Artur Kapp (1878-1952, Estonia)

[Christopher]

I've just uploaded the wonderful Last Confession of Job by Artur Kapp (1878-1952), from his oratorio "Job" (or "Hiiob" in Estonian). While the whole oratorio is for chorus, soloists and orchestra, this 6 minute section in the middle was written for violin and organ.  However, the version I have uploaded here is for violin and orchestra.  I don't know if the arrangement is by Kapp or someone else.

It is one of the most wonderful late-romantic little gems that I have come across in years, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I (repeatedly) do!

There is a recording of the whole oratorio available, and very good it is too. Neeme Järvi conducts the Estonian State Symphony Orchestra.  Recorded 1997.  See for example http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kapp-Job-Neeme-Jarvi/dp/B00003G9T4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433436302&sr=8-1&keywords=kapp+job 

It's also on youtube in its entirety if you can find it....

[eschiss1]

according to emic.ee (publisher site), the Last Confession was originally for violin and organ or somesuch (1905), arranged by Vardo Rumessen for violin and orchestra more recently (another arrangement exists for violin and strings).

[Amphissa]

What a remarkable composer! Died 26 years before he was born, making his Symphony No. 4 "Youth Symphony" (1948) youthful indeed.

He seems to have lived his life in reverse. Quite amazing!

I'm interested to hear this Confession.

Does anyone know his relation (if any) to Villem and Hans Kapp?

[Claude Torres]

Does anyone know his relation (if any) to Villem and Hans Kapp?

See the Home Museum of the Kapp Family http://kappidemuuseum.suure-jaani.ee/ingl.html

C.T.

[Alan Howe]

What a remarkable composer! Died 26 years before he was born, making his Symphony No. 4 "Youth Symphony" (1948) youthful indeed.

Thanks for that humorous nudge to get his dates right. Duly amended.

[C R Lim]

This Chandos CD http://www.amazon.co.uk/Family-Orchestral-Works-Eugen-Villem/dp/B000WZ7HY0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1433700993&sr=8-1&keywords=Artur+Kapp is a nice family portrait by the ever-dependable Jarvi, though it strays outisde UC territory.

[eschiss1]

Further on Hiiob (the Estonian name for this oratorio): published in 1997 by Eres-Edition, Lilienthal, in vocal score, edited by Vardo Rumessen (and a separate score of the excerpt "Die letzte Beichte für Violine und Orgel" was published by them in 2001.)

(I also see this interesting-looking article in German -- http://www.kappiyhing.ee/muu_artiklid/frankenpost_hiob.html.)

[eschiss1]

Hrm. Odd- interesting, anyway... It seems that the Last Confession dates from 1905, but the oratorio as a whole from 1929...

[Christopher]

There's a very positive review of the whole oratorio here - http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/July03/Kapp_Hiob.htm

I would only disagree with the statement "This is not as original or as loveably impressive a work as Tobias's Jonah Sendung" - Tobias's oratorio is also stunning (esp the Sanctus (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_C3tSVZQ_I - but hold on to your hats!)) - but Kapp's Job in my view is so overflowing with melody that it surpasses the grandeur of his fellow Estonian Tobias's work.

There's more on the piece, and on Kapp generally, on the website of the Artur Kapp International Society - http://www.kappiyhing.ee/artur_kapp_en.html

[Gareth Vaughan]

It's also on youtube in its entirety if you can find it....

I can't. Can anyone provide the relevant link, please?

[eschiss1]

I don't either, just an excerpt or two (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLyWK0ygrUw (Suur oled Sa! - which seems to be the same excerpt given in English as Lord, You are Great! on a site called Nicoviewer.))

[Gareth Vaughan]

Thank you, Eric. A most enjoyable chorus.

[eschiss1]

(just because I can't find it on YouTube means nothing, of course; some items are deliberately private, some so badly indexed as to be unsearchable- imagine if the only identifying data were "Job"! Puns secular and sacred and sacral representations (grazie, Dallapiccola) avoided- by me, at any rate and here.  Interesting- to me- to learn the Estonian title of the work, though.) Not positive I've yet listened to his Don Carlos or that 4th symphony as earlier presented here- intending to do that- but yes, I get the impression this is another composer I will be glad to know (the music of); thanks again.

[Claude Torres]

Interesting- to me- to learn the Estonian title of the work, though

Maybe you should search "Artur Kapp Hiob"

[eschiss1]

erm, Mr. Torres, I'm not sure your point. I already said I knew (or rather, found out while looking for this stuff, in the last few days) what Job was in Estonian (Hiob or Hiiob); and I already tried that. _And_ Kapp Hiiob. In neither case did I find a complete recording of the oratorio. My settings may be off. It's possible that the description of the oratorio just says "Hiob" or "Hiiob", but in that case it will be hidden amongst 1,000s of non-musical, non-Kapp-related evangelical videos, and I regret to say I have work today that does not involve looking for a Kapp-oratorio-sized needle in a haystack...

(And we're not looking for Witting's "Hiob "Rockoratorium""...)