Cantatas of the Christmas season Soloists, RLB Chamber Choir “Austrums”, Youth Choir “Balsis” New York Latvian Concert Choir, Latvian National Opera Chamber Orchestra Andrejs Jansons, conductor 1 CANTATAS OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON BY THREE LATVIAN COMPOSERS 2 COMPOSERS 5 CHOIRS 6 CONDUCTORS 8 SOLOISTS 10 THE ORCHESTRA 13 TEXTS / SKAņDARBU TEKSTI 27 LATVIEŠU KOMPONISTU KANTĀTES 29 KoMpoNISTI 31 KoRI 32 DIRIģENTI 34 SolISTI 36 ORķESTRIS CANTATAS OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON sake, but to “teach and delight.” Among the many BY THREE LATVIAN COMPOSERS contributors for the national cause was Krišjānis Barons (1835–1923), a Tartu University student, who collected and catalogued folk songs, Introduction resulting in the book Latvju Dainas, Vol.I, 1894. In whatever direction, in times of change, a nation That volume (and more followed) opened a moves, there in front of it, guiding its way, like a window into the past. It became a rich source morning star, goes its poetry. for the poets and musicians of that time, and it Long before Aspāzija (1865–1943) proclaimed has remained as such until this day, amplified those words in 1901, long before people could in many variations. As during the National read and become excited about the National Awakening, so into the present, Latvian artists Awakening ideas of liberty and long before have fused folklore with contemporary trends; Aspāzija’s poems became songs, music has indeed, it has become a genre in itself. This and been a strong political, unifying force for the similar CDs are examples. Latvian people. It rose slowly, out of folk songs, A moment of highlight came in 1873, when during the 700 years of oppression, mostly by the first Latvian song festival took place. The Russian tsars and German overlords, and gained tradition was established: every five years, song momentum after the emancipation proclamation festivals have been held at home and, after in the 1860-ies. Though people were set free World War II, abroad. The programs include theoretically, in practice they were still enslaved, classical and contemporary works. Thus, heavily censored, repressed and silenced. Poetry without being overbearing, the music acts as and song, with their indirect and symbolic a unifying force near and far and in good and undertones, became an inside language – a way bad times. It served the Baltic States remarkably of passing on messages, re-visiting legendary well when the Soviet Union collapsed after heroes and building confidence. having occupied the countries, Estonia, Latvia As the Awakening gathered force, books and Lithuania, for 50 years. As a century earlier, and newspapers appeared in the vernacular, the song went before its people like a morning choirs and theaters looked for original Latvian star showing the way. Indeed, even the world words and music, all meant to raise national recognized the power of the song as it refers to awareness. And the artists responded. Poets the 20th century freedom movement along the wrote and musicians composed so much that this Baltic shores as the Singing Revolution. period became known as the classical period, particularly rich in literature, drama and music – Astrīda Stahnke uplifting, inspiring and didactic. Not for its own 1 COMPOSERS in Austria, Internationales Gitarren Festival (International Guitar Festival) in Münster, Germany, in 2006, and the Latvian Song Festival in 2008. His music was heard at the 2012 World Choir Games in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was the chosen composer for the Choir Games hymn My Song (lyrics by Rabindranath Tagore, 1861–1941). About his conceptual vision of the Ēriks Ešenvalds, born 1977 in Priekule, Latvia, Christmas Eve Cantata, Ešenvalds states: in a Baptist family, showed his musical talent The cantata Christmas Eve for soloists, early on in his childhood. He participated in the mixed choir and chamber orchestra highlights local Baptist church music programs, playing different situations on Christmas Eve. First, the several instruments, and in his teens directed church congregation sings the Angel’s News of the church choir. After graduating from high Christ’s birth; then follows a rather theological school he was admitted to the Latvian Academy explanation, The Bridge, reveals the meaning of Music in Riga, where he studied composition of the Savior’s birth; next, far away, in exile, a with professor Selga Mence. He received his BA refugee talks To his Mother. He tells her about his degree in 2002 and MA in 2004. loneliness, as he finds himself far away from his As part of his studies at the Academy, he was homeland and family. The finale, On Christmas enrolled in various international master classes, Eve offers the invitation to accept Christ as Savior: studying composition with Martin Herman, Open your heart, open your door on Christmas Eve, Richard Danielpour, Tresky Krumlov, Michael so that Love may come to you tonight! Finnissy, Klaus Huber, Trevor Wishart, Jonathan The sources for the text are four poets: Nahum Harvey and Phillippe Manoury. Tate, Marija Riekstkalna, Arturs Cīrulis and Ēriks Ešenvalds received scholarships and Veronika Lācekle. The cantata was composed in grants from the Latvian Academy of Music and 2008, commissioned by the New York Latvian the Ministry of Culture. In the 2008 competition Concert Choir. It was premiered December 7, for an original opera, he won the second prize 2008, in Yonkers, New York. for Iemūrētā (Immured). Currently (2011–13) he is artist-in-residence at Cambridge Trinity College. Ešenvalds’s works have been performed at the Young European Classics Festival in Berlin Konzerthaus in 2002, the International Sacred Music Festival in Riga, the festival Klanspuren 2 Then in some distant corner of my being emerge long-forgotten forms that speak to me emotionally and powerfully. I see – through deep, snow-covered woods come mummers, somewhat scary but carefree and happy. They Valts Pūce was born in 1962 in Latvia. In 1969 he take me along to an antique homestead, where, was enrolled in the Emīls Dārziņš School of Music, in kindling light, steams a meal with peas, bacon from which he graduated in 1980. Thereafter buns and a pig’s snout. There people frolic, sing he was accepted to the Latvian Academy of and dance old rounds and foretell the future. Music, Department of Conducting, where he Suddenly at the door knocks God – Dieviņš – studied with professors Juris Kļaviņš, Ilgvars (always in loving diminutive). He is welcomed Matrozis and Mendelis Bašs. He also studied inside and sits down beside me, enjoying composition with professors Pauls Dambis, Selga himself. And to my mind comes Libera me. Mence and Pēteris Plakidis. During his studies at the Music Academy, he was director of several amateur choirs and in 1986 established the ensemble Marana, to which the Soviet occupying regime gave permission to travel in Europe. He graduated from the Music Academy in 1987. In 2006, he organized the Pūce Ethnographic Aldonis Kalniņš, born in 1928 in Latvia. He Orchestra, which he took to Germany, Moldavia, studied composition at the Latvian State Georgia and other countries. He has composed Conservatory. After graduating in 1954, he music for theater, TV serials, children’s shows, taught at the Jelgava High School as well as the musicals, kokle and woodwind ensembles, Latvian State Conservatory. Between 1959 and compiled several Christmas programs and 1990 he served as music editor for the publishing produced video films. house Liesma. In 1972 he was honored as the About his inspiration for his Christmas exceptionally recognized contributor to the arts. In Cantata for mezzo soprano, choir and 2002 he was awarded the Triju Zvaigžņu Ordenis chamber chorus, Mr. Pūce said this: (Medal of Three Stars), the highest civilian award I am in a church; Gothic arches reach over me, bestowed by the Republic of Latvia. and candle fragrance calmly warms me; before Musicologist Lolita Fūrmane gives Kalniņš me, from the altar, looks down Jesus, crucified. special credit for his contribution to the study of It is Christmas, and to mind comes Libera me. Latvian folk songs, their collection and creative (Deliver me. .) settings. He was a part of the new folklore wave 3 that became popular during the 1960-ies as And when a small fir tree appeared in the a means of expressing the national identity house, with its sweetly bitter fragrance, there during the very closely watched and censored was the decorating and the lighting of candles Cold War period. His music resonated with the and more and more… oppressed Latvian people and stands in the Added to all that was the sleigh ride to the background of the freedom movement of the church, the ringing of bells, the playing of late 1980-ies. He has also composed large- the organ and singing of carols, worshippers scale works for chorus and orchestra as well as crowding around the door… numerous children’s songs. All that mixed and blended with ancient About his Winter Solstice Mystery, a cantata traditions, such as pulling a burning log around for soloists, mixed choir and chamber a bonfire to protect us from evil spirits; there orchestra, he has set down this: were chanting mummers acting out fertility The Winter Solstice Mystery is a return to rites, and young men and women bantering childhood, deep into the country, far away from and dancing. All that created in a child’s the noise and glitter of city life. When I was a soul tremendous impressions as something child, the advent of Christmas was connected mysterious and alluring – an event illuminated with winter solstice. Left on my consciousness are by a special light. memorable impressions: the approach of winter, In nature this is the winter solstice, this with its shortening of days, frost and snow that mighty and incomprehensible unending changed my world – fields, forests, neighboring struggle between darkness and light.