Priit Raik

July 9, 1948 Väike-Maarja –January 27, 2008 Tartu
Member of the Estonian Composers' Union since 1982

Composer, conductor and pedagogue Priit Raik was one of the most beloved and active person in Estonian wind music scene. His music has constantly been in the repertoire of youth, amateur and professional wind orchestras.

Priit Raik graduated from the Tartu Music School in clarinet as a student of Aadu Regi in 1968 and Tallinn Sate Conservatory in wind orchestra conducting under Leopold Vigla and Vello Loogna in 1973. In conservatory he also studied composition with Eugen Kapp and Anatoli Garshnek.

From 1970–1973, Raik worked as an editor of music broadcasts in Estonian Radio, and 1982–1990 as a pedagogue of wind orchestra conducting in Tallinn State Conservatory. As a conductor he started to work in 1970ies: he conducted military orchestra (1973–1982), instructed wind orchestras in Tallinn 12th Vocational High School (1982–1984), Tallinn 22nd Secondary School (1982–1988) and Tallinn state Conservatory (1984–1990). He conducted his own works also in general song celebrations. From 1990, Raik worked in Finland, being a lecturer of theory subjects in Palmgren Conservatory in Pori since 1992.

Priit Raik has composed mainly for wind orchestras at various levels of difficulty (In the Moonlight, The Sea Maiden, Musica festiva, overtures Gaudeamus, Of Holy War, cycles 3 x ¾, Jolly Intermezzos, Summer Music I-II), but also numerous popular songs ("Õismäe walts", "Mulgi song", "Star shirt", "My land", "Beginning of the happiness", "Fairy-tale", "I search the way"). "Bird's-eye Primroses" won the prize at the Estonian Radio Song Competition in 1985. His wind pieces Light Morning, In the Moonlight, Home Place, Song Festival Overture, To Fatherland, Of Holy War has been performed in general song celebrations. Raik has compiled schoolbooks on music theory and solfeggio (incl. Solfeggio I–IV, 2003–2006).

His works has been published by Editions Marc Reift and Blosari. Priit Raik has been ascribed the honorary tilte of the Estonian SSR Merited Worker of Art.

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