Villem Kapp
Villem Kapp (7 September 1913 – 24 March 1964) was an Estonian and Soviet composer, music teacher, and organist. He was born in Suure-Jaani, in Livonia Governorate of the Russian Empire, now in Viljandi County, Estonia, and died in Tallinn. He was named Honoured Artist of the Estonian SSR in 1955, received the State Prize of the Estonian SSR in 1950, and became People's Artist of the Estonian SSR in 1963.
Kapp was the son of the choral conductor Hans Kapp. From 1935 to 1938, his first music teacher was his uncle, Artur Kapp. He graduated from the Tallinn Conservatory in 1938, having studied organ with August Topman, and completed composition studies there with Heino Eller in 1944.
From 1944 to 1951, Kapp taught at a music school in Tallinn. He also taught at the Tallinn Conservatory from 1944 until his death; he became an associate professor in 1956 and head of its composition department in 1957. Alongside his teaching, he remained active as a choral conductor and organist and served on the board of the Estonian Composers' Union. His students included L. Veevo, U. Vinter, G. Ots, and V. Tormis.
Kapp wrote in a range of genres, and his choral music became especially popular. His works include the opera Lembitu, first performed in Tallinn in 1961; the cantatas Greeting (1949) and Spring (1963); the vocal-symphonic poem North Coast (1958); two symphonies; a quintet (1957); a sonata (1942); and more than fifty songs. His vocal works also include the song cycle Happy Day (1952), to texts by Estonian poets, and songs such as Little Men's Song, The Hammer, Come and Say Farewell, New Eyes, Fisherman's Song, Seagull, and The Forest.
A memorial museum to Artur and Villem Kapp was established in Suure-Jaani, where music festivals are held annually in their honour.