Adolf Johannes Vedro
October 16, 1890, Narva – September 27, 1944, HaapsaluMember of the Estonian Composers’ Union since 1940
Adolf Vedro has composed music in almost every major genre but the central work in his oeuvre is opera Kaupo (1932, libretto by Georg Tuksam). He has also written music for orchestra orchestra (e.g. symphoniettas), piano concerto, chamber music (e.g. sonata for Violin and Piano 1936), including works for piano (e.g. Runic Song No. 1–3) and incidental music for theatre. The vocal works comprise Victory Day’s mystery Coming of St. John for mixed choir and symphony orchestra (1937, text: Jaan Org), solo songs and a cappella choral music mainly for mixed choir (e.g. "The Magic Bird Game"). Vedro used in his compositions also Estonian folk music and tried to connect an old Estonian runic song with different composition techniques. He himself took part in folklore collecting.
In 1899–1901, Adolf Vedro studied at Narva St. Peter’s School and after that at Narva City School for six years. His first music teacher was his father. In childhood he used to play balalaika and madoline in folk orchestra, at the age of 14 he played violin, cornet and drums in Orchestra of Estonian National Association and Association of Fire Fighters’ Orchestra and double bass in Kreenholm Factory’s Orchestra.
In 1907–1012, Vedro worked as a clerck in Narva and St. Petersburg, where he played in non-professinal orchestra. In St. Petersburg he took private double-bass lessons from A. Zhirjakof and studied music theory with August Topman. From 1912, he started working as professional orchestral musician. In 1915–1917, he studied double-bass with V. Bech at Petrograd Conservatory (St. Petersburg Conservatory).
In 1917, Adolf Vedro returned to Estonia. He played double-bass in Estonia Theatre Symphony Orchestra and started teaching at Tallinn Higher Music School in 1920. In 1936, Vedro graduated as an external student in composition and double-bass from Tallinn Conservatory, where he taught music theory and double-bass until 1941 (since 1937 professor).
Vedro has compiled tutoral books and published music critics. He has also been active as a choral conductor (Baltic Manufacture’s mixed choir and mixed choir of Association of Nõmme House Owners) and artistic director of local song days in Nõmme, lecturer of the courses for music teachers organised by Estonian Ministry of Education, board member of Museums Association, member of the editorial team of the Almanac of Estonian Music, board member and chairman (1940) of Estonian Academic Society of Musicians and one of the founder of Estonian Composers’ Union in 1940. During the German Occupation he was removed from all offices and Vedro lived reclusively until his death.
Vedro’s music has been recorded by Estonian Radio and on several compilation LPs, his vocal music has been published in several choral compilations and songbooks.
In 1939, Adolf Vedro was awarded the First Class of the Order of Merit of the Estonian Red Cross.
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