Johan Tamverk
Johan TamverkJune 14, 1906, Haapsalu – January 26, 1988, Tallinn
Member of the Estonian Composers' Union 1945–1950, since 1959
Sacred music, e.g. large-scale vocal works with the symphony orchestra and choral songs, form a significant part of composer and pedagogue Johan Tamverk’s oeuvre. The best known of his works is oratorio „David and Goliath“ for soloists, male choir and symphony orchestra (text: Peeter Sink after Bible). Additionally, he has composed works for symphony orchestra and wind orchestra, chamber music, e.g. solo songs.
Johan Tamverk graduated from Tallinn State Conservatoire in composition with Artur Kapp in 1928 and in music education under the supervision of Juhan Aavik in 1929.
He worked at Teacher Training Seminar in Läänemaa (1928–1931), hold the post as music teacher at Tartu Tartu Teacher Training College (1932–1937) and since 1937 (with intermissions) at several gymnasiums in Tallinn (e.g. head of Tallinn 23rd Secondary School music class), he was also headmaster and music teacher at Private Progymnasium of United Religious Educational Society in Tallinn (1937–1940), music inspector at Central House of People’s Amateur Art in Tallinn (1940–1941) and inspector at Tallinn Conservatoire (1942–1944). Tamverk was also active as a choral conductor, he conducted choirs of Tartu Female Song Society (1934–1937) and Tallinn Male Singers Society (1937–1939).
In 1950, Johan Tamverk was excluded from Estonian Composers’ Union due to ideological reasons and he wasn’t allowed to teach in Tallinn. In 1950–1956, Tamverk worked at Rakvere School of Pedagogy.
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