Eduard Tubin

Estonian-Swedish composer, born 18 June 1905 in Torila near Kallaste, Estonia, died 17 November 1982 in Handen in Stockholm County.

He was a well-established composer in Estonia when he fled to Sweden in 1944 due to the Soviet occupation. In his new homeland, he never achieved a position in music life that was in proportion to his qualifications; he worked for many years as a music archivist at Drottningholmsteatern. However, he continued to receive much attention in Estonia, despite his exile, and made regular visits there.

His music is on a tonal basis but over the years became increasingly free tonal. In most of his symphonies he expresses himself powerfully, perhaps most of all in the dramatic and outraged Sixth Symphony (1954), while other works are more romantic, e.g. the first violin concerto (1941-42). In some works he adapted folk music, e.g. Sinfonietta over Estonian motifs (1940) and Suite over Estonian dance songs for violin and orchestra (1974).

In 1932 he married the actress Linda Pirn and the same year their son Rein Tubin was born. After the divorce, he married in 1941 the ballet dancer Elfriede Saarik (later Erika Tubin). Their son Eino was born in 1942.