Konstantin Jakob Türnpu
August 13, 1865, Klooga manor – April 16, 1927, TallinnComposer and conductor.
Türnpu began his music studies with learning the violin and organ. He founded his own mixed choir ''Salme'', 1884–1886 conducted the Lootus Society male choir. Before entering the Saint Petersburg Conservatory he furthered his training with Heinrich Stiehl and Ernst Reinicke. He graduated from the organ department of the conservatory in 1891 with Louis Homilius. After that he improved his skills in choral conducting with Wilhelm Berger in Berlin.
From 1892 he started to work as an organist at the Niguliste Church in Tallinn and a singing teacher at the German Gymnasium and Nikolai I Gymnasium. The same year he became the director of Niguliste mixed choir (Nikolai Gesangverein), additionally conducted also the Revaler Liedertafel mixed choir, performing large-scale vocal works with both choirs. 1916–1927 he conducted the Male Choir of Tallinn Male Song Society, having successful performances in Helsinki (1919) and Stockholm (1924). Türnpu was one of the founders of the Estonian Singers’ Union (1921) and was also its chairman 1925–1926. He was the general conductor of Song Festivals V and VI.
Türnpu's oeuvre consists of several solo songs and about 60 choral works, most of them for male choir. Best-known songs are ''Kyrie'', ''Morning of freedom'', ''Our childhood village lane'' and others. His early pieces that are written in the 19th century are lyrical and influenced by German late romatic era. Latter works are mainly patriotic and nature-based.
In 1930, Türnpu Fund was founded by the Estonian Singers’ Union. In 1969, Türnpu Home Museum was opened near Klooga beach, composer’s monument is located in Klooga (1932, sculptor Juhan Raudsepp).
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