Raimond Valgre

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Raimond Valgre (born October 7, 1913 in Riisipere , † December 31, 1949 in Tallinn ) was one of the most successful Estonian composers and entertainment musicians.

Early years

Raimond Valgre (until 1937 Raimond Tiisel ) was born into the family of a shoemaker . As a child he already mastered several instruments and showed an extraordinary musical talent. After school in Rapla and Paide , he moved to Tallinn . In 1931 he graduated from the local state general technical high school ( Tallinna Riigi Ühistehnikagümnaasium ) specializing in construction technicians . He was then drafted into Estonian military service.

Entertainment composer

From 1932 until his early death, Raimond Valgre worked as a professional composer, salon musician and conductor in Tallinn , Tartu and Pärnu . His plays enjoyed great success and quickly became a defining part of Estonian entertainment culture in the interwar period. In 1939 Valgre met his partner Alice Feillet in Pärnu, who wrote many of his songs in English.

Raimond Valgre was drafted into the military in June 1941 during World War II . From 1942 he played in a military orchestra. With the Soviet occupation of Estonia from 1944, the situation became more difficult. "Western" music such as saxophone , tango or foxtrot were banned and Valgre was exposed to reprisals at work. In 1948, his songs were banned from public performance by the Soviet occupation authorities.

Raimond Valgre died bitterly in December 1949. He is buried in the Tallinn Forest Cemetery. In 1988, a plaque in honor of the artist was placed on the former home of Raimond Valgre in Rapla .

plant

Raimond Valgre composed over 100 hits, waltzes and songs. He wrote mostly in Estonian , but also in German and English . Valgre was the most successful entertainment composer of his time in Estonia and beyond. He also wrote the music for popular Estonian films. His pieces and lyrics have become common knowledge today.

Valgres most famous work is the Saaremaa valss (Saaremaa Waltz), which describes the beauty of the Estonian island Saaremaa at a festival in June.

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personal data
SURNAME Valgre, Raimond
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Tiisel, Raimond
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Estonian composer and entertainment musician
DATE OF BIRTH October 7, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Riisipere , Estonia Governorate
DATE OF DEATH December 31, 1949
Place of death Tallinn , Estonian SSR