Karl August Hermann, a central figure in the Estonian national awakening, was a linguist, journalist, composer, choir-leader, songwriter, historian, literary philologist, and encyclopaedist.
Cultural Impact
The quinquennial Estonian Song Festival, first held in 1869, is now one of the largest amateur choral events globally, featuring around 30,000 singers.
Performer Biography
Pianist Nicolas Horvath is known for his untrammelled musical explorations, promoting contemporary music and rediscovering forgotten composers like Karl August Hermann.
Historical Context
Estonia experienced a 'national awakening' from the 1850s, a movement spearheaded by Baltic-German intellectuals inspired by the French Revolution and German Romanticism.
Compositional Technique
Karl August Hermann's piano pieces often reflected the music of other Romantic composers, with some sounding like they came from a Tchaikovsky ballet or recalling Grieg's Lyric Pieces.
Cultural Impact
Karl August Hermann published the first Estonian daily newspaper, the first music journal, wrote the first grammar of the Estonian language, and composed the first Estonian opera.
Recording & Production
This recording features all 25 preserved solo piano pieces by Karl August Hermann, discovered by Nicolas Horvath in the Estonian Theatre and Music Museum.
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