Latvian composers

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I had seen this CD before, for reasons you can guess  , and also because I actually had a superficial meeting with Ēriks Ešenvalds in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw when one of his choral pieces was premiered there, so I'm strongly aware of his beautiful Passion music, but this concerto is new for me. So, no, I cannot longer resist it and will order. 

I couldn't resist it either, so I, too, bought it.

[vandermolen]

Johan and John I'm delighted that you succumbed to temptation  .

You won't regret it and I'd love to hear what you think of the music. I enjoyed every moment of the disc. The accompanying booklet notes are good, but those accompanying the Ondine release were even better. 

[vandermolen]

I had seen this CD before, for reasons you can guess  , and also because I actually had a superficial meeting with Ēriks Ešenvalds in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw when one of his choral pieces was premiered there, so I'm strongly aware of his beautiful Passion music, but this concerto is new for me. So, no, I cannot longer resist it and will order. 

Are their any Latvian/Baltic composers whom you don't know personally? 

[Mirror Image]

Johan and John I'm delighted that you succumbed to temptation  .

You won't regret it and I'd love to hear what you think of the music. I enjoyed every moment of the disc. The accompanying booklet notes are good, but those accompanying the Ondine release were even better. 

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about giving the disc a spin. I'm really interested in those other Latvian composers. Thanks for alerting us about this recording, Jeffrey.

[vandermolen]

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about giving the disc a spin. I'm really interested in those other Latvian composers. Thanks for alerting us about this recording, Jeffrey.

My pleasure John. It's a great disc. The Vasks has always been a great favourite but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the shorter works, especially 'Visions of Arctic: Night'. Nice to see the 'Latvian Composers' thread move on to a second page. 

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My pleasure John. It's a great disc. The Vasks has always been a great favourite but I was surprised how much I enjoyed the shorter works, especially 'Visions of Arctic: Night'. Nice to see the 'Latvian Composers' thread move on to a second page. 

Very nice, Jeffrey. Looking forward to hearing all of these works.

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Johan and John, when you receive the CD I wonder if you'll like the middle movement of 'Vision of Arctic: Night' as much as I do. One of the most hauntingly beautiful contemporary works that I know.

[Mirror Image]

Johan and John, when you receive the CD I wonder if you'll like the middle movement of 'Vision of Arctic: Night' as much as I do. One of the most hauntingly beautiful contemporary works that I know.

Will definitely keep my ears glued to that movement, Jeffrey.

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Will definitely keep my ears glued to that movement, Jeffrey.

And I shall look forward to hearing what you think about it John. 

[Wieland]

Barisons, Peteris (1904 - 1947)

A composer whose works were talented additions to the late Romantic style in Latvian music. The genres of orchestral music and vocal music with orchestra were his forte, but his a cappella choral works (about 30 songs in all) also belong with the best of Latvian music. He has also composed chamber music, both vocal and instrumental. Barisons received his musical education at the E.Vīgners College of Phonology in Riga. He graduated from the College in 1928, and afterwards worked as a lecturer there until 1939, though not continuously. After graduating from the LC in composition (1932) and conducting (1934), he worked for a few years as a director of symphony concerts and opera productions. He became lecturer at the LC in 1936, head of the Department of Composition and head of conducting at the LSC in 1944, a professor from 1945.
The genres of orchestral music (two symphonies and ten other works) and vocal-orchestral music (three cantatas) were his forte. He also composed various instrumental works. In vocal music Barisons is known first for his original compositions for choir, and many of these have achieved classic status in Latvian music. The characteristic feature of his choral music – a heightened lyrical sensibility, which at times becomes almost ecstatically picturesque – is also evident in his solo songs. In his relatively few, but striking choral arrangements of folk songs, he does not follow the stylistic norms of folk music, but (as in his original compositions) combines colourful chromatic harmony with skilful polyphonic scoring and broad delineation of structure.
The broad spectrum of Barisons' choral writing characteristically displays lyrical intensity of emotion and is at times almost ecstatically picturesque. Striking melodic line and skillful polyphonic scoring combine with a rich harmonic language, pellucid texture, and a developed sense of form. The sincerity and nobility of feeling manifested by Barisons' works have made his songs classics of Latvian choral music composed in the 1930s, and they are among the most widely performed.
(taken from www.musicabaltica.com)

I believe Peteris Barisons has not been mentioned here so far. One reason is that none of his music is available on CD so far. However, his second symphony "Romantic" you can find in very good sound on you tube (in 2 parts). After having listened to this piece a half-dozen times I can say it is one of my favourite late-romantic symphonies. If you are into Tristan, Gurrelieder, Heldenleben etc. you should listen to this piece. It is heavily influenced by German late romantic composers but they way these influences are melted into a wonderful score is amazing. You could say that this is the romantic symphony Strauss never wrote.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etSHu5ZFDz8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1HuYvlKZPw

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This is a very interesting CD. I think that the performance of the powerfully dark and gloomy Symphony 5 (actually most of Ivanovs's symphonies are dark and gloomy but this suits me) is rather more gripping than the Marco Polo release. The Symphony is from 1945 and reflects the catastrophic era in which it was created. I suspect that admirers of Shostakovich would appreciate this troubled score. Ivanovs's Symphony 5 was singled out for criticism during the denunciation of composers in 1948 in the Soviet Union.  The great bonus here is the inclusion of Juris Karlsons (born 1948) 'Music for Symphony Orchestra' (1985). This is an epic work lasting 11 minutes! Karlsons was in Ivanovs's composition class and his work is also evidently influenced by Eastern Europe's experience of warfare. However as an introduction to the music of Ivanovs I'd recommend his possible masterpiece - the Symphony 20 on Naxos:
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[SymphonicAddict]

Symphony No. 5

Skulte and his superb 5th Symphony have been one of my most important finds this week. What great music! Admirers of Tubin will rejoice with such an energetic work. The recording is quite fine. There is a recording on YouTube but not as good as this one. Strongly recommended.

[SymphonicAddict]

This is a very interesting CD. I think that the performance of the powerfully dark and gloomy Symphony 5 (actually most of Ivanovs's symphonies are dark and gloomy but this suits me) is rather more gripping than the Marco Polo release. The Symphony is from 1945 and reflects the catastrophic era in which it was created. I suspect that admirers of Shostakovich would appreciate this troubled score. Ivanovs's Symphony 5 was singled out for criticism during the denunciation of composers in 1948 in the Soviet Union.  The great bonus here is the inclusion of Juris Karlsons (born 1948) 'Music for Symphony Orchestra' (1985). This is an epic work lasting 11 minutes! Karlsons was in Ivanovs's composition class and his work is also evidently influenced by Eastern Europe's experience of warfare. However as an introduction to the music of Ivanovs I'd recommend his possible masterpiece - the Symphony 20 on Naxos:
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Ivanovs is another composer whose work I'll explore in the near future. Some music excerpts appear promising.

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Ivanovs is another composer whose work I'll explore in the near future. Some music excerpts appear promising.

I think that it will be right up your street Cesar!

[SymphonicAddict]

I think that it will be right up your street Cesar!

Don't hesitate! I only know his 4th Symphony (thus far) and certainly it appeals to me.

[vandermolen]

Symphony No. 5

Skulte and his superb 5th Symphony have been one of my most important finds this week. What great music! Admirers of Tubin will rejoice with such an energetic work. The recording is quite fine. There is a recording on YouTube but not as good as this one. Strongly recommended.

I really enjoyed the samples on Amazon, especially the opening of Symphony 5.

[SymphonicAddict]

I really enjoyed the samples on Amazon, especially the opening of Symphony 5.

It's worth listening, Jeffrey. This is another cycle that cries out for a complete recording.

[kyjo]

It's great to see the Skani label releasing so much Latvian music recently. A great recent discovery of mine through their series was Lūcija Garūta's hyper-romantic, deeply memorable and personal Piano Concerto:

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[vandermolen]

It's great to see the Skani label releasing so much Latvian music recently. A great recent discovery of mine through their series was Lūcija Garūta's hyper-romantic, deeply memorable and personal Piano Concerto:

[asin]B076JVB91P[/asin]

Sounds most interesting!

[Rinaldo]

Hmm, combing through this thread, the Ešenvalds piqued my interest. There's a live performance of the Visions of Arctic: Night available on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/v/1OBWbDbpzyo

I was expecting a dark, brooding piece, but there seems to be a lot more going on in the Arctic during the night! Quite enjoyable, the sombre middle part is beautiful.