Latvia on Music Theory Print

Aivars Kalējs

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Aivars Kalējs (April 22, 1951, Riga, Latvian SSR) is a Latvian composer, organist and pianist. Career Aivars Kalējs has written more than 100 opuses of symphonic, organ, piano, chamber and choir music. His works have won several composition awards, e.g. symphonic work “Musica Dolente” - dedicated to the victims of the tragic events of September 11, 2001. His works are included in many CD’s of the great musicians and collectives such as Iveta Apkalna, Andris Nelsons, Maxim Novikov and Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. In 2017, Vita Kalnciema released retrospective CD Flashes of Aivars Kalējs organ music recorded in Riga Cathedral. Aivars Kalējs is a concert organist at the Dome Cathedral in Riga and chief organist for the New St. Gertrudes Lutheran Church. He has performed solo recitals, included participating in dozens of important international organ festivals, and toured with various ensembles throughout North America, Colombia, almost all European countries, and Asia, including prestigious venues as Notre Dame de Paris (only Latvian who had three recitals there), Musikverein, West Point Military Academy Cadet Chapel with largest pipe organ in the world. Kalējs is known as an

Alfrēds Kalniņš

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Alfrēds Bruno Jānis Kalniņš (23 August 1879, in Cēsis, Governorate of Livonia – 23 December 1951, in Riga, Latvian SSR) was a Latvian composer, organist, pedagogue, music critic and conductor; the founder of national Latvian opera. Kalniņš is primarily remembered for his national opera Baņuta (1920). Life Kalniņš took piano and violin lessons at an early age. He attended the school of music in Riga. He often visited the Riga theatre, where he could listen to operas and concerts. He made acquaintance with Oskars Šepskis (1850-1914), a composer and organist, who gave him private lessons. From 1897 until 1901 he studied organ and composition at Saint Petersburg Conservatory. After a short stay in Riga, which he spent writing a series of songs, he accepted a post as an organist at the Saint Nicholas Church in Pärnu in 1903. At present Pärnu is located in Estonia, but then it belonged to the Russian Governorate of Livonia. Kalniņš also gave music lessons at the local grammar school and conducted the school choir. In Pärnu his son Jānis Kalniņš, who would become a composer too, was born in 1904. Kalniņš stayed in Pärnu until 1911. In that year he took the post of organist at the Church o

Andrejs Jurjāns

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Andrejs Jurjāns (September 30, 1856 – September 28, 1922) was a Latvian composer and musicologist. He was Latvia’s first classical composer, having composed instrumental pieces and cantatas. Jurjāns also studied and collected more than 6000 pieces of Latvian folklore, among them 3000 songs, which he compiled in six books, called Latvju tautas mūzikas materiāli (Materials of Latvian Folk Music). Biography Andrejs Jurjāns was born in 1856 in Ērgļi, Latvia. Active in music from a young age, Jurjāns decides to become a musician after participating as a choir singer in the First Latvian Song Festival in 1873. In 1875, he studied music at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, attending composition, organ and French horn classes with Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov and German organists Louis Homilius and Friedrich Homilius. In 1877, he published his first composition. From 1882 to 1916 Jurjāns taught music in the Russian Imperial Music Society Conservatory in Kharkiv, Ukraine. At the same time, he took an active part in Latvian musical life as a collector, researcher and arranger of national folk songs. His five-volume work, “Materials of the Latvian Folk Music” encompasses about 2,000 tunes. Jurjāns

Arturs Maskats

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Arturs Maskats (born 20 December 1957 in Valmiera) is a Latvian composer and since 1996 artistic director of the Latvian National Opera. His orchestral composition, Tango, received international exposure as one of the finalist works of the third Masterprize International Composing Competition in 2003. It was also played at the 2022 Summer Night Concert Schönbrunn by the Vienna Philharmonic under Andris Nelsons in Vienna, Austria. Works * Tango for orchestra * Opera Valentina References

Ēriks Ešenvalds

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Ēriks Ešenvalds (born 26 January 1977) is a Latvian composer, mainly of choral music. The concert took place on April 13, 2024, at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia. Performed by the University Singers in Old Cabell Hall and conducted by Michael Slon, the concert also featured two of Ešenvalds’s other works, “Stars” and “Only in Sleep.” Recordings Ešenvalds’s compositions appear on recordings released by labels such as Signum Records, Hyperion Records, Decca Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, Delphian Records, Pentatone and Ondine. The album Northern Lights & Other Choral Works was shortlisted for the Gramophone Awards 2015, selected as Gramophone Critics’ Choice 2015 and listed as ICI Radio-Canada Best Albums Selection in 2015. The albums At the Foot of the Sky (2013) and O Salutaris (2011) were awarded Best Classical Album of the Year in Latvia. References Further reading * * * External links * * Podium Music (Management) * Musica Baltica (Publisher) * Edition Peters (Publisher) * Ēriks Ešenvalds on Hyperion Records * Ēriks Ešenvalds on the Latvian Music Information Centre See also * List of Latvians * Lists of composers

Georgs Pelēcis

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Georgs Pelēcis (also Georges Pélétsis; born 18 June 1947) is a Latvian composer and musicologist. He is currently a professor at the Latvian Academy of Music. Academic and compositional career Pelēcis was born in Riga. He studied under Aram Khachaturian at the Moscow Conservatory, He has worked in a creative capacity at Oxford University and Cambridge University. His style has been described as post-avant-garde, or as “new consonant music”, with an “amazingly clear positive spirit”. The Concertina Bianca for piano and strings, for instance, is described as “in the key of C major” and restricted to the white keys only, with no accidentals. This approach has its critics. Gramophone called the piece as “so mild in its manner that it seems to be aspiring to the status of a backing track to an entry for the Eurovision Song Contest”. His 45 minute orchestral score for Roald Dahl’s Jack and the Beanstalk was premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in December 1996 with Simon Callow, Danny DeVito and Joanna Lumley as co-narrators. More recently, recordings and live performances by (among others) pianists Tamara-Anna Cislowska, Alexei Lubimov and Polina Osetinskaya, and by violinist Gidon Kremer

Haralds Sīmanis

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Haralds Sīmanis (12 June 1951 – 1 December 2022) was a Latvian singer and composer. Biography Sīmanis was born in Cēsis to a mixed Latvian-Romani family. He did not receive a musical education but learned to play guitar and organ. In the 1970s, he began collaborating with poet , whose poems he used for many of his songs, such as the organ pieces Mīlestība nekad nebeidzas, Likteņa lietavas, and Par zāli, sāli un Tevi. Sīmanis gained notoriety in 1980 when he performed the ballad Ezers at that year’s Mikrofona aptauja. In 1981, the play Sieviete ārpus mīlestības un nāves was staged at the Valmiera Drama Theatre, during which his songs were played. In 1984, he joined the , organized by Arvīds Ulme, which was one of the first organizations of the Singing Revolution in Latvia. After Latvia’s independence, Sīmanis primarily composed music for organ on his own, but collaborated with , Ilze Grunte, Dr. Peacock, and others in his later years. In 2012, he performed the song Ezers alongside Agita Gabranova on the Latvijas Neatkarīgā Televīzija show Latvijas Zelta talanti. Haralds Sīmanis died on 1 December 2022, at the age of 71. Discography *Es strauta malā slāpēs eju bojā (1994) *Starp divā

Ilona Breģe

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Ilona Breģe (born 20 May 1959 in Riga, Soviet Union) is a composer, pianist and musicologist. Life Breģe was born in Riga. She graduated from the Latvian Music Academy (former State Conservatory) as a pianist in 1983 and as a composer in1986. She became a Doctor of Art in 1993. Breģe was the solo pianist in the Latvian Philharmonic (1983–92) until she became a researcher in the Latvian Science Academy in the Literature, Folklore and Art department in 1998. She was the General Manager of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2006. In 2006, she became the Managing Director of the Riga Professional Symphonic Band. Her music has been played by Kremerata Baltica. Selected compositions *2008 Concert for Violin and Chamber Orchestra, dedicated to Baiba Skride. First performance 17 January 2009, Great Guild Concert Hall in Riga. Soloist Baiba Skride, chamber orchestra “Sinfonietta Riga”, conductor Normunds Sne. 20 minutes *2007 Otrais Rīgas koncerts (Riga Concerto No. 2) for violin, viola and chamber orchestra. First performance 17 February 2008, Latvian Music Academy Concert Hall. Soloists Darja Smirnova, Arigo Strals, orchestra “Sinfonia Concertante”, conductor Andris Vecu

Imants Kalniņš

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Imants Kalniņš (born 26 May 1941) is a Latvian composer, musician and politician. Having studied classical and choral music, he has written seven symphonies, several operas (including the first rock opera in the USSR, ), oratorios, cantatas, choir songs, a lot of movie and theater music. However, he is generally best known for his rock songs. In 2021, Kalniņš received the Grand Music Award for lifetime achievement. Furthermore, he served as a member of the 5th, 7th, 8th, and 9th sitting of the Saeima, the parliament of Latvia, from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1998 through 2010, representing the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party. Life and career Kalniņš was born 26 May 1941 in Riga, Latvian SSR. During the 1960s, Kalniņš led the Liepāja rock band 2xBBM, which was extremely loved because of its heartfelt songs and hippy-like lifestyle. Kalniņš became the symbol of the spirituality, rebellion and worldview of the generation, and it was emphasized by the fact the band was forced to stop playing because of the pressure from official institutions. However, this did not stop the music of Kalniņš from being played by the extremely popular band , which almost exclusively plays songs wri

Jānis Ivanovs

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Jānis Ivanovs (27 March 1983) was a Latvian composer whose later career took place in the Soviet Union. In 1931, he graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga. In 1944, he joined the conservatory’s faculty, becoming a full professor in 1955. He is regarded as being the most distinguished Latvian symphonist. His love of melody is evident in each of his compositions, and forms the essence of his works. He often drew inspiration from the native songs of the Latgale district in eastern Latvia. His grasp of orchestral color and musical texture were highly regarded by his colleagues. The Latvian composer and music critic Marģeris Zariņš described Ivanovs’ symphonies as “like ancient Greek tragedies, filled with ecstasy and purification.” He is mostly remembered for his twenty-one symphonies. Nevertheless, he composed in many other fields, including five symphonic poems, concertos for piano, violin and cello, three string quartets, and numerous vocal, piano and various chamber works. He became the People’s Artist of the USSR in 1965, was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1950 and Latvian SSR State Prize in 1959 and 1970. Compositions Symphonies * No. 1 in B-flat minor Poema Sinfonia

Jāzeps Vītols

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Jāzeps Vītols (; 26 July 1863 – 24 April 1948) was a Latvian composer, pedagogue and music critic. He is considered one of the fathers of Latvian classical music. Biography Vītols, born in Valmiera the son of a schoolteacher, began his studies in composition in 1880 at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. After graduating in 1886, he remained at the Conservatory to teach composition and reached the rank of Professor in 1901. Celebration and remembrance Jāzeps Vītols music days in Gaujiena started soon after 1922, when he spent summers in Gaujiena “Anniņas” with his wife. Celebrating his birthday, different choirs from all over the country started coming to Gaujiena for July 26 to celebrate Vītols’ birthday with music. In 2003, a summer camp for children from music schools was started around this celebration, creating an orchestra and a choir to celebrate music and have fun as well as practice their instruments. Notes References * *Braun, Joachim and Klotiņš, Arnold. “Vītols, Jāzeps”. Grove Music Online (subscription required). ed. L. Macy. Retrieved on March 8, 2007. External links *Homepage of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music *Homepage of Music

Kārlis Lācis

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Kārlis Lācis (born September 21, 1977) is a Latvian contemporary composer. Along with the scores for theatre productions, movies, and musical arrangements, a large part of his work is dedicated to vocal and choral music, symphonic, and instrumental compositions, including “Te Deum” (2014) with the State Choir Latvija, and double concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra “42.195” (2014) with Liepaja symphony orchestra. “Rorate coeli” (2014) for soprano, saxophone and organ and the first symphony “Via Crucis” premiered on April 3, 2015 with Latvian National symphony orchestra. Kārlis was one of the jury members for 2014 World choir games while Latvian capital Riga was the European capital of culture. His creative contribution includes musicals staged in Liepāja theatre and Dailes theatre “Pūt vējiņi” (2011) and “Oņēgins” (2013), both rewarded with the highest annual theater award for the best music author. Upcoming premieres will include “Waltz for double-bass and string quartet” (2017) - collaboration with famous Latvian musicians Vineta Sareika (violin), Gunārs Upatnieks (double - bass) and their colleagues from Berlin Philharmonic orchestra during the festival “Sensus " in Liepāja on

Lūcija Garūta

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Lūcija Garūta (14 May 1902 – 15 February 1977) was a Latvian pianist, poet and composer. She is mostly known for composing the cantata Dievs, Tava zeme deg! in 1943. Life and career Lūcija Garūta was born in Riga (at the time Russian Empire) in the family of an accountant. From 1919 to 1925, she studied at the Latvian Conservatory with professor Jāzeps Vītols for piano and others including Jānis Mediņš, and . During her studies she was the pianist répétiteur at the Latvian National Opera. After graduation, she worked at Riga Radio from 1925 to 1926. In 1926 she took a position teaching music theory and piano at the . In 1926 she also continued her studies with Alfred Cortot, Isidor Philipp and Paul Le Flem, and in 1928 she studied composition with Paul Dukas at the Paris École Normale de Musique. In 1926 she made her debut in Paris, and afterwards became active as a composer, holding concerts with singers , and Mariss Vētra, violinist Rūdolfs Miķelsons and cellist Atis Teihmanis. In 1939 she served on the Latvian music promotion association’s board of directors. In the 1920s and 1930s, Lūcija Garūta was one of the most active pianists both as a soloist as well as accompanist, perfo

Maija Einfelde

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Maija Einfelde (born 2 January 1939) is a Latvian composer. Biography Maija Einfelde was born in Valmiera, Latvia, and began her music studies with her mother, who was a church organist. She continued her education at Alfrēds Kalniņš Music School in Cēsis, at Jāzeps Mediņš Music College in Riga, and then entered the Conservatoire of Latvia in 1966, studying composition with Jānis Ivanovs. After graduating, she has taught music theory and composition at Alfrēds Kalniņš Music School in Cēsis, Emīls Dārziņš Music College and Jāzeps Mediņš Music College. She has one son, writer Jānis Einfelds. Einfelde’s works have been performed internationally, including performances by the MDR Rundfunkchor at the Berliner Philharmonie, Brigham Young University Choir, the Vancouver Chamber Choir, the Kansas City Chorale in USA, the Radio Choir of the Netherlands, and at Carnegie Hall, New York City. Honors and awards *First Prize, Barlow Endowment for Music Competition, 1997 *Grand Music Prize of Latvia, 1997 *Award of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, 1999 Her compositions have been recorded and issued on CD including: *No Tevis (From You) // Female Choir Dzintars – 1995, Riga Recor

Marģeris Zariņš

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Marģeris Zariņš (24 May 1910, Jaunpiebalga – 27 February 1993, Riga) was a Latvian composer and writer. He was an author of symphonic and vocal symphonic music, choir music, vocal chamber music, cantatas, oratories and operas; contemporary picaresque novels and short stories. He is considered to be the first representative of the Postmodern style in Latvian literature. Biography His father was a choir conductor, organist and organ builder. He completed his primary education at , by which time he was already performing as an organist. After 1925, he attended the then, in 1928, studied organ, piano and composition at the Riga Conservatory. He slowly gained recognition as a composer while working as a teacher and a librarian. Following the Soviet Occupation, he was appointed musical director at the Dailes Theatre (1940–1950), and served as chairman of the Latvian Composers’ Union (1951–1952, 1956–1968). He was also the Director of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra for the 1951–1952 season. Although he was forced to compose in the acceptable Soviet musical styles, he attempted to experiment whenever possible. Toward the end of the 1960s, he turned to writing. In 1969, the journal

Mārtiņš Brauns

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Mārtiņš Brauns (17 September 1951 – 24 November 2021) was a Latvian composer and musician. He composed multiple pieces, most notable of which is Saule, Pērkons, Daugava, a choir song regularly performed at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival. Career Brauns studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School from 1958 to 1970, studying piano and choir, before moving on to study conducting and music theory after his voice started changing. From 1975 to 1986, he led the rock band . In addition to film scores, Brauns wrote and composed multiple pieces for various theatre plays. His most famous piece, written in the late 1980s for the Valmiera Drama Theatre, titled Saule, Pērkons, Daugava, of which the lyrics are based on the poem Daugava by Latvian poet Rainis; this song has been performed regularly at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival since 1990, and is even considered the unofficial anthem of the festival. In 2014, an adapted version of the song with lyrics by Catalan poet Miquel Martí i Pol became the official anthem of the Catalan independence movement. Death Brauns was recovering from a heart attack at a hospital when he contracted COVID-19. He died on 24 November 2021, at the age of 70.

Pēteris Barisons

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Pēteris Barisons (Sēlpils, 18 April 1904 — 13 July 1947) was a Latvian late romantic composer noted specially for his vocal output, which remain his most performed works. A disciple of Ernests Vīgners and Jānis Mediņš, in 1945 he was appointed a professor at the Latvian Conservatory, but he died just two years later, leaving a third symphony uncompleted. He was also active in conducting, which he studied under Jāzeps Vītols, briefly taking charge of the Latvian National Symphony for the 1936–37 season, and he premiered his Symphony No. 1 himself. Works Orchestral * Andante cantabile (1933) *Scherzo (1933) *Symphony No. 1 (1935) *Three Preludes (1935) *Tragic Poem (1936) *Līgo (1936) *Flower Wind (or Wreath of Flowers) (symphonic suite) (1937) *Symphony No. 2 Romantic (1939) *Latvian Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra (1945) *Childhood Morning (symphonic suite) (1946) *Formal Overture (unfinished) *Symphony No. 3 (unfinished) Chamber *Cradle Song for violin and piano (1929) *Scherzo for violin and piano (1929) *Evening Song for cello and piano (1931) *String Quartet (1932) *Sunset song for violin and piano (1933) *Melody for violin and piano (1933) *Toy for violin and piano (1933) Pia

Pēteris Plakidis

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Pēteris Plakidis (4 March 1947 – 8 August 2017) was a Latvian composer and pianist. Early life Plakidis was born on 4 March 1947 in Riga, Latvia. He was educated at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music before studying as an undergraduate in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols State Conservatory (now the Latvian Academy of Music). He graduated in 1970, having been taught by composers Jānis Ivanovs and Valentīns Utkins. Plakidis undertook further postgraduate study at the conservatory, which he completed in 1975. Career From 1969 to 1974, before he had graduated, Plakidis held the post of musical director for the Latvian National Theatre. From 1975, he was a tutor in the composition department at the Latvian Academy of Music, and in 1991 he became professor of composition. Plakidis has received much recognition as a composer. In 1969 he received a diploma at the All-Union Young Composers’ Competition, for his composition “Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani” and in 1982 was awarded the title of Honoured Artist. He was the recipient of the Jānis Ivanovs Prize in 1987 and in 1990 he was awarded the title of “People’s Artist”. In 1996, Plakidis won the Latvian Grand

Pēteris Vasks

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Pēteris Vasks (born 16 April 1946) is a Latvian composer. Biography Vasks was born in Aizpute, Latvia, into the family of a Baptist pastor. He trained as a violinist at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, as a double-bass player with Vitautas Sereikaan at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre, and played in several Latvian orchestras before entering the State Conservatory in Vilnius in the neighboring Lithuania to study composition with Valentin Utkin, as he was prevented from doing this in Latvia due to Soviet repressive policy toward Baptists. He started to become known outside Latvia in the 1990s, when Gidon Kremer started championing his works, and he now is one of the most influential and praised European contemporary composers. Vasks’ early style owed much to the aleatoric experiments of Witold Lutosławski, Krzysztof Penderecki and George Crumb. Later works included elements of Latvian folk music, such as his gentle and pastoral cor anglais concerto (1989). His works are generally extremely clear and communicative, with a solid and muscular sense of harmony. Lyrical passages may be followed by agitated dissonances, or interrupted by sombre sections with a march-

Rihards Dubra

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Rihards Dubra (born 28 February 1964 in Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Latvian composer. Many of his works are religiously influenced, including a Te Deum and an Alma Redemptoris Mater for soprano saxophone, choir, and organ. Rihards Dubra was commissioned by Louth Contemporary Music Society (County Louth, Ireland) to write his first choral piece in English based on the words of ‘Hail Holy Queen’. The world première was given by the State Choir Latvija in February 2008 in St.Patrick’s Cathedral Church, Dundalk. Recordings The Royal Holloway Choir (Rupert Gough, conductor) has recorded a CD of Dubra’s sacred choral compositions entitled “Hail Queen of Heaven & other choral works,” released on Hyperion Records (CDA67799), which includes the following: * ‘Oculus non vidit’ * ‘Ave Maria III’ * ‘Miserere mei’ * ‘Hail, Queen of Heaven’ * ‘Duo Seraphim’ * ‘Felix namque es …’ * ‘Stetit Angelus’ * ‘Gloria Patri’ * ‘Missa de Spiritu Sancto’ * ‘Ubi caritas’ * ‘Ave Maria I’ The Cambridge Chorale (Michael Kibblewhite, conductor) has recorded another CD of his sacred choral works entitled “Northern Lights: Music of Rihards Dubra,” released on Meridian Records (CDE 84408), which includes t

Santa Ratniece

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Santa Ratniece (born 1977) is a Latvian composer. Santa Ratniece was born in Jelgava, and started her musical studies with piano playing classes at Valmiera Music School. In 1992 she took up music theory classes in Emīls Dārziņš College in Riga. She continued her musical education at J. Vītols Latvia Academy of Music and graduated in Musicology (2000) and Composition (2002). Later on she studied composition with English composer David Rowland at Enschede Conservatory in Netherlands. Afterwards Santa Ratniece went on with her studies at Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with Estonian composer Helena Tulve and in 2007 she obtained her MA. Santa Ratniece first came in public view in 2004 after winning the 1st prize at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers (in the category of composers under 30) for her piece “sens nacre” for ensemble, performed by Ensemble Nove and conductor Normunds Šnē. Ratniece’s music has been performed by the Latvian Radio Choir, ensemble Altera Veritas, Trio Palladio, Sinfonietta Rīga, Liepaja Amber Sound Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony orchestra, Orchestra RIGA, Estonian National Male choir, Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Cappella Amsterdam,

Sarah Feigin

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Sarah Feigin (; ; 1 July 1928 – 24 April 2011) was a Latvian music educator and composer who lived and worked in Israel. Early life Sarah Kugel was born in Latvia, and studied piano and composition at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music originally known as the Riga Conservatory of Music. She graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. A Holocaust survivor, she moved to Israel in 1972 and founded a Conservatory of Music in Holon in 1973, working as its director until 1983. Feigin worked for “Jeunesses Musicales d’Israel” from 1973 to 1990, organizing concerts for youth. Her music has been performed internationally. Musical achievements Feigin taught children as well as at music education institutions when she lived in Israel. Her preferred instruments were the organ and piano when composing music. Her work has been published by the Israel Music Institute and her pieces have been on the Israeli radio on a regular basis. Feigin composed pieces such as chamber music, music for piano, educational pieces, songs for ballets, and vocal music. In 2000, Feigin received an award for her work Thoughts On Playing at the International Composition Competition in Miami, Florida. She has

Sniedze Prauliņa

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Sniedze Prauliņa (born 28 August 1991) is a Latvian musician, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. She has worked as a solo artist and in the group Juuk. Biography Prauliņa was born into a musical family: her father is composer and musician Uģis Prauliņš, and her mother is composer, organist and singer, Silvija Silava. Prauliņa sang in the vocal ensemble Anima Solla and in the choirs Ave Sol and Mūza. In 2014, she released the album INTRO together with the choir Mūza. Prauliņa gained wider recognition in 2015 with participation in the second season of Latvia Television’s young academic musicians show Radīti muzikai. She released her first solo album, Inkrustācija, in April 2017. The album was nominated for the 2017 Austras award. In 2018, Prauliņa composed a song performed by Evija Vēbere for Andra Gauja’s film Nekas mūs neapturēs. She released her second album in 2021 as part of the group Juuk, titled Sikspārņi. Discography * INTRO (2014, LP) with Mūza choir * Inkrustācija (2017, LP, Biedrība HI) * Indulgenču tirgotāji (2019, LP, Biedrība HI) with the group Juuk * Sikspārņi (2021, LP, Biedrība HI) with the group Juuk References External links * * Bandcamp profiles

Tālivaldis Ķeniņš

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Tālivaldis Ķeniņš (April 23, 1919 – January 21, 2008) was a Latvian-Canadian composer and teacher. He was forced to emigrate from Latvia when it fell under Soviet occupation after World War II, moving to Canada in 1951. He is credited by Canadian musicologist Paul Rapoport with having introduced many European idioms to Canadian art music. CBC Music described him as a “pioneering Canadian composer” Ķeniņš’ secondary school studies were at the Lycée Champollion in Grenoble, France, but he returned home with the outbreak of World War II. From 1940-44, he studied counterpoint and composition at the Latvian Conservatory under Jāzeps Vītols and Ādolfs Ābele in Riga. Ķeniņš made his way to France in the aftermath of the war, He was the recipient of the Périlhou, Gouy d’Arcy and Halphen music prizes. Upon graduating in 1950, he was awarded the Grand Prix Laureate in composition for his Cello Sonata. That same year, he received a scholarship from the UNESCO International Music Council to pursue postgraduate work. Career Ķeniņš’ Septet was performed in 1950 at the Darmstadt New Music Festival, conducted by Hermann Scherchen; the following year, he moved to Toronto, Canada, where he was named

Uģis Prauliņš

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Uģis Prauliņš (; born 17 June 1957) is a Latvian composer whose choral work Missa Rigensis (Riga Mass) was recorded by the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, the Riga Cathedral Boys Choir, Youth Choir BALSIS and has been performed in several locations around the world, amongst those Canada, France, England. Background Uģis Prauliņš was born in Riga and studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School from 1963 to 1974. Later, he studied conducting and pedagogy at the Latvian Academy of Music from 1977 to 1982, where he also studied composition with Jānis Ivanovs in 1982–83 and Ģederts Ramans from 1984 to 1989 and piano with Valda Kalnina from 1977 to 1982 and 1984–89. As a keyboardist, he was active as a rock musician in the progressive rock group Salve in the 1970s and in the folk-/progressive-rock group Vecās mājas in the 1980s. Selected works His album Pagānu gadagrāmata (Pagan Yearbook), was recorded with the band Iļģi with guest appearances by Latvian folk musicians in 1998. It contains a seasonal cycle of mostly traditional songs and instrumental pieces with an emphasis on the natural progression of the year. Missa Rigensis (2002) was written for and first recorded by the Riga Cat