Lepo Sumera

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 26 August 2006

Born

Sumera was born 8 May 1950 in Tallinn (Estonia). He died 2 June 2000 in Tallinn.

Education

Sumera studied composition with Veljo Tormis in his teens and, from 1968, with the renowned Professor Heino Eller at the Estonian Academy of Music (then Tallinn Conservatoire). After Prof. Eller’s death (1970) he studied with Heino Jürisalu, graduating 1973. He took post-graduation studies at the Moscow Conservatory (1979-1982) with Prof. Roman Ledenev.

Style

His imaginative use of orchestral colours was noticeable already in his first work for symphony orchestra, In memoriam (In memory of Heino Eller; 1972). From the late 1980s electro-acoustic music (particularly - live electronics) became progressively important in his output.

Works

Ostinato-Variations for piano (1967)
Duration: 5'.
Fuguetta and Postludium for piano (1972)
Duration: 3'.
In memoriam Heino Eller for symphony orchestra (1972)
Duration: 14'.

CD BIS CD 770: review Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi (conductor)
CD: ERSO Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Eri Klas (conductor)

Stabat Mater for men's chorus and instrumental ensemble (1974)

The Living and the Death, cantata after L. seppel for men's chorus and orchestra (1974)

Duration: 15'.
Pianissimo for piano (1976)
Duration: 5'.
"Game" for woodwind quintet (1976)
For flute, oboe, clarinet, horn und bassoon. Duration: 13'.
Two Pieces for violin (1977)
Duration: 4'.

CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9165: Niina Murdvee (violin)

"Sarvelugu" for horn (1977)
Duration: 3'.
Music for chamber orchestra (1977)
Duration: 14'.

CD BIS CD 770: review Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Piano Trio "Malera Kasuku Trio" (1977)

"The Story about Anselm", ballet score in three acts after T.A. Hoffmann (1977-1978)

"In Es" for two pianos (1978)

Duration: 7'.
"Carmen Veris", cantate after H-K. Hellat for mixed chorus, flute, percussion and piano (1979)
Duration: 12'.
"Timor", cantata after H-K. Hellat for mixed chorus, flute, percussion and piano (1980)
Duration: 12'.
Olympic Poem I for orchestra (1980)

"Pantomime", ballet for ensemble of old music (1981)

Duration: 19'.
Two Pieces from the Year 1981 for piano (1981)
Duration: 13'.

CD Finlandia 0630-11421-2: Lauri Väinmaa (piano)
CD Finlandia 0630-12244-2: Lauri Väinmaa (piano)
CD Finlandia 0630-14952-2: Lauri Väinmaa (piano)
CD Finlandia 4509-95704-2: Lauri Väinmaa (piano)
CD Finlandia 8573-82186-2: Lauri Väinmaa (piano)

Symphony No. 1 in two movements (1981)
Part I
Part II: Allegro
Duration: 31'.

CD BIS CD 660: review Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Olympic Poem II for orchestra (1981)

"Carmen autumnus", cantata after H-K. Hellat for mixed chorus, flute, percussion and piano (1982)

Duration: 12'.
Quasi improvisata I (1982)
Five versions:
for violin and piano or harpsichord or organ or synthesizer
for flute and piano or harpsichord or organ or synthesizer
for viola and piano or harpsichord or organ or synthesizer
for cello and piano or harpsichord or organ or synthesizer
for bassoon or clarinet in B and piano or harpsichord or organ or synthesizer
Duration: 8'.

CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9165: Toomas Vavilov (clarinet), Kadri-Ann Sumera (piano)

Seenekantaat (Mushroom Cantata) (1979-1983)
Duration: 21'

CD BIS CD 1560: review Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tonu Kaljuste (cond)

"Conjuration of Thunder" for orchestra (1983)
Duration: 8'.
"Luxuria", cantata after H-K. Hellat for mixed chorus, flute, percussion and piano (1983)

Symphony No. 2 in three movements (1984)

1. Moderato tranquillo
2. Interludium
3. Spirituoso.
Duration: 20'.

CD BIS CD 660: review Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Two Cappriccios for clarinet (1984)
Duration: 4'.

CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9165: Toomas Vavilov (clarinet)

"Laulupeo Tuli", cantata after Mario Kivistik (1985)

"Kui tume veel kauaks ka sinu maa (Though your homeland may be in dark for long)", song for chorus after Juhan Liiv (1985)

Duration: 3'30".

CD BIS CD 1560: review Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tonu Kaljuste (cond)

Ten Canons for two pianos (1985)
Duration: 8'.
Waltz for piano (1985)
Duration: 3'30".
"Senza metrum" for clarinet and pianoforte (1986)
CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9165: Toomas Vavilov (clarinet), Kadri-Ann Sumera (piano)
Quasi improvisata II for guitar, elelectric guitar or twelve-string guitar and piano or harpsichord or organ or synthesizer (1987)
Duration: 10'.
Song of the Island-Virgin of the Sea, cantata (1988)

"For Boris Björn Bagger and His Friend" (1988)

Two versions:
for flute and guitar
for cello or bassoon or viola and guitar
Duration: 9'.

CD Finlandia 4509-95705-2: Camerata Tallinn
CD Finlandia 8573-82186-2: Jaan Oun and Heiki Mätlik

"Kaleva", music for multimedial dance in three parts for solists, chorus, actors and Shamandrum (1989)
1. "Saare Piiga laul merest (Island Maiden’s Song from the Sea)"
2. "Linda matab Kalevit"
3. "Soome Tuuslar".
Duration: 25'.

CD BIS CD 1560: review Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tonu Kaljuste (cond), Janeke Lentsius (flute), Kadri-Ann Sumera (piano), Madis Metsamart (percussion)

Symphony No. 3 in four movements (1988)
1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Calmo
3. Adagio-Animato
4. Larghetto, quasi senza metrum.
Duration: 24'.

CD BIS CD 660: review Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi (conductor)

"The Lizard, ballet in three acts after A. Volodin (1988)
Duration: 90'.
Concerto for piano and orchestra (1989)
1. Come cercando un tempo (attacca)
2. Incantando. Feroce.
Duration: 18'.

CD BIS CD 690: Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi (conductor), Kalle Randalu (piano)
CD Finlandia 3984-20684-2: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer (conductor), Lauri Väinmaa (piano)
CD Finlandia 8573-82186-2: Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, Arvo Volmer (conductor), Lauri Väinmaa (piano)

"Open(r)ing" for symphony orchestra (1989)
Duration: 6'.
"Music for Glasgow" süntesaatorile ja kammerorkestrile for synthesizer and chamberorchestra (1989)
Duration: 20'.
Music for Karlsruhe in Barockstyle for harp and stringorchestra (1989)
Duration: 28'.
"From 29 to 49" for guitar and cello with rerecorded tape and effect modules (1989)
Duration: 9'.
Music for the City of Duisburg for chamberensemble (1990)

"The Journey" ("Walking to America"), music for theatre (1991)

"And Back And Forth" for amplified acoustic instruments, computer and synthesizers (1991)

Duration: 20'.
Symphony No. 4 "Serena Borealis" in five movements (1992)
1. Allegro ma non affettuoso
2. Lontano e sonore (attacca)
3. Lontano e sonore. Cadenza per chitarra e percussioni (attacca)
4. Feroce (attacca)
5. Dolce e pianissimo.
Duration: 27'.

CD BIS CD 690: Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Musica Tenera for symphony orchestra (1992)
Duration: 9'.
CD BIS CD 690: Malmö SO, Paavo Järvi (conductor)
Play for two for Violin, Percussions amplifiers and effect modules (1992)
Duration: 20'.
"One Without Two" for two pianos (1993)

"To the Harmony" for string orchestra and flute (1993)

Duration: 22'.
"To Reach Yesterday" for violoncello and piano (1993)
Duration: 12'.
"Piece for Encore" for flute, clarinet and two pianos (1993)
Duration: 3'.
"Sound and Space" for piano, amplifiers and effect modules (1993)

The Child of Dracula and Zombie for Renaissance Music Instruments and amplifiers with effect modules (1993)

Duration: 16'.
"Canone Terribile, alla Diavolo (The Game for 10)" (1994)
Duration: 21'.
String quartet (1995)
Duration: 12'.
"Come Cercando" for string orchestra (1995)
Duration: 20'.

CD Finlandia 8573-82186-2: Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Juha Kangas (conductor)

Symphony No. 5 (1995)
Duration: 30'.

CD BIS CD 770: review Malmö Symphony Orchestra, Paavo Järvi (conductor)

Scenario for flute, bass clarinet and piano (1995)
Duration: 22'.
Songs from the Estonian Marriage Lyrics for voice and piano (1996)

"Linda matab Kalevit", chambercantate for solist, chamberchorus and instruments (1996)

Duration: 18'.
"Laulud eesti abielulüürikast" for baritone and piano (1996)
Duration: 15'.
"Kolm Shakespeare’i sonetti" for soprano, chorus and orchestra (1996)
Duration: 22'.
"Amore Et Igne (With Love and Fire)", oratorio (1997)
Duration: 40'.
"Concerto Per Voci e Strumenti" for chamber chorus and chamber orchestra (1997)
Duration: 15'.

CD BIS CD 1560: review Talinn Chamber Orchestra, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Tonu Kaljuste (cond)

"Con Anima" for saxophone quartet (1997)
Duration: 12'.
"Musica Profana" for string orchestra (1997)
Duration: 11'.
Three Miracles for piano and chamber orchestra (1997)
Duration: 3'30".
"Silence Odalisque" for flute (1997)
Duration: 3'.

CD "Significatio".

"Klaveri hääl" for piano (1997)
Duration: 12'.
"Olivia’s Masterclass", chamber opera (1997)
Libretto: P. Jalakas and E. Ounapuu.
Duration: 45'.
"Ruumiheli", electronic music (1997)

"Raul Meele Juhtumus", cantata (1997)

Symphone for string orchestra and percussions (1998)

Duration: 12'.

Finlandia 3984-29718-2: review Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Juha Kangas (conductor)
CD Finlandia 8573-82186-2: Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra, Juha Kangas (conductor)

"Lupus in Fabula" for four saxophones (1998)
CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9165
"Maa, kus ei kasva puid" for saxophone, accordion, harpsichord and vibraphone (1998)

"Play for Two with Stockholm extension" for violin, string quartet and effect modules (1998)

Concerto for cello and orchestra (1999)

"Dancing Odalisque" for flute, guitar and cello (1999)

Duration: 4'.
"Singing Odalisque" for flute, guitar and cello (1999)
Duration: 3'.
"Sad Odalisque" for flute, guitar and cello (1999)
Duration: 3'.
"Avakaanon" for saxophone (1999)

"Meele Juhtumus", elektronic music (1999)

Duration: 14'.
"Südameasjad", multimedia piece (1999)
Duration: 40'.
Concerto grosso (2000)

Symphony No. 6 (2000)

Film Music to Dr. Stockmann

CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9155
Film Music to The City
CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9155
Film Music to The War
CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9155
Film Music to Kerjus
CD ANTES Edition BM-CD 31.9155

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