Alfred Karindi

Alfred Karindi (born Alfred-Nikolai Karafin; 30 May 1901 – 13 April 1969) was an Estonian organist and composer. Life and work Alfred Karindi was born on 30 May 1901 in the village of Kõnnu, Illuka Parish. In 1920 he entered the Tartu Higher School of Music where he studied organ under Johannes Kärt and composition under Heino Eller. He graduated in 1927, and then studied under August Topman and Artur Kapp as an external student of organ and composition at Tallinn Conservatory, graduating in 1931. He belonged to the “Tartu school” of musicians who studied under Heino Eller, others being Eduard Tubin, Eduard Oja, Olav Roots and Karl Leichter. Karindi taught music at the Tartu 2nd primary school (1921–1927), Tartu Higher Music School (1925–1928) and University of Tartu (1928–1932). Karindi was organist for Tartu Maarja Church (1925–1929), University of Tartu Church (1929–1933) and Tallinn Kaarli Church (1933–1940). He was known as a skilled improviser on the organ. He also conducted a number of choirs in Tartu and Tallinn from 1925 onward. As conductor of the “Cantate Domino” mixed choir of the University of Tartu Church from 1929 to 1933 he gave concerts throughout Estonia, often pe