Harri Otsa

Harri Otsa was born on 6 November 1926 in Tallinn (Estonia). He began his music studies with piano lessons at Niina Murrik-Polonsky’s piano school and also took private lessons with Theodor Lemba. In 1944 he was mobilised into the German army, where he was wounded, and he remained in Germany until 1945. From 1946 to 1948 he studied music theory at the Tallinn Music School, and in 1953 he graduated in composition from the Tallinn State Conservatory, where he studied with Mart Saar.
From 1953 to 1959 Otsa worked as music director at the Tallinn Drama Theatre. Between 1953 and 1962 he taught music theory at the Tallinn Music School, and from 1962 to 1988 at the Tallinn State Conservatory, where he served as head of the theory department from 1982 to 1987. For a short period he also taught at the Tallinn Music High School. Otsa compiled educational materials such as Estonian Folklore (1967) and Harmonic Successions (1985).
His musical output is often based on old and new Estonian folk songs, and many of his compositions have a humorous and joyful character. From the 1960s to the 1980s he was one of the most productive chamber music composers in Estonia. He wrote compulsory works for instrumental and choral competitions.
His compositions were performed by the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Roman Matsov and Peeter Lilje, as well as by numerous choirs, including performances at Song Festivals. His music was also performed by the Jaan Tamm Woodwind Quintet, the ensembles Vikerlased, Kurekell, Kukulind and Pasunapoisid, and by soloists such as Margarita Voites, Ines Rannap and Matti Reimann, among many others. Many of his works were recorded by Estonian Radio and published mainly in Estonian sheet music editions.
In 2001 Harri Otsa was awarded the fifth class of the Order of the Cross of the Eagle. 
He died on 30 October 2001 in Tallinn (Estonia).

The Violin concerto by Harri Otsa was composed in 1983 and premiered on 4 April 1984 with Ülo Kaadu (violin) and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Peeter Lilje. The score was only available in manuscript so far, but with kind permission of the Otsa family I can present here the prepared full score for free download.

The Violin concerto by Harri Otsa is on my personal recommendation list of masterful violin concertos of the 20th century. It is a fabulous composition and deserves to be known widely!