Johannes Kappel

July 2, 1855 Rapla-Uusküla – June 1, 1907 Schömberg, Württemberg (Germany)

Johannes Kappel was the very first Estonian professional musician – he was organist and composer, author of many beloved choral songs.

Johannes Kappel was born in 1855 in Rapla, in a teacher’s family. His childhood and school years passed in Paide, where his father worked as a clerk, teacher and organist.
In 1872, Kappel went to St. Petersburg, where he worked initially as a teacher at a private boarding school. In 1876, ​​he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatoire, graduating five years later majoring in organ (Prof. Louis Homilius) and composition (Prof. Julius Johannsen), honoured with silver medal. About the time of final exams, he published the first collection of his choral songs Nightingale of Järvamaa, written during the studies at conservatoire.

After graduating from conservatoire, Kappel became organist at the church of St. Peterburg’s Dutch embassy, where he worked until his death. Kappel was also an active choir conductor, working with several choirs of Estonian communities in St. Petersburg, and being a long time conductor of Estonian Charity Choir.
Working in St. Petersburg, Kappel visited repeatedly Estonia. He was the chief conductor of the 3rd, 5th and the 6th Estonian Song Celebration. He also appeared as organist and pianist- accompanist, giving a concert with singers A. Tamm and E. Salme in time of the 5th Song Celebtration.
Falling ill with tuberculosis at the end of his life, the composer traveled to Germany to improve his health in a sanatorium in Schömberg, Germany. He died in the sanatorium on June 1, 1907.

Johannes Kappel mainly composed choral works. He has written about 50 choral songs and the first Estonian choral cantatas. He has also made several settings of folk tunes. Most of his songs are inspired by nature lyricism and the harmony of his songs follows traditions of romanticism. Kappel’s most popular songs are: Evening Winds Blow Secretly, Nightingale, Would I Be A Singing Bird, Oh, Spring, Away and Traveller’s Joy.
Kappel’s 3 choral cantatas are composed in 1881–1892, and titled as To the Sun (for male choir, 1892), Song of Estonian Emperor (for male choir and baritone solo) and Coronation Song (for male and mixed choir with piano). The two last of them, composed in 1881 and 1882, were created in occasion of coronation of Alexander the 3rd.
Kappel has also published choral songs collections – Nightingale of Järvamaa (1881), 12 Songs for Mixed Choir (1885), 10 Songs for Male Choir (1886), and learning books of music – School’s Singing Book (1900, 2nd release in 1905), which included more than 100 3- and 4- voice choral songs, and The Primary Teaching of Music (1903), which was in widespread use in Estonian schools in the beginning of the 20th century.
 

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