Helen Tobias-Duesberg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Helen Tobias-Duesberg
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| Born | 11 June 1919 Suure-Jaani, Estonia
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| Died | 4 February 2010 (aged 90) Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
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| Nationality | Estonian United States of America |
| Education | Tallinn Conservatory |
| Occupation | Composer |
| Spouse(s) | Wilhelm Duesberg |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Rudolf Tobias, Louise Tobias (née Vilde) |
| Relatives | 4 siblings, including |
Helen Tobias-Duesberg (born June 11, 1919 – died February 4, 2010) was a talented Estonian-American composer. A composer is someone who writes music. She created many different kinds of musical pieces throughout her life.
Contents
Her Life and Music
Early Life and Studies
Helen Tobias was born in Suure-Jaani, Estonia, on June 11, 1919. She was the youngest daughter of a famous Estonian composer, Rudolf Tobias. Sadly, her father passed away seven months before she was born.
Helen loved music from a young age. She studied how to write music, called music composition, at the Tallinn Conservatoire. This school is now known as the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Her teachers were famous composers like Artur Kapp and Heino Eller. In 1943, she finished her studies as an organist, which means she was skilled at playing the organ. She also studied music later in Berlin, Germany.
During World War II, Helen met Wilhelm Duesberg, a journalist. He wrote stories that were critical of the government at the time. After the war, Wilhelm sadly passed away.
Moving to America and Composing
In 1951, Helen Tobias-Duesberg moved to the United States from Estonia. At that time, Estonia was part of the Soviet Union. She started writing music and performing as an organist in churches in New York City.
Helen wrote many different types of music. These included pieces for small groups of instruments (chamber music), for singers (vocal pieces), and for large orchestras (symphonic pieces). One of her most famous works is Requiem. This piece was written for an orchestra, a mixed choir (a group of singers), and soloists (single singers).
During the Civil Rights Movement, a time when people worked for equal rights for all, Helen played the organ at Friendship Baptist Church in Harlem. The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. sometimes preached there as a guest.
Helen also composed sonatas for violin and cello, which are pieces for a solo instrument with piano. She wrote string quartets (for four string instruments) and many pieces for choirs. Her music has been played in major concert halls in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. It has also been featured at famous music events like the Aspen, Ravinia, and Spoleto festivals.
A Special Compliment
In the 1960s and 1970s, some people thought classical music was becoming too complicated. But the famous American conductor Leonard Bernstein had high praise for Helen. He said she was a female composer who "dares to be original and musical at the same time." He meant that her music was both new and beautiful, unlike some confusing music being written by others.
Helen Tobias-Duesberg passed away in Savannah, Georgia, on February 4, 2010. She was 90 years old.
Her Compositions
Helen Tobias-Duesberg wrote a wide range of musical pieces. Here are some examples of her work:
Music for Orchestra
- Ballaade orkestrile (Ballade on Estonian and Carelian Folktunes) for orchestra. An orchestra is a large group of musicians playing many different instruments.
Music for Solo Instruments and Small Groups
- Concert Piece for cello and chamber orchestra. A chamber orchestra is a smaller orchestra.
- Koraal-prelüüdid for violin, cello, and piano.
- Sextet for brass. A sextet is a group of six musicians.
- Sonata for violin and piano. A sonata is a piece for one or two instruments.
- Sonata in G for cello and piano.
- String Quartet No. 2. A string quartet is a group of four string instruments.
- Trio for violin, flute, and piano. A trio is a group of three musicians.
- Trio in C for violin, viola (or cello), and piano.
Music for Piano
- Classical Suite
- Parafraas eesti rahvalaulude viisidele (Prelude on Estonian Folksongs)
- 4 Preludes
Music for Voices
- Sa tulid nagu päikene for voice and piano.
Music for Choirs
- Missa brevis for mixed chorus and keyboard accompaniment. A chorus is a group of singers.
- Psalm 102 for mixed chorus and organ.
- Requiem for female chorus and keyboard accompaniment.
- Vaimulik õhtu-muusika (Sacred Evening Service) for mixed chorus, baritone, soprano, and organ.
