Sumera was born in Tallinn and studied composition at the Tallinn Conservatory. His first teacher was Heino Eller, a famous
advocate of Estonian music. Later he studied with Heino Jürisalu and got a post-graduate course at the Moscow
Conservatory.
For five years he work as a recording producer for the Estonian Radio, and in 1978 he became a professor and member
of the teaching staff at the Estonian Academy of Music.
Sumera has taught at the summer courses in Darmstadt and at the Karlsruhe Music College.
His works have won several prizes, among them awards for film-scores in Cannes.
On his music
Lepo Sumera suited very well in the group of Baltic composers such as Arvo Pärt, Erkki-Sven Tüür and Peteris
Vasks. Nevertheless his music has a very personal touch, wandering through various stylistic periods, applying all the
essential composition techniques.
His music is never 'difficult', and does not use any serial techniques, but on the other hand it is neither easy music either.
In some works we find elements of minimal-music, in other traces of early classical music. Typical to his music is the subtle
treatment of rhythm and an independent dramaturgy of timbres.
Sumera was one of the most important symphonic composers in Estonia, but he has always been interested in chamber
and electronic music as well.
1973 - Fugett ja post lüüd (Fughetta and Postlude), piano. Publ. Edition49
1975 - Elust ja surmast (On life and death), Cantata for mixed choir and orchestra. Text
by Ly Seppel. Publ. Edition49.
1976 - Pianissimo, piano. Publ. Edition49
1976 - Mäng (Game), windquintet. Publ. Edition49
1977 - Kaks pala sooloviiulile (Two pieces for violin), violin. Publ. Edition49
1977 - Malera Kasuku Trio, pianotrio. (Composed, together with Raimo Kangro and Mati Kuulberg).
1977 - Muusika kammerorkestrile (Music for chamber orchestra), flute, French horn ,
percussion and strings. Publ. Fazer.
1977 - Sarvelugu (Horn history), French horn. Publ. Edition49
1977-78 - Anselmi lugu (Anselm's history), music for a ballet in 3 acts. Choreography by
Mai Murdmaa after the fairytale Der goldene Topf by E.T.A.Hoffmann. Publ. Edition49
1978 - In Es, 2 pianos. Publ. Sikorski and Editions49.
1978-83 - Seenekantaat (Mushroom Cantata), mixed choir, flute, piano, percussion. Four
parts: Carmen veris (1978), Timor (1980), Carmen autumnis (1982) and Luxuria (1983). Text in latin
by Henn-Kaarel Hellat. Publ. Edition49
1980 - Olümpiamuusika I, II (Olympiamusic I, II), orchestra and tape. Composed for
the opening of the Olympic Sail-Regatta in Tallinn. Publ. Edition49
1981 - Kaks pala aastat 1981 (Two pieces from the year 1981), piano. Titles of the pieces:
1981 and Pardon, Fryderyk!. Publ. Edition49
1981 - Esimene sümfoonia (Symphony nr.1), orchestra. Publ. Fazer
1981 - Pantomiim (Pantomime), Ensemble of Renaissance-instruments. Libretto by Kalle
Kurg. Publ. Edition49
1982 - Liblikas, kes ärkas talvel üles (The butterfly, that woke up in winter),
pianopiece for children. Publ. Edition49
1983 - Pikseloits (Thunder incantation), orchestra and speaker ad lib. Text based on
Estonian folkpoem. Publ. Edition49
1983 - Quasi improvisata, violin and any keyboard instrument. Publ. Edition49
1984 - Teine sümfoonia (Symphony nr.2), orchestra. Publ. Fazer
1984 - Kaks capriccio't sooloklarnetile (Two capriccio's for clarinet), clarinet. Publ. Edition49
1984 - Nukker Toreador (The sad Toreador), pianopiece for children. Publ. Sikorski and
Editions49
1984 - Targem anneb järele (The wiser gives in), pianopiece for children. Publ. Sikorski
and Editions49
1985 - Kui tume veel kauaks ka sinu maa (If your country will stay dark for long), mixed
choir a capella. Text by Juhan Liiv. Publ. Edition49
1985 - Valss (Waltz), violin and piano. Publ. Edition49
1985 - Kümme Kaanonit (Ten canons), 2 pianos. Publ. Edition49
1986 - Senza metro, clarinet in A and piano. Publ. Edition49
1986-88 - Jaschtscheritsa (Lizard), music for a ballet in three acts after Alexander Wolodin's
theatre-piece. Publ. Fazer
1988 - Quasi improvisata II, acoustic, 12-string or electric guitar and piano. Publ. Edition49
1988 - Boris Björn Baggerile ja tema sobrale (For Boris Björn Baggerile and his friend
), any melody-instrument, e.g. flute, recorder or mandolin and (acoustic, 12-string or electric) guitar. A second version
was composed in 1991. Publ. Edition 49
1988 - Saare piiga laul merest (Song of the islandmaiden from the lake), cantata for mixed
choir, eight actors and bass-drum. Libretto based on the Estonian epic text Kalevipoeg. Publ. Edition49
1988 - Kaleva , 3-part multi-media dance drama on tape (including chamber-orchestra, actors,
shaman-drums and electronics). Libretto based on the Estonian epic text Kalevipoeg. Choreography by Marika
Bloßfeldt and Bonnie Sue Stein. 3 Parts: 1. Saare piiga laul merest (Song of the islandmaiden from the lake;
2. Linda matab Kalevit (Linda buries Kalev); 3. Soome tuuslar (Linda turns to stone).
1988 - Kolmas sümfoonia (Symphony nr.3), orchestra. Publ. Fazer
1989 - "From 29 to 49 ", for guitar-player, who also plays lute, mandolin and violin, cello with tape
and mixing equipment. Second version composed in 1994. Publ. Edition 49
1989 - Open(r)ing, orchestra. Publ. Edition49
1989 - Klaverikontsert (Pianoconcerto), piano and orchestra. Publ. Fazer.
1989 - Musik für Karlsruhe im Barockstil, harp and string orchestra. Publ. Edition49
1989 - Music for Glasgow, chamber orchestra, synthesizer and computer. Publ. Edition49
1991 - Boris Björn Baggerile ja tema sobrale (For Boris Björn Baggerile and his friend
), cello, bassoon or viola and guitar. Second version of the 1988 original.
1991 - Ja nii tagasin ja edasi (Forward and back), electronically amplified flute, clarinet,
violin, cello, vibraphone and live-electronics. Publ. Edition49
1991 - The Journey, music for the dance-theatre Nordic Star, choreographed by Bonnie
Sue Stein, after Walking to America.
1992 - Mäng kahele (Game for two), violin, percussion, amplifier and mixing equipment.
A second version with the title Play for two with Stockholm extension was composed in 1998. Publ. Edition 49
1993 - One without two, 2 pianos. Publ. Edition49
1993 - Back to the Harmony, flute and string orchestra or 3 string quartets. Publ. Edition49
1993 - Sound and Space for PianoForte, piano, amplifier and mixing equipment. Also known
as Space and Time. Publ. Edition49
1993 - Lisapala (Encore), flute clarinet, 2 pianos. A second version was created in 1996. Publ.
Edition49
1993 - Dracula ja Zombie laps (Dracula's and Zombie's child), any 4 vocalists or instrumentalists
(also Renaissance-instruments), amplifier and mixer. Publ. Edition49
1996 - Linda matab Kalevit (Linda buries Kalev), chamber cantata (stage-version)
for mezzo-soprano, vocal quintet and ancient instruments. Words from the Estonian epic text "Kalevipoeg". Incorporates
part from Sumera's 1988 composition Kalev. Publ. Edition49
1996 - Lisapala (Encore), string orchestra. New version of 1993 original. Publ. Edition49
1996 - Laulud eesti abielulüürikast (Songs of Estonian matrimonial lyrics),
voice and piano. Estonian folktexts. Publ. Edition49
1996 - Kolm sonetti (Three sonnets), soprano, speaker, boys choir and orchestra. Text
by William Shakespeare (sonnets). Publ. Edition49
1997 - Con anima, saxophone quartet. Publ. Edition49
1997 - Musica profana, string orchestra. Publ. Edition49
1997 - Concerto per voci e strumenti, chamber choir and string orchestra. Text by Doris Kareva.
Publ. Edition49
1997 - Olivia meistriklass (Olivias masterclass), chamber-opera in one act for soprano,
actor, 8 instrumentalists and video. Libretto by Peeter Jalakas, based on a novel by Ervin Õnapuu. Publ. Edition49
1997 - Ruumiheli (Spacesound), ensemble of bowed pianos. Publ. Edition49
1997 - Armastuse ja dulega (With love and fire), Oratorium for speaker, mixed choir and
orchestra. Text from the 13th century chronicles "Heinrici Chronicon Livoniae". Publ. Edition49
1997 - Kolm maailmaimet (Three wonders of the world), piano and chamber orchestra.
Publ. Edition49
1997 - Raul Meele juhtumus (The case Raul Meel), cantata on tape (for an exhibition by
the artist Raul Meel).
1998 - Symphônê, string orchestra and percussion. Publ. Edition49
1998 - Lupus in Fabula, 4 saxophones. Publ. Edition49
1998 - Maa, kus ei kasva puid (The land, where no trees grow), saxophone, accordeon,
keyboards and vibraphone. Publ. Edition49
1992 - Play for two with Stockholm extension , Sound-modules. Second version of the 1992
original entitled Mäng kahele. Publ. Edition 49
1999 - Südameasjad (Matters of the heart), multi-media composition for tape, video,
instrumental ensemble and live-electronics
