Juhan Zeiger

August 27, 1897 Terikeste village, Kastre-Võnnu parish – October 25, 1969 Tallinn
Member of the Estonian Academic Society of Musicians (1937–1940)
Member of the Estonian Composers' Ubion since 1945
Buried in Tallinn Forest Cemetery

Juhan Zeiger was composer, ethnomusicologist, music teacher and choir and orchestra conductor, longtime active figure in Järvamaa county music life and author of monograph "Estonian Folk Tunes".

Juhan Zeiger studied in Hugo Treffner Gymnasium (1912–1914) and Tartu Alexander Gymnasium (1914–1918). He obtained the musical education in Berlin Stern Conservatory, where he studied composition (in the class of Alfred Willner), music theory and conducting (1922–1924).

He worked as a violinist in orchestra of Vanemuine Theatre (1915–1921) and music teacher in Rakvere Viru County Boys’ Gymnasium (1926–1927). Years 1927–1940 when Zeiger lived in Paide, became one of the most active period of his life: he worked as a music teacher as well as choir and orchestra conductor in several schools, conducted Paide Mixed Choir and Paide Male Choir, conducted local song festivals and song days, was the chairman of Järvamaa Department of the Estonian Singers’ Association as well as the chairman and musical director of Järvamaa theatre and music society Voog.

From 1940–1941 Juhan Zeiger was director of Väätsa incomplete secondary school and 1941–1944 director of Mäo elementary school and later Mäo incomplete secondary school. In 1946 Zeiger moved to Tallinn. He taught in Teachers’ Seminar (1946–1947), was artistic director of Jaan Tomp Culture House (1946–1948, now House of Blackheads), directed folk orchestras of Estonian Radio (1947) and Estonian SSR State Philharmony (1949–1950) and was pedagogue of folklore in Tallinn State Conservatory (1949–1950). From 1955, Juhan Zeiger was active as freelance composer.

Juhan Zeiger took part in expeditions of folklore collecting. His research on Estonian folk music is published in monograph "Eesti rahvaviisid" ("Estonian Folk Tunes", 1934) and "Rahva muusikalise loomingu aluseid ja traditsioone"  ("Foundations and Traditions of Musical Folk Art", 1970). He has written nearly 300 works based on folk music as well as made arrangements for folk music orchestra. He was director of folk music orchestras in III (1947) and IV General Dance Celebration (1950), his "Võrumaa pillilugu" ("Võrumaa Instrumental Piece") was in the programme of XV General Song Celebration (1960).

Great part of his oeuvre is formed by choral music. Mixed choir song "Kui lähed sõtta sõdimaie" ("When You Go to War") was in the programme of IX General Song Celebration (as the awarded work of the composition competition organised by Estonian Singers’ Union), "Õitse, maa ja müha, meri" ("Bloom, the Land and Roar, the Sea") for boys’ and male choir was performed in XXI General Song Celebration. His more popular choral songs are "Maa meiega" ("Land Is With Us"), "Sanctus", "Ann oli uhke" ("Ann Was Proud") and Christmas songs for children’s choir. Well-known solo songs based on developments of folk songs are "Viire takka" ("Lullaby"), "Sõsarsaared" ("Sister Islands"), "Vaeslapse laul" ("Orphan’s Song") and "Küla mul ütleb" ("The Village Is Telling"). His music is characterized by simple harmony and varied rhythm that makes it comprehensible to wide audience.

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