Mihkel Lüdig

(9. May 1880 – 7. May 1958)

Composer, Choir Conductor, Organist – Founder of the Conservatory and Author of “Koit”.

Mihkel Lüdig made an invaluable contribution to Estonian musical culture, remembered at every Song Festival when his composition “Koit” is performed.

His journey into music began at an early age, playing a homemade organ at home. He started formal organ studies in Pärnu under organist Max Peters. In 1897, he enrolled in the organ class of Ludvigs Bētiņš at the Moscow Conservatory, and in 1898 continued at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in Louis Homilius’ class, graduating in 1904. He also studied theory and composition with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai Solovyov, and Alexander Glazunov, and piano with Franz von Czerny.

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After graduating from the conservatory, Mihkel Lüdig remained in St. Petersburg to organize the local Estonian music scene and initiated several Estonian music events, including the first symphony concert featuring Estonian music in St. Petersburg in 1908. At the same time, he was actively involved in Estonian musical life as the founder and director of numerous events: the 2nd Pärnu Song Festival (1903), the opening of the new Vanemuine Theatre (1906), Tartu Music Day (1909), and the opening of the new Endla Theatre (1911). He served as general director of the mixed and male choirs at the VII Estonian Song Festival in 1910.

From 1918 to 1924, Mihkel Lüdig worked as organist at St. Charles Church in Tallinn and simultaneously as a singing teacher at Nikolai and Kaarli Gymnasiums and the II Reaalkool, later also at Lenderi Gymnasium. He participated in the founding of the Tallinn Higher Music School in 1919 and served as its first director until 1923, as well as teaching organ classes from 1920 to 1922. He was involved in the establishment of the music business and publishing house Esto-Muusika while continuing his performance career as an organist and conductor. Between 1925 and 1928, he worked as choir director and pianist in Buenos Aires. From 1928, he resumed his work in Tallinn as an organist and singing teacher. From 1932, he led the Endla Society Choir in Pärnu, and from 1934 until his death, he lived and worked in Vändra.

Mihkel Lüdig was named Honorary Professor of the Tallinn Conservatory in 1940. He received the Order of the Red Cross, III Class (1939), the title of Honored Art Worker of the Estonian SSR (1946), and the honorary title of People’s Artist of the Estonian SSR (1955). His name lives on in the Vändra Music School (since 1980) and the male choir in Pärnu (since 1961). In 2023, a concert hall in Vändra was named after Mihkel Lüdig.

A recording of the XV Estonian Song Festival, in which “Koit” was performed under the baton of Gustav Ernesaks beneath the newly completed Song Stage, is available in the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) archive (1960).

The texts have been compiled using materials from Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) and the Estonian Music Information Centre (EMIC).