on a biblical story and premiered in Tartu, Estonia, to great critical acclaim. Tobias also composed numerous works for piano, organ, choir, and orchestra, many of which were inspired by Estonian folk music and mythology.
Despite his promising career, Tobias' life was cut short by the outbreak of World War I, and he died in 1918 in Berlin, Germany, at the age of 44. However, his legacy lives on, and his contributions to Estonian classical music have been widely recognized both in Estonia and internationally. Tobias' childhood home in Käina has been converted into a museum in his honor, and many of his works are still performed and celebrated in Estonia and beyond.
Tobias' daughter, Helen Tobias-Duesberg, also became a well-known composer, continuing her father's legacy in Estonian classical music.
Compositions featuring Rudolf Tobias
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prelude for organ in D major | 2:39 min | Keyboard | 1914 |
| 2 | Fugue for organ in D minor | 5:22 min | Keyboard | 1914 |
| 3 | Macht' hoch die Tür, chaconne for organ | 7:13 min | Keyboard | 1914 |
| 4 | Lied ohne Worte (Song without Words), for piano | 3:50 min | Keyboard | 1910 |
| 5 | String quartet No 2 in C minor | 33:17 min | Chamber Music | 1902 |
| 6 | Largo: Wisset ihr nicht, for organ ("Pfingstgesang") | 4:39 min | Keyboard | 1900 |
| 7 | String Quartet No. 1 in D minor | 30:42 min | Chamber Music | 1899 |
| 8 | Julius Caesar Overture for orchestra | 10:19 min | Orchestral | 1896 |
| 9 | Kleine Choralvorspiele (5), for organ | 7:43 min | Keyboard | 1892 |
| 10 | Vivit!, for chorus | 4:48 min | Choral | - |
| 11 | Agnus Dei, for soprano & organ | 5:45 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 12 | Praeludium & Fuge for organ in C minor | 4:06 min | Keyboard | - |
| 13 | Otsekui hirv, for chorus | 6:00 min | Choral | - |
| 14 | Ostermorgen, for chorus | 1:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 15 | Oster Vorspiel, for chorus | 1:40 min | Choral | - |
| 16 | Nun ruhen alle Wälder, chorale prelude for organ | 5:28 min | Keyboard | - |
| 17 | Lobt Gott ihr Christen allzugleich, prelude for organ | 1:45 min | Keyboard | - |
| 18 | Liberi Dei, for chorus | 4:00 min | Choral | - |
| 19 | Kleine Karfreitagsmotette, for chorus | 3:04 min | Choral | - |
| 20 | Eks teie tea, for chorus | 4:19 min | Choral | - |
| 21 | Des Jona Sendung (Jonah's Mission), oratorio | 5:16 min | Choral | - |
| 22 | Choralvorspiele (12), for organ | 31:29 min | Keyboard | - |
| 23 | Ascendit in coelum, for chorus | 2:57 min | Choral | - |
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