Soviet Union: Artur Kaap

Artur Kaap (1878-1952) was an Estonian composer of considerable import. He studied organ and composition. After work in Russia he returned to Estonia and taught at the Tallinn Conservatory. His influence upon modern Estonian music is considerable. Two of his most important symphonic works utilize organ.

This postal card was issued by the Soviet Union in 1978 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the composer's birth. The postage imprint features an organ facade; the left side of the obverse depicts Kaap.

Kaap was born in Suure-Jaani, Estonia. The organ depicted on the post card seems to be the organ in the Orthodox church there. A music festival now takes place in the town; the church's organ is also used during the Estonian organ festival.

Estonia: Organ festival

This post updates and corrects information in my original post about this stamp. I've left the old post in place despite its errors of fact.

Some years ago organists in Estonia began an international organ festival. Andres Uibo was instrumental in bringing about this event. In 2006 that nation's postal authority issued a stamp to promote the 20th anniversary of that event. The stamp features a close-up of a few organ pipes on the right side, and a view of the facade of the cathedral organ in Tallinn. It is denominated in both Estonian kroons and Euros.

The organ has an interesting history (click on toomkogudus, click on muusikatoo, lick on orel in left column.). It was built by Ladegast in 1878, 3 manuals and 48 ranks. It was refurbished in 1914 by Sauer, adding new ranks (now totaling 71 ranks), replacing the mechanical action with a pneumatic action, while preserving the winding system and the facade.

In 1994 a campaign was begun to preserve the instrument. Funds were raised and work began in 1998 by Scheffler. The organ was re-dedicated in late-1998.

This site has good information about the organ also. Google translate seems to do a decent-enough job with the Estonia originals.

Estonia: Organ Festival

This stamp was issued in 2006 to mark the 20th Tallinn organ festival in Estonia. I cannot place the facade featured on the stamp. Below is information from the Estonian Post Office about the stamp. I remember making contact with Andres Uibo many years ago; I think it was in relation to trying to learn more about a composer from that region of the world.

The Tallinn international organ music festival, the oldest Estonian music festival, has arrived at an important waymark, with its 20th edition opening on 28 July, 2006. The popularity of the festival has been growing from year to year, largely thanks to the unique historical Estonian organs, and ti now occupies a place at the summit of the world's organ music festivals with numerous guests from all around the world arriving in Tallinn to see and hear the local organs and participate in the well-organized event. The founder and artistic director of the festival is Andres Uibo.

Note: In 2012 I found this site with information about the St. John's Church in Tallinn. It includes a B&W image of the organ. I think it's safe to say that the organ depicted int he stamp is the same in this photo.