Leo Tauts

April, 24, 1914, Narva – May, 3, 1973, Tallinn
Member of the Estonian Composers’ Union since 1947

Leo Tauts was a composer and conductor, acknowledged jazz pianist with exceptional skills and great improvisator. His popular songs (e.g. „Girl from the Kolkhoze“, „Youth Song“) and children songs form the main part of his oeuvre. He has also composed music for light music and folk orchestras and feature films. His cantata „Immortality“ („Surematus“) for mixed choir and symphony orchestra was performed at Estonian Song Festival in 1969. Hes songs has been sung by different singers, including beloved baritone Georg Ots.

Leo Tauts graudated from Tartu Higher Music School in Heino Eller’s composition class in 1939 and continued in economics at Tartu Univeristy. Since 1932, he started to perform as a pianist in cafes (1935–1939) and restaurants and in the mid 1960ies in Oleg Lundström Big Band, also in several ensembles.

Leo Tauts has also served as organist in Valga St. John’s Church (1934–1935) and worked as a conductor in Theatre Vanemuine (1940–1942), Landessender Reval Dance Capella, Estonian Radio Light Music Orchestra (1942–1947) and Light Music Orchestra of Estonian SSR State Philharmonic Society (1953–1955). Since 1947, Tauts was freelance composer.

His music have been recorded by Estonian Radio and can be found on several compilation discs.

© EMIC 2016

The texts on the EMIC's homepage are protected by the copyright law. They can be used for non-commercial purposes referring to the author (when specified) and source (Estonian Music Information Centre).