Raimo Kangro’s (1949–2001) music is playful and mobile, often with pulsating rhythm. His most significant contributions are instrumental pieces that follow the neoclassical principles and also opera. Kangro experimented with merging classical and rock music in some pieces. He studied piano in the Tartu Music School (with Ene Arro) and in 1973 graduated from the composition department of the Tallinn State Conservatory (studied with Jaan Rääts ja Eino Tamberg). Kangro worked in the Estonian Radio computer center (1972–1973), as the music director in the Estonian Television (1975–1976), as the consultant for the Estonian Composers’ Union (1977–1985), as the director of the Estonian Music Foundation (1993–2000) and as the Chairman of the Estonian Composers’ Union (2000–2001). Kangro also taught composition at the Estonian Academy of Music (1989–2001). His students included Tõnis Kaumann, Tõnu Kõrvits, Timo Steiner and Ülo Krigul. Raimo Kangro was one of the founders of the Estonian Music Days, being the artistic director of this festival in 1979–2000. He was the composer-in-residence by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (1998/1999). He has been awarded many national culture awards and in 2001 Kangro posthumously received Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana 4th class award from the Estonian President.
Estonian Music Days &
ISCM jointly present
World
Music Days
Through the Forest of Songs
Tallinn / Tartu
2.–10.05.2019
