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Pēteris Vasks (born 16 April 1946) is a Latvian composer.


Biography

Vasks was born in
Aizpute Aizpute (; historically Polish language, Polish: ''Hazenpot'') is a town in South Kurzeme Municipality in the Courland region of Latvia, in the valley of the Tebra River, situated northeast of Liepāja. History The territory of modern Aizpute ...
, Latvia, into the family of a
Baptist Baptists are a Christian denomination, denomination within Protestant Christianity distinguished by baptizing only professing Christian believers (believer's baptism) and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches ge ...
pastor. He trained as a violinist at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, as a
double-bass The double bass (), also known as the upright bass, the acoustic bass, the bull fiddle, or simply the bass, is the largest and lowest-pitched chordophone in the modern symphony orchestra (excluding rare additions such as the octobass). It has ...
player with Vitautas Sereikaan at the
Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre The Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a state-supported College or university school of music, conservatory that trains students in music, theatre, and multimedia arts. History Composer Juozas Naujalis founded a ...
, and played in several Latvian orchestras before entering the State Conservatory in
Vilnius Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...
in the neighboring
Lithuania Lithuania, officially the Republic of Lithuania, is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Latvia to the north, Belarus to the east and south, P ...
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 Aleatoricism (or aleatorism) is a term for musical compositions and other forms of art resulting from "actions made by chance". The term was first used "in the context of electro-acoustics and information theory" to describe "a course of sound ...
experiments of
Witold Lutosławski Witold Roman Lutosławski (; 25 January 1913 – 7 February 1994) was a Polish composer and conductor. Among the major composers of 20th-century classical music, he is "generally regarded as the most significant Polish composer since Szymanow ...
,
Krzysztof Penderecki Krzysztof Eugeniusz Penderecki (; 23 November 1933 – 29 March 2020) was a Polish composer and conductor. His best-known works include '' Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima'', Symphony No. 3, his '' St Luke Passion'', '' Polish Requiem'', '' ...
and
George Crumb George Henry Crumb Jr. (24 October 1929 – 6 February 2022) was an American composer of avant-garde contemporary classical music. Early in his life he rejected the widespread modernist usage of serialism, developing a highly personal musical ...
. Later works included elements of Latvian folk music, such as his gentle and pastoral
cor anglais The cor anglais (, or original ; plural: ''cors anglais''), or English horn (mainly North America), is a double-reed woodwind instrument in the oboe family. It is approximately one and a half times the length of an oboe, making it essentially ...
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-like feel. He made extensive use of minimalist techniques as well, but never became attached to any particular method. Vasks feels strongly about environmental issues, and a sense of nature both pristine and destroyed can be found in many of his works, such as the ''String Quartet No. 2'' (1984). Other important works include ''Cantabile'' (1979) and ''Musica dolorosa'' (1984) and "Bass Trip" (2003) for solo double bass. He has written six string quartets, the fourth (1999) and fifth (2004) of which were written for the
Kronos Quartet The Kronos Quartet is an American string quartet based in San Francisco. It has been in existence with a rotating membership of musicians for 50 years. The quartet covers a very broad range of musical genres, including contemporary classical musi ...
. Vasks was the recipient of the Vienna
Herder Prize The Herder Prize (), named after the German philosopher Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), was a prestigious international prize awarded every year from 1964 to 2006 to scholars and artists from Central and Southeast Europe whose life and wor ...
of the Alfred Toepfer Foundation in 1996, as well as the Baltic Assembly Prize for Literature, the Arts and Science, and the Latvian Grand Music Award in 1997, the latter for his first violin concerto ''Tālā gaismā'' ("Distant Light") (1996–97). He received the Cannes Classical Awards in 2004. His important works also include "Viatore", Symphony No. 2 and "Music for a deceased Friend". Since 1994 he has been an honorary member of the
Latvian Academy of Sciences The Latvian Academy of Sciences (, ) is the official science academy of Latvia and is an association of the country's foremost scientists. The academy was founded as the ''Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences'' (). It is located in Riga. The curren ...
and in 2001 he became a member of the
Royal Swedish Academy of Music The Royal Swedish Academy of Music (), founded in 1771 by King Gustav III, is one of the Royal Academies in Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in ...
. In 1996 he was the main composer at the
Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
New Music Festival and in 2006 composer-in-residence at the
Presteigne Presteigne (; : the church of St. Andrew) is a town and community (Wales), community on the south bank of the River Lugg in Powys, Wales. The town is located on the England–Wales border, which surrounds it to the north, east and south. Nearby ...
Festival of Music and the Arts and the Vale of Glamorgan Festival in Wales. In 2005 he received the Estonian honour the
Order of the White Star The Order of the White Star (; ) was instituted in 1936. The Order of the White Star is bestowed on Estonian citizens and foreigners to give recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state. Design Classes The Order of the White Star ...
, 3rd Class.


Works

The following is a list of works by Vasks.


Symphonies

*Symphony No. 1: ''Balsis'' ('Voices') (1991), for string orchestra *Symphony No. 2 (1998) *Symphony No. 3 (2005)


Other orchestral works

*''Cantabile per archi'' (1979), for string orchestra *''Vēstījums'' ('The Message') (1982), for orchestra with percussion and two pianos *''Musica dolorosa'' (1983), for string orchestra *''Lauda'' (1986), for orchestra *''Musica adventus'' (1996), for string orchestra *''Adagio'' (1996), for string orchestra *''Viatore'' (2001), for string orchestra ''(also for organ (2001))'' *''Musica appassionata'' (2002), for string orchestra *Symphonic elegy ''Sala'' ('Island') (2006), for orchestra *''Credo'' (2009), for orchestra *''Epifānija'' ('Epiphany') (2010), for string orchestra *''Musica serena'' (2015), for string orchestra


Orchestra with instrumental soloists

*Violin Concerto No. 1 ''Tālā gaismā'' ('Distant Light') (1997), for violin and strings *Violin Concerto No. 2 ''Vakara gaismā'' ('Evening Light') (2020), for violin and strings *Viola Concerto (2015), for viola and strings *Cello Concerto No. 1 (1994) *Cello Concerto No. 2 ''Klātbūtne'' ('Presence') (2012), for cello and strings *Flute Concerto (2008) *Oboe Concerto (2018) *Concerto for cor anglais and orchestra (1989) *Meditation ''Vientuļais eņģelis'' ('Lonely Angel') (1999), for violin and strings *Fantasia ''Vox Amoris'' (2009), for violin and strings


Chamber music

*''Vasaras dejas'' ('Summer dances') (2017), for two violins *''Castillo Interior'' (2013), for violin and cello; (2023), for solo piano *''Mazā vasaras mūzika'' ('Little Summer Music') (1985), for violin and piano; (2012), for viola and piano *Partita (1974), for cello and piano *Three compositions (1973), for clarinet and piano *''Musique du soir''/''Vakara mūzika'' ('Evening Music') (1988/1989), for horn and organ *Music for two pianos (1974) *''In Memoriam'' (1977), for two pianos *Toccata (1977), for two pianos *Concerto for timpani and percussion (1979) *''Trīs skatieni/Trīsvienība'' ('Three glances'/'Trinity') (1979), for violin, cello, and piano *''Episodi e canto perpetuo'' (1985), for violin, cello, and piano *Pianotrio ''Plainscapes'' (2011), for violin, cello, and piano *Piano Quartet (2001), for piano, viola, cello, and piano *String Quartet No. 1 (1977) *String Quartet No. 2 ''Vasaras dziedājumi'' ('Summer tunes') (1984) *String Quartet No. 3 ''Ziemassvētku kvartets'' ('Christmas Quartet') (1995) *String Quartet No. 4 (2000) *String Quartet No. 5 (2004) *String Quartet No. 6 (2020) *''Mūzika aizlidojošajiem putniem'' ('Music for flying birds') (1977), for wind quintet *''Mūzika aizgājušam draugam'' ('Music for a late friend') (1982), for wind quintet *Chamber Music (1975), for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and percussion *''Pavasara sonāte'' ('Spring Sonata') (1987), for string sextet *''Canto di forza'' (2005), for twelve cellos ''(also for organ (2006))''


Solo instrumental

*Cycle (1976), for piano *''Moments musicaux'' (1977), for clarinet *''Grāmata čellam'' ('A book for cello') (1978), for cello *''Eine kleine Nachtmusik'' ('A Little Night Music') (1978), for piano *''Ainava ar putniem'' ('Landscape with birds') (1980), for flute *Cantata (1980), for harpsichord *''Baltā ainava'' ('White landscape') (1980), for piano *''Rudens mūzika'' ('Autumn Music') (1981), for piano *''Pieskārieni'' ('Touches') (1982), for oboe *''Cantus ad pacem (Concerto per organo)'' (1984), for organ *Sonata (1986), for double bass *''Musica sera per organo'' (1988), for organ *Sonata ''Vientulība'' ('Loneliness') (1990), for guitar *''Te Deum'' (1991), for organ *Sonata (1992), for flute *''Izdegušās zemes ainavas'' ('Landscapes of the burnt-out earth') (1992), fantasy for piano *''Pavasara mūzika (Quasi una sonata)'' ('Spring Music' (Quasi una sonata)') (1995), for piano *''Viatore'' (2001), for organ ''(also for string orchestra (2001))'' *Bass Trip (2003), for double bass *''Canto di forza'' (2006), for organ ''(also for twelve cellos (2005))'' *''Zaļā ainava'' ('Green landscape') (2008), for piano *''Vasaras vakara mūzika'' ('Music for a summer evening') (2009), for piano *''Latviešu deja'' ('Latvian Dance') (2012), for piano *''Hymnus'' (2018), for organ *''Dzeguzes balss. Pavasara elēģija'' ('Cuckoo's Voice. Spring Elegy') (2021), for piano *''Sonata Estiva'' (2022), for violin


Choral

Unaccompanied choir: *''Golgātas krusts'' ('Cross of Golgotha') (1967) *''Ugunssargs'' ('The Firefighter') (1975) *''Liepa'' ('The Lime-Tree') (1975/2012) *''Māte saule'' ('Mother Sun') (1975) *Small concert for voices, conductor, and composer (1976) *''Ar laiku puķes vīst'' ('Flowers wither in time') (1976) *''Mūsu māšu vārdi'' ('Our mothers' names') (1977/2006) *''Ne tikai lirika'' ('Not just poetry') (1977) *''Baltais fragments'' ('White fragment') (1978) *''Vasara'' ('Summer') (1978) *Concerto vocale (1978) *''Klusās dziesmas'' ('Silent Songs') (1979) *''Skumjā māte'' ('Sad Mother') (1980) *''Ganu dziesma'' ('Shepherd's Song') (1981) *''Zīles ziņa'' ('Message of a Chickadee') (1981) *''Ķekatu dziesma'' ('Carnival Song') (1981) *''Mazi silti svētki'' ('A Moment of Celebration') (1988) *''Mūsu dziesma'' ('Our Song') (1988) *''Zemgale'' (1989) *''Varonis'' ('Hero') (1989) *''Savā tautā'' ('By His People') (1990) *''Pater Noster'' (1991) ''(also for choir and string orchestra (2000))'' *''Litene'' (1993) *Three poems (1995), for four soloists *''Balsis klusumā'' ('Voices in silence') (1997), for six solo voices and female choir *Mass (2000) ''(also for choir and organ or string orchestra (2001/2005))'' *''Piedzimšana'' ('Birth') (2008) *''Mīlas dziesmas'' ('Love Songs') (2013) *''Klusuma auglis'' ('The Fruit of Silence') (2013) ''(also for choir and string orchestra (2014))'' *''Mūsu kalni'' ('Our Mountains') (2017) *''Tēvu zeme'' ('Fatherland') (2018) *''Cosa devo fare?'' ('What should I do?') (2018) Accompanied choir: *''Lūgšana mātei'' ('Prayer for a mother') (1978), for soprano, choir, and orchestra *''Kantāte sievietēm'' ('Cantata for Women') (1978), for soprano, choir, and orchestra *Three folk song settings (1984), for voices, flute, cello, and piano *Chamber cantata ''Latvija'' (1987), for soprano, flute, bells, and piano *''Pater Noster'' (2000), for choir and string orchestra ''(also for unaccompanied choir (1991))'' *''Dona Nobis Pacem'' (1996), for choir and organ or string orchestra *Mass (2001/2005), for choir and organ or string orchestra ''(also for unaccompanied choir (2000))'' *''Līdzenuma ainavas'' ('Plainscapes') (2002), for choir, violin, and cello *''Klusuma auglis'' ('The Fruit of Silence') (2014), for choir and string orchestra ''(also for unaccompanied choir (2013))'' *''Lūgšana Latvijai'' ('Prayer for Latvia') (2014), for choir and wind orchestra *''Da Pacem, Domine'' (2016), for choir and string orchestra *''Laudate Dominum'' (2016), for choir and orchestra *''Veni Domine'' (2018), for choir and organ


References


External links


Profile
at Schott Music website
Latvian Web Page on Vasks in English

Ondine Records: Peteris Vasks


on Music.lv website
Liner notes
for ''Pater Noster'' performed by Latvian Radio Choir
"Peteris Vasks: Composer and Sinfonietta Riga deplore destruction"
''Kokafi'' article
Composer Profile/Works at Schott Music (English version)

CD Recording of String Quartets 1–5
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vasks, Peteris 1946 births Living people People from Aizpute 20th-century Latvian classical composers 21st-century classical composers Latvian composers Postminimalist composers Members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre alumni Latvian male classical composers Herder Prize recipients Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 3rd Class 20th-century male composers 21st-century Latvian male musicians