Latvian music

[guest145]

Pēteris Barisons (1904-1947)

http://www.mediafire.com/?s7x14k33jkfgt

orchestral works:

Bērnības rīti [Childhood Mornings] (suite, 1946) *
    Aizliegtā pastaiga [The Forbidden Walk] (Lentamente amoroso -- Con allegrezza)
    Pelēkās noriņās [Amid Gray Flowers] (Andante con afflizione)
    Pēc pūpoliem [After Pussy Willows] (Allegro rigoroso)
    Dievnamā [In Church] (Adagio non troppo)
    Uz šūpolem [On the Swing] (Allegro molto)

  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Romualds Kalsons, conductor [live, 1975]

Latvian Rhapsody (1945) **

  Daina Vīlipa, piano
  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Centis Kriķis, conductor

Teika [Legend] (symphonic poem, 1937) *

  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Jānis Zirnis, conductor [live, 1983]

Tragic Poem (1936) *

  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Vassily Sinaisky, conductor

Three Preludes (1937) *

  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Romualds Kalsons, conductor [live, 1977]

Ziedu vija [A Wreath of Flowers] (1937) *
    Lilija [lily](Andante con moto)
    Rasene [Dewdrop] (Allegro)
    Naktsvijole [Dame's violet] (Notturno)
    Nātre [Nettle] (Presto)
    Roze [Rose] (Con gravita)

  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Aleksandrs Viļumanis, conductor

Symphony No. 2 in E-flat "Romantic" (1939) *
    Mīlas atmoda [The Awakening of Love] (Allegro con brio)
    Jūsma [Sentiment] (Tranquillo)
    Erotika [Erotica] (Allegro con affetto)
    Mīlas nāve [The Death of Love] (Andante sostenuto)

  Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
  Jānis Zirnis, conductor

cantatas:

Brīnumzeme [Land of Wonders] (1938) *

  Aira Rudāne, soprano
  Krišjāns Norvelis, baritons
  "Ogre" Choir
  "Rīga Old Masters" Symphony Orchestra
  Jānis Zirnis, conductor

Nāves sala [Isle of the Dead] (1944) *

  Lilija Greidāne, soprano
  Andris Miķelsons, baritone
  Latvian Radio Choir
  Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
  Edgars Račevskis, conductor [live, 1987]

choral works:

Dziesmai šodien liela diena  [Today is a great day for song] (1947) **

  Latvian Radio Choir
  Ivars Bērziņš, conductor

Kā sniegi kalnu galotnēs  [As snow on the mountaintops] (1928) **

  Latvian Radio Choir
  Edgars Račevskis, conductor

Pavasara jausma  [The coming of spring] (1937) **

  Leonora Ratniece, soprano solo
  Latvian Radio Choir
  Edgars Račevskis, conductor

Latvijā [In Latvia] (1938) **

  "Ave Sol" Chamber Choir
  Imants Kokars, conductor

chamber music:

Piano Sonata No. 2 in B-flat minor (1944) *

  Tālivaldis Deksnis, piano

String Quartet (1932) *
    Lento; Allegro moderato
    Andante
    Finale

  Eduards Bulavinovs & Viesturs Stabulnieks, violins
  Alberts Senakols, viola
  Oļegs Barskovs, cello

* = from Latvian Radio broadcasts
** = from Melodiya LPs

none of these recordings has ever been issued on CD, to the best of my knowledge.

information about the composer here: http://www.lmic.lv/core.php?pageId=747&id=283&profile=1

[Elroel]

Tālivaldis Ķenińš (1919-2008) - Sonata for Violoncello & Piano  (1950)

The movements: Allegro con moto ma non troppo - Scherzo / Presto assai - Andante molto sostenuto - Allegro molto
In 1951 Ķenińš, after studying in Europe (Olivier Messiaen) left for Canada, becoming a Canadian citizen in 1956. So I might have placed this in the Canadian folder, but decided for the Latvian, because of the work was written in 1950, before his Canadian time.

Atis Teichmanis, violoncello
Helmut Barth, klavier

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?7bjiyie6bc9i27n

from lp Christophorus SCGLX 75980

Although he studied with Messiaen, he didn't follow the strict methods of his teacher. He himself says to be more influenced by the group 'Les Six', who created more playful music.
Later in his life, some musicologists say, the Parisian influence was always there.

[fr8nks]

Romualds Kalsons  (b.1936)

Violin Concerto  (1978)

1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Allegro con brio
3. Andante con moto
4. Allegro non troppo

Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Vasilijs Sinaiskis, Conductor
Valdis Zarins, Violin

Latvian Radio Archive

This Violin Concerto has a catchy lilt to it and once you hear it you won't forget it. His Concerto Grosso is
one of his major works which I will upload soon.

http://www.mediafire.com/?6pb8lfhdig7r7ce

Never commercially released with these perfomers.

[fr8nks]

Romualds Kalsons  (b.1936)

Concerto Grosso  (1977)

for trumpet, french horn and symphony orchestra

Latvian State Symphony Orchestra
Romualds Kalsons, Conductor
Janis Klisans, Trumpet
Arvids Klisans, French Horn

Melodiya LP C10 13685 6

http://www.mediafire.com/?lj3camue21zlmru

Previously on UC uploaded by me.

[fr8nks]

Romualds Kalsons  (b.1936)

Clarinet Concerto  (1978)

1. Allegro mono troppo
2. Andante con brio
3. Andante con moto

Latvian Symphony Orchestra
Tovy Lifshitz, conductor
Girts Paje, clarinet

http://www.mediafire.com/?yods1j6t5djvm8f

From a cassette given to me by the composer.

[BrianA]

The uploads of Kalsons violin concerto and concerto grosso seem to have gone missing.  Would it be imposing on anybody's good nature to ask if they could be uploaded again? 

[fr8nks]

Imants Kalnins  (b.1941)

Symphony No.3  (1968)

In One Movement

Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Leonids Vigners, Conductor

http://www.mediafire.com/?mciz1cjnlvc2snc

Taken from an LP and never commercially released.

[guest54]

The uploads of Kalsons violin concerto and concerto grosso seem to have gone missing.  Would it be imposing on anybody's good nature to ask if they could be uploaded again? 

I tried them both just now, and they work for me. Was it a merely temporary disappearance, perhaps?

[fr8nks]

Imants Kalnins  (b.1941)

Symphony No.1 in A minor  (1964)

1. Lento. Allegro
2. Allegro
3. Sostenuto serioso
4. Allegro

Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Leons Reiters, Conductor

http://www.mediafire.com/?afbb8ohy4cowrzy

Latvian Radio archives.

[fr8nks]

Imants Kalnins  (b.1941)

Symphony No.2 in C minor  (1965)

1. Maestoso, alle breve
2. Moderato maestoso
3. Moderato festivamente

Latvian National Symphony Orchestra
Leonids Vigners, Conductor

http://www.mediafire.com/?9otxmfgh957o2cd

Latvian Radio archives

[Dundonnell]

Peteris Vasks(1946-):

"Credo" for orchestra(2009)

Unknown performers

http://www.mediafire.com/?2eacip7u9amufq6

[mjkFendrich]

Pēteris Vasks  (1946-)

Symphonic Elegy 'Sala' ('Island') - for Orchestra (2006) 

Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
Imants Resnis, conductor [Mar. 19, 2009]

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?i7kr3irk58919dx

Latvian Radio Archive
(thanks to the valuable hint by Jolly Roger http://artmusic.smfforfree.com/index.php/topic,2390.msg10833.html#msg10833)

[mjkFendrich]

Pēteris Vasks  (1946-)

Klātbūtne - Koncerts čellam un stīgu orķestrim (2011/12)
('Presence' - Concerto for Violoncello and String Orchestra)

Sol Gabetta - cello
Amsterdam Sinfonietta, Candida Thompson

further performance details unidentified (presumably Oct. 2012)
no commercial recording available yet
(some additional work details from the publisher Schott, including score:
 http://www.schott-musik.de/shop/products/show,306663,,f.html?showOldPerformances=true#top)

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?d1h5ij8bec8vyo3

[mjkFendrich]

Pēteris Vasks  (1946-)

Epifania - per orchestra d'archi (2010) 

Kremerata Baltica
Gidon Kremer, conductor [Feb.13, 2012]

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?2odnoh669278cef

Latvian Radio Archive

[guest377]

Wolfgangs Darzins   (1906 - 1962)

Piano Concerto No 2

Andante, Allegro, Allegro Moderato  11:15
Theme and Variations                     8:46
Vivace                                         8:26



Latvian National Sym Orchestra
Maris Zembergs, piano
Imants Resnis, conductor




http://www.mediafire.com/listen/6o1bdr8sk1l76vr/Darzins%20(Wolfgang)%20Piano%20Concerto%20No%202.mp3


Source: Private tape recording from the Darzins family given to me in 2004.



Volfgangs Darzins ( 25. 09. 1906 Riga - 24. 06. 1962 Seattle, Washington USA)    http://www.music.lv/Composers/Wolfgang_Darzins_e.htm

One of the most important Latvian composers, he was also a concert pianist, music critic, theoretician, ethnomusicologist and teacher. He was the son of the prominent composer Emils Darzins (1975 - 1910). He attended the Latvian State Conservatory’s piano class of B. Roga (1920) and the composition class of J. Vitols (l924), graduating with highest honors in 1929. He enrolled in the piano class of N. Karklina, graduating in 1934, performing at year’s end his Piano Concerto No. 1, later described as "technically erudite, pleasingly melodic and romantic". It was said to show the influence of Scriabin. His Piano Concerto No.2 was composed in 1938 and performed by the National Opera Orchestra under T. Reiters a year later. It showed the strong influence of folklore and the beginning of an individual style. Darzins also wrote a Latvian Dance Suite in three movements (l937). All of his published music was produced after l944. He developed a strong original style, influenced to some degree by Bartok and Stravinsky. His compositions are in three categories: piano, solo vocal and choral.

In 1928 he was invited to contribute reviews and articles on Riga’s musical life to the paper Latvis. From 1934 to 1940 he was music critic of the newspaper Rīts, and in 1940-41 for the newspaper Darbs. He was active as a music critic until l944, even continuing his writing in the Displaced Person camps later in Germany. In all he published more than 1000 articles. During this time he also became known for extensive research into Latvian folk music, mapping the distribution of many folksongs. He found as many as 23 variations of one song in a narrow area along the Baltic Sea. He dated the earliest Latvian dainas to the time of Christ and even earlier, tracing the language back some 3000 years. It is closely related to the ancient Sanscrit of Western India. The mass of folksongs had their beginnings in the 8th to the l5th centuries A.D.

In December,1939 he married the painter Anna Ozolins (Arthur Ozolins sister, my note), a graduate of the Latvian Academy of Arts. A daughter, Daina, was born in l953 after the couple had immigrated to the United States.

From 1944 until his death he livid in exile; till1950 in Eslingen (Germany), from 1950-55 in Spokane, Washington (USA) and from 1955 in Seattle. The Darzins’ emigration from the DP camps in Germany was sponsored by Grace Lutheran Church of Spokane, where he became choir director. He made several concert tours in the United States, including a Carnegie Hall concert in New York in 1954. His programs featured Chopin and Beethoven, often including his own works as well.

Also in this period he became close friends with three of his students, friendships that continued until his death: Kenneth Benshoof, composer-pianist later on the music faculty of the University of Washington; Alden Andreassen, tenor, and his wife, Myrtle Estelle, his piano accompanist. The Andreassens began performing Darzin’s songs in memorial concerts after 1962, which led eventually to two recordings. These three made the only LP records of Darzins’ music known to exist; Benshoof a recording of Darzins’ piano works (l955 –1960), the Andreassens a two-record set of Latviesu Tautas Dziesmas, Darzin’s arrangements of 38 dainas (in Latvian), including six of the eight through-composed songs (published by A. Kalnajs, Mannheim, in 1948). The other songs are from the collection of 200 set by Darzins (published by Kalnajs, Chicago, in 1966).

(Seattle's connection to Rimsky-Korsakov thru Vitols, my note)