Music News

12th Alo Mattiisen Music Days

From 3 to 9 March, music days dedicated to the Estonian composer Alo Matiisen take place in Jõgeva Gymnasium. Music days took its beginning in 1997 and since then have founded a certain place in Estonian culture room. Johanson and Brothers, Estonian VGV Trio, Tui Hirv and Naily Saripova, percussion quartet, Väljataga Vocal Quintet, Inna Lai on handbells, Mixed Choir of Estonian Defence Forcec, Mikk Dede and Vägilased will perform within the festival. Main event of the festival is state competition for youth vocal ensembles from 7 to 9 March. 51 ensembles will be judged by the jury staffed by Anna-Mariita Mattiisen, Raili Jaanson, Tiit Raud, Kait Tamra, Andres Ammas, Kulvo Tamra, Raul Talmar and Olav Ehala.

Alo Mattiisen was born in Jõgeva in 1961. He graduated from Tallinn Conservatoire in music pedagogy (1984) and in composition (1988). The output of Alo Mattiisen comprises instrumental music, large scale works, incidental music and mostly songs (86). He became legendary during the so called singing revolution (1988-1989) with the cycle „5 songs from the time of awakening” and song „No land is alone”. Alo Mattiisen was awarded ESSR Annual Music Prize (1988, 1989) and Cultural Prize of the Estonian Republic (1996). Alo Mattiisen deceased in 1996.

Agnes Toomla 

Back