Aado Velmet
March 15, 1910 Vaemla village, Käina parish – August 13, 1974 TallinnMember of the Estonian Composers' Union since 1945
Composer, choral conductor and pedagogue Aado Velmet (Adolf Willmann until 1936) graduated from Läänemaa Teachers’ Seminar in 1932, thereafter Tallinn Conservatory in piano under Theodor Lemba in 1937 and composition as a astudent of Heino Eller in 1947.
Velmet worked as a teacher in Suuremõisa and Kärdla (1935–1939), Pärnu (1939–1940), Tallinn Teachers’ Seminar (1940–1941), and as a teacher of music theory subjects in Tallinn State Conservatory (1944–1974, docent from 1962, head of music theory department 1950–1961 and wind music department 1962–1974). Velmet conducted male choir Eesti Laulumehed in 1941 and founded the female choir Ilo in 1946 which he conducted till 1963. He was the general conductor of female choirs at the general song celebrations in 1950, 1955 and 1960. Aado Velmet has compiled and edited solo song books „Eesti rahvalaulud“ („Estonian folk songs“, alternately with Harri Kõrvits, 1956–1972).
The greater part of Velmet’s oeuvre is formed by choral music, also solo songs and music for children hold the important place. Cantata „On the Swing Mountain“ (1961) and poem „Home Oaks“ (1960) is written for choir and orchestra. As a source of text and music Velmet has used folk tunes and folklore a lot, his works are simple and folksy, warmhearted and humoristic. He has made choral arrangements from other composers’ works. His own choral works are published by Eesti Riiklik Kirjastus (1961). Velmet has been ascribed the title of Estonian SSR Merited Worker of Art (1956).
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