Elze Janovna Paemurru (30 March 1917 – 14 June 1995), known as Els Aarne, was an Estonian composer, pianist and pedagogue during the Soviet Union.

Life and career

Elze Janovna Paemurru was born as on 30 March 1917 in Makiivka, Russian Empire (now Ukraine); her pseudonym was Els Aarne. She studied at the Tallinn Conservatory, graduating as a music teacher in 1939 after instruction from Gustav Ernesaks, in 1942 as pianist with Gustav Ernesaks and in 1946 as composer under Heino Eller. Aarne lectured at the Tallinn Conservatory on music theory from 1944 to 1974. She died on 14 June 1995. Els was famous, among other things, as a chamber music composer (preferring to compose for violoncello and double-bass); in addition, she wrote two symphonies.