Jānis Kalniņš

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Jānis Kalniņš (born November 3, 1904 in Pärnu , † November 30, 2000 in Fredericton ) was a Canadian composer of Latvian descent.

Life

The son of the composer Alfrēds Kalniņš studied composition with Jāzeps Vītols and orchestral conducting at the State Latvian Conservatory in Riga from 1920 to 1924 . He continued his training with Erich Kleiber in Salzburg and with Hermann Abendroth and Leo Blech in Berlin. From 1923 to 1933 he was a conductor at the Latvian National Theater and until 1944 at the Latvian National Opera . In addition, he had guest conductors in Sweden, Germany and Poland.

In 1948 he came to Canada and became organist and choirmaster at St Paul's United Church in Fredericton. He held the position of organist until his retirement in 1991. In 1951 he became conductor of the Fredericton Civic Orchestra and instructor of music at the provincial teachers' college. In 1954 he received Canadian citizenship. From 1962 to 1968 he was chief conductor of the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra .

Kalniņš composed symphonic works and chamber music, choral works, including a requiem and four operas. In 1978 he performed his Third Symphony and the New Brunswick Rhapsody with the Windsor Symphony Orchestra . On his 80th birthday he was honored with three concerts in Toronto, Chicago and New York and he received a New Brunswick Award for Excellence in the Arts . The following year the CBC broadcast a concert in his honor. At the eighth Latvian Song Festival in 1986, Arthur Ozolins was the soloist in the world premiere of his piano concerto.

Works

  • Unguni , Opera, 1933
  • Lolita's Magic Bird , Opera, 1933
  • In the Fire , Opera, 1934
  • Hamlet , Opera, 1935
  • Two Latvian Peasant Dances for orchestra, 1936
  • 1st Symphony , 1939-44
  • Concerto in F-Sharp Minor for violin and orchestra, 1946
  • The Bird's Lullaby (text by E. Pauline Johnson ), 1950
  • 2nd symphony , 1953
  • The Lord's Prayer , 1954
  • When Jesus Came to Birmingham , 1954
  • Sonata for Oboe and Piano , 1963
  • Two Shepherd Songs for voice, oboe and piano, 1963
  • String Quartet in G-Sharp Minor
  • Music for String Orchestra , 1965
  • New Brunswick Rhapsody for orchestra, 1967
  • The Long Night (Velta Toma) for choir and orchestra
  • Klusa Stunda for violin and piano, 1968
  • 3rd symphony , 1973
  • Larghetto Serioso for violin and piano, 1975
  • Sonata for violin and piano, 1975
  • 4th symphony , 1977
  • Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello , 1979
  • Sonata No. 2 for Organ , 1981
  • Symphonic Poem (Carmen) for choir and orchestra, 1982
  • Three Preludes for Organ , 1983
  • Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra , 1984
  • Piano Quintet , 1987
  • The Potter's Field , cantata for mixed choir and organ
  • Latvijai for female choir and string quartet, 1976
  • New Brunswick Song Cycle , 1984
  • Trimdinieku Vakardziesma , cantata for solo voice, mixed choir and orchestra, 1988
  • Requiem in E Minor for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and piano, organ or orchestra

swell

personal data
SURNAME Kalniņš, Jānis
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Canadian composer
DATE OF BIRTH November 3, 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH Parnu
DATE OF DEATH November 30, 2000
Place of death Fredericton