Mihkel Lüdig

Mihkel Lüdig (9 May [O.S. 27 April] 1880 in Vaskrääma – 7 May 1958 in Vändra) was an Estonian composer, organist and choir conductor. As a composer, he particularly worked on a cappella choral songs. Lüdig is considered one of the major organisers of large-scale musical events in 20th century Estonia. He was a student of Nicolai Soloviev.

Events

Lüdig initiated and led a number of events:

• the Singing Day of Pärnu in 1903;
• the opening of new building of Vanemuine in 1906;
• the Music Day of Tartu in 1909;
• the seventh General Singing Party of Estonia in 1910;
• the opening of Endla in 1911.

Business

Lüdig was among the founders of Esto-Muusika, the most successful music supply business in Estonia of the time, and the short-lived monthly journal Helikund, edited by Eduard Visnapuu.

Career

In 1918–1924, Lüdig worked as an organist of the Kaarli kirik.

In 1920–1922, Lüdig was an organ teacher in the Tallinn Higher School of Music, one of whose founders he had been in 1919. Lüdig was also a director of the school in 1919–1923.

In 1925, Lüdig moved to Argentina, hoping to find better work. However, the rumours of lack of organists in Buenos Aires turned out to be severely overblown, so his career there began at the post of an inn pianist; later he also conducted for a local German male choir. In 1929, Lüdig moved back to Estonia. Until 1932, he taught organ playing and played it himself in Tallinn; then, he moved to Pärnu and became a conductor of the Endla society. In 1934–1958 — until his death — he lived and worked in Vändra.

Sources

• Koolielu: Mihkel Lüdig