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Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Rudolf Tobias
Person · male · Russian Empire · Selja · born 1873 · died 1918 · recording since 1973
Estonian composer (1873-1918)
Also known as 魯道夫·托比亞斯
Timeline
10 events▣ Album 7◦ Birth 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1870s
1910s
1970s
· Debut release
Debut release: Rudolf Tobias, 1873-1973
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
2020s
Biography
English biography661 words · 4 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1375168388
Biography
Rudolf Tobias (29 May [O.S. 17 May] 1873 – 29 October 1918) was the first Estonian professional composer, as well as a professional organist. He studied at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. His compositions include among others piano works, string quartets and an oratorio, Des Jona Sendung (Jonah's Mission) (1908, revised and premiered 1909, later reconstructed by Vardo Rumessen).
Early life
Rudolf Tobias was born in Selja, Käina Parish, on the island of Hiiumaa. He was the son of local parish clerk Johannes Tobias and his wife Emilie. Tobias received his first musical training from his father. Under his father's tutelage, he began musical training at an early age and composing his first composition exercises from 1882 when he was 9 years old. In 1885 he entered the Haapsalu school and studied piano under Catharina von Gernet, a local pianist. After he graduated, Tobias moved with his parents to Kullamaa, where his father had become the parish clerk. In 1889 Tobias entered Tallinn Nicolai High School, where he passed the tutor's exam and studied both organ and music theory with Ernst Reinicke, the Tallinn Cathedral organist.
In 1893 Tobias furthered his studies at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory, where he studied organ with Louis Homilius and composition with Nikolai Rimski-Korsakov. In 1897 Tobias graduated from conservatory with two special subjects, presenting as his graduate work the cantata "Johannes Damascenus". After graduation Tobias worked as organist and choir conductor of the Saint Petersburg Estonian St. John's Church from 1898 to 1904. During this time he also performed there his own compositions.
Career
In 1904 Tobias moved to Tartu and worked as a music teacher in numerous schools and also worked as a tutor. During his time in Tartu he participated in organizing concerts, as well as performing as pianist, conductor and organist and preparing with his contemporary Aleksander Läte performances of oratorios. Tobias also began working as a musical journalist during this period and joined the literary group Noor Eesti.
In January 1908 Tobias briefly moved to Paris, France. Shortly after that he lived briefly in Munich and Dresden in Germany and Prague and Dubí in present-day Czech Republic. At the end of 1908 he moved to Leipzig.
In 1910 Tobias moved to Berlin, where he worked as both an organist and journalist. In 1911 he was an active member of the evaluation committee of the Consortium of German Composers (Genossenschaft Deutscher Tonsetzer). In 1914 he acquired German citizenship, and then full professorship at the Royal Academy of Music.
In August 1913 Tobias visited his homeland to view opening ceremonies of the new Estonia Theatre, where he also conducted his own compositions. After returning to Berlin, Tobias arranged his authorship concert where passages of his oratorio "Mission of Jonah" were performed. After the outbreak of World War I Tobias was enrolled in the German army where he worked as an interpreter. Tobias was released from service for medical reasons in 1916 and he returned to work in the Royal Academy of Music.
Death and legacy
Tobias died of pneumonia in Berlin, Germany, on 29 October 1918. His youngest daughter, Helen, born seven months after his death, also became a composer. He was buried in the Friedhof Wilmersdorf cemetery in Berlin. After the restoration of the Republic of Estonia, Tobias's remains were reburied on 7 June 1992 in Kullamaa.
In commemoration of Rudolf Tobias' life and work, a monument was erected in Haapsalu in 1929 designed by architect Roman Haavamägi and a memorial erected in Kullamaa in 1973. In 1924 a street in Tallinn's Raua subdistrict was renamed after Tobias and in 1973 Tobias's name was given to the Children's Music School in Kärdla. On the occasion of the centennial of Tobias's birth in 1973, a memorial museum was opened in Selja, Käina Parish in the house where he was born.
Rudolf Tobias was engraved on the front side of the Estonian 50 krooni bill used between 1994 and 2010.
The Tobias String Quartet (Tobiase keelpillikvartett) is named after this composer.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 22 | 83.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 8 | 88.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 10 | 86.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -55 | 6.3th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (9 release groups · 8 studio albums)
Albums · 8
1973 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks
A1Kantaat „Johannes Damaskusest”B1VarasB2TeelB3AllikB4Noored sepad1973 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks
A1Pateetiline avamäng „Julius Caesar”A2Ballaad sopranile ja orkestrile „Sest Ilmaneitsist ilusast”B1Klaverikontsert re-minoor: IntroduzioneB2Klaverikontsert re-minoor: Adagio - Intermezzo - AdagioB3Klaverikontsert re-minoor: Finale1973 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks
A1Prelüüd ja fugettA210. prelüüd „Kaheteistkümnest koraaliprelüüdist”A311. prelüüd „Kaheteistkümnest koraaliprelüüdist”B1Keelpillikvartett nr. 2 do minoor: Allegro moderato e maestosoB2Keelpillikvartett nr. 2 do minoor: Allegro vivaceB3Keelpillikvartett nr. 2 do minoor: Andante tranquilloB4Keelpillikvartett nr. 2 do minoor: Finale1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 19 tracks · 54:08
1Chaconne (über "Mach’t hoch die Tür, die Tore weit")7:012Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern1:223Vom Himmel hoch (Pastorale)1:544Lobt Gott, ihr Christen allzugleich1:495Präludium D-Dur2:486Präludium und Fughetta3:447Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 1. Ach, was soll ich Sünder machen1:528Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 2. O, du Liebe, meiner Liebe2:159Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 3. Es ist gewisslich an der Zeit1:2010Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 4. Sollt' ich meinem Gott nicht singen2:3711Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 5. Mit Fried und Freud' fuhr' ich daahin2:2012Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 6. Wer nur den lieben Gott lässt walten2:2113Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 7. Jesu, meines Lebens Leben2:4714Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 8. Sollt' ich meinem Gott nicht singen1:3715Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 9. Werde munter mein Gemüthe2:3916Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 10. Nun ruhen alle Wälder (Nachtstück)4:2917Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 11. Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen (Weihnachten)3:4418Zwölf Choralvorspiele: Nr. 12. Komm, heil'ger Geist, o Herre1:5319Fuge d-moll5:361995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 38 tracks · 1:54:09
Disc 11Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Prolog. "Diese bose und ehebrecherische Art" (Chor und Chorus Mysticus)2:212Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Prolog. Arioso des Juna "Sie werden mir nicht glauben"1:593Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Prolog. "So spricht der Herr" (Tenor und Chor)5:224Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild I "Des Juna Sendung". "Wo soll ich hingehn vor Deinem Geist" (Tenor und Chor)3:105Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild I "Des Juna Sendung". "Was schlafst du" (Tenor)1:186Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild I "Des Juna Sendung". Im Seesturm "Hilf uns, wir verderben" (Chor)2:137Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild I "Des Juna Sendung". "Nehmet nich und werft mich ins Meer" (Bariton, Tenor und Chor)1:448Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild I "Des Juna Sendung". Dankgebet der Schiffsleute "Die Wasser sahen Dich, Gott!" (Solisten und Chor)3:049Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". "Gleichwie Jona war drei Tage" (Chorus Mysticus)4:0110Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". Intermezzo0:5911Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". "Huter, ist die Nacht schier hin" (Chöre)2:3312Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". "Die Gute des Herrn ist es" (Chor)4:2113Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". Gebet des Jona "Ich rief zu dem Herrn in meiner Angst"4:5714Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". "Denn Du wirst seine Seele" (Tenor, Bariton und Baß)2:3415Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". Errettung des Jona "O, daß ich tausend Zungen hatte" (Solisten und Chor)1:0416Des Jona Sendung: Teil I, Bild II "Die Nacht der Gottverlasenheit". Fuga "Herzlich lieb' hab' ich Dich, Herr" (Chor)5:52Disc 21Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". Rachepsalm "Herr Gott. des die Rache, die Rache ist"4:002Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". "Siehe, der Herr kommt" (Chorus Mysticus)0:503Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". Sanctus "Heilig, heilig, heilig, ist der Herr Zabaoth!" (Chöre und Solisten)3:454Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". "Hilf, Herr! Die Heil'gen haben abgenommen" (Doppelchor)4:315Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". Choral "Ach, Gott vom Himmel, sieh' darein!" (Chor)1:546Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". "Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen" (Chor)3:217Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". Arietta des Soprans "Gott schaut vom Himmel"3:198Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild III "Ecclesia". Arie des Jona "Deinen Willen, Gott, tue ich gerne"3:429Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". "Lasset uns essen und trinken" (Chor)2:2710Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". Arioso des Juna "Wehe, wehe, wehe des sund'gen Volks"1:5411Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". "Was will der Lotterbub' sagen" (Chor)1:0312Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". Arioso des Juna "Dennoch sollt ihr wissen"1:0613Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". "Dieser redet eitle und verdeckte Worte" (Chor)0:5714Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". Arioso des Juna "Der Tag des Herrn ist groß"1:1815Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". Bekehrung Ninives "Es soll weder Mensch noch Tier etwas kosten" (Kinderchor)2:0016Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild IV "Gerichtsspredigt". Buße Ninives, Kyrie "Herr, erbarme Dich!" (Chor)4:3717Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild V "Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes". Intermezzo1:0218Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild V "Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes". "Denn niemand jammerte deinen" (Chorus Mysticus)1:4419Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild V "Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes". Choral "»So wahr ich lebe«, spricht der Gott" (Kinderchor)1:5220Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild V "Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes". "Die Leute von Ninive werden auftreten" (Solisten und Chor)7:0221Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild V "Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes". Duett "Was ist der Mensch" (Sopran und Mezzospran)4:0922Des Jona Sendung: Teil II, Bild V "Das Zeichen des Menschensohnes". Schlußchor "Siehe da, eine Hutte Gottes bei den Menschen!" (Chöre und Solisten)10:041995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 8 tracks · 1:02:44
1String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: I. Allegro con moto10:172String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: II. Andante mesto (Et in Arcadia ego)7:233String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: III. Scherzo (Allegro grazioso)6:374String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: IV. Allegro5:485String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: I. Allegro moderato e maestoso12:066String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: II. Scherzo5:447String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: III. Nachtstück7:578String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: IV. Finale6:521998 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks
1Sonatina no. 1 in A-flat major: I. Allegro maestoso2Sonatina no. 1 in A-flat major: II. Andante. Tema con variazioni3Sonatina no. 2 in C minor: I. Allegro4Sonatina no. 2 in C minor: II. Adagio molto cantabile5Sonatina no. 2 in C minor: III. Allegro vivace6Finale in C minor. Allegro con fuoco7Humoresque in G minor8Album Leaf in F major9Minuet in F major10Gavotte in D minor11Autumn Pieces: No. 1 in G-sharp minor12Autumn Pieces: No. 2 in B minor13Fughetta in E minor14Prelude in C-sharp minor. Poco adagio15Prelude in C-sharp minor. Lento16Prelude in G minor. Moderato e serioso17Prelude in B minor. Andantino innocente18Melancholy19Idyll of the Alps20Nocturne21Walpurgis Burlesque2025 · studio album
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Tracklist · 25 tracks · 1:47:58
Disc 11Joonas: Prologue. Teie, õelad (Chorus)2:262Joonas: Prologue: Arioso. Ei usu te mu sõna (Jonah)2:153Joonas: Prologue: Aria with Choir. Nii ütleb Jumal (Chorus, Tenor)5:174Joonas, Scene 1: Kuhu ma lähen Su vaimu eest? (Chorus, Tenor)4:475Joonas, Scene 1: Torm. Aita meid päästa (Chorus, Tenor, Jonah)3:576Joonas, Scene 1: Tänukoor. Ja nägid lained siis Sind (Chorus, Soloists)4:017Joonas, Scene 2: Nii kui Joonas kord kolm päeva (Chorus)7:358Joonas, Scene 2: On Issanda arm (Chorus)4:179Joonas, Scene 2: Palve. Mu Issandat küll hüüdsin (Jonah)4:5610Joonas, Scene 2: Terzett. Ei jäta tema hinge (Tenor, Jonah, Bass)3:0411Joonas, Scene 2: Oh, anna tuhat keelt Sa mulle (Chorus, Soloists)1:2212Joonas, Scene 2: Fuuga. Sind, mu Jumal, armastan (Chorus)6:09Disc 21Joonas, Scene 3: Kättemaksupsalm. Issand, ilmu meile (Altos, Chorus)3:212Joonas, Scene 3: Sanctus. Püha, püha (Chorus, Soloists)2:153Joonas, Scene 3: Aaria. Sinu tahet (Jonah)4:114Joonas, Scene 3: Oh, Issand, Su pühad, neid on väheks jäänud (Chorus)5:175Joonas, Scene 3: Koraal. Oh, Issand, taevast vaata nüüd (Chorus)1:336Joonas, Scene 3: Arietta. Jumal nüüd vaatab alla (Soprano)3:047Joonas, Scene 4: Laskem meid süüa (Chorus, Jonah)8:128Joonas, Scene 4: Intermezzo. Ei inimene (Chorus)2:029Joonas, Scene 4: De profundis clamavi. Issand, halasta! (Chorus)5:0710Joonas, Scene 5: Ei Sinust hoolinud keegi (Chorus)0:5611Joonas, Scene 5: Kui käes on viimne kohtupäev (Chorus, Soloists)7:1812Joonas, Scene 5: Duett. Mis on see inimene (Soprano, Alto)4:1713Joonas, Scene 5: Lõpukoor. Vaata, sääl on Looja maja (Chorus)10:19
EP · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Walpurgi burleskSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracksA1Katkend „Faustist” A2Walpurgi burlesk BWalpurgi burlesk | 1978 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Rudolf Tobias head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 22 | 83.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 9 | 81.7th |
| Studio albums | 8 | 88.9th |
| Awards recorded | 0 | 0th |
| Timeline events | 10 | 86.7th |
| Recording span (years) | -55 | 6.3th |
| Genres | 4 | 84.7th |
Awards & honours
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rudolf_Tobias.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3ebf466f-d1b6-471d-9ae6-7fb94aff2408discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/3ebf466f-d1b6-471d-9ae6-7fb94aff2408core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1346393genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1346393seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Tobiasbiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudolf_Tobias
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Unknown author Unknown author · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q1346393 · MusicBrainz: 3ebf466f-d1b6-471d-9ae6-7fb94aff2408
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