Andres Valkonen

b. June 21, 1951 Tallinn
Member of the Estonian Filmmakers Union since 1990

Andres Valkonen is acknowledged author of popular songs and film music. Many of his songs have become Estonian popular music classics.

Andres Valkonen graduated from the Tallinn Polytechnic Institute Faculty of Economics in 1973 and studied music theory in Georg Ots Tallinn Music School from 1978–1982.

He has worked as a senior economist in Tallinn City Government (1973–1980), music chief editor (1980–1995) and music consultant (1995–1999) in studio Tallinnfilm, in office equipment firm Reveko Bürooseadmete AS (1999–2001) and as a project manager in KTK Overalli AS (2001–2014).

He has played in several ensembles, including Viking (1965–1969), Väntorel (earlier Keldriline Heli; 1970–1971) and U.D.A. (1977–1981).

Andres Valkonen’s oeuvre includes nearly 100 songs, many of them have won prizes at several competitions like Arne Oit Song Competition, song contest "Tippmeloodia", song competition "Sea, Men and Land" ("Meri, mehed ja maa"), competition-concert "Tallinn-Tartu ’74", "Youth Songs ’74" ("Noorte laule ’74") and others. "Careless Mind and Flaming Heart" ["Muretut meelt ja südametuld"] was the winning song and "Hope" ["Lootus"] was given the Audience Prize at the Estonian National Final of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. His songs have been performed in Estonian Song Celebrations as well: "Hope" ["Lootus"], "May There Be At Least One Forest" ["Las jääda ükski mets"], "Small Nation, Tiny Country" ["Väikene rahvas, väikene maa"] and "Bread Cools Down" ["Leib jahtub"]. Most of his songs are written on texts by Leelo Tungal and Ott Arder.

Valkonen has written music for about 50 films, he has also been sound designer for more than 100 documentaries and newsreels.

In 1980, rock opera "Northern Maiden" ["Põhjaneitsi"] written in collaboration with Raimo Kangro was staged in Theatre Vanemuine. "Northern Maiden" was also staged in Kaunas State Musical Theatre in 1986.

Andres Valkonen has two author’s CD-s: "Valgus" (Hyper.records, 2001) and "Teine valgus" (Andres Valkonen, 2011). His music performed by ensemble Väntorel has been released on CD-s "Ma olen nahktiibadega väntorel" (SaluMuusik, 1997) and "Keldriline Heli" (Frotee, 2014). His compendium of songs has been published by SP Muusika (2013).

© EMIK 2018

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).