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The new book about Estonian organ composer Peeter Süda by Estonian Music Information Centre

Estonian Music Information Centre has recently issued a book "Composer and organist Peeter Süda", the fourth volume in the series "Estonian Classical Music". Earlier "Composer Cyrillus Kreek" (2003), "Choir conductor and composer Gustav Ernesaks" (2004) and "Organist and composer Hugo Lepnurm" (2004) have been published. The publication is supported by Estonian Ministry of Culture and Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Peeter Süda (1883–1920) is an Estonian composer who devoted all of his talent and inspiration to one instrument – the organ. Süda’s seven completed organ opuses constitute a much-treasured contribution to the beginnings of Estonian organ music. Composer's only choral work, the "Flax Puller", is the first choral fugue in Estonian music based on folklore. Estonian Theatre and Music Museum was based on the heritage of Peeter Süda.

The book introduces the life and work of the composer – his studies at the St. Petersburg conservatoire in Russia, friendship with composers Mart Saar, Juhan Aavik and Cyrillus Kreek, collecting Estonian folk songs, activities as organ soloist and Tallinn Music Higher School's pedagogue.
The text is written by Estonian organist Ines Maidre. The book includes a CD with Süda's all organ works and choral song "Flax Puller", and the organ arrangement of F. Liszt's symphonic poem "Tasso. Lamento e trionfo". Organ music is recorded by Ines Maidre in 1996 in Helsinki, Finland, on the organs of the St. John's Church and the Old Church.

Estonian Music Information Centre will present the new book on December 17, at the Kihelkonna Church of island Saaremaa. Peeter Süda was born deep in the forests of West-Estonian Saaremaa island, on Tammiku farmstead, which was part of the Atla village in Lümanda parish, then a part of Kihelkonna. At the Kihelkonna Church's great organ – one of Saaremaa’s biggest, built by the master Andreas Stein in 1805 – Süda spent many long hours in his youth. He played organ of Kihelkonna church at a concert held to fund his studies in 1903 and gave two concerts at Kihelkonna in 1909 with singer Aino Tamm. 

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