Composers > Romualds Jermaks

Romualds Jermaks

"I dive down into the depth of the ocean of forms,
Hoping to gain the perfect pearl of the formless..."

Rabindranath Tagore


BIOGRAPHY

Romualds Jermaks was born on June 10th, 1931, in Šķaune. His primary school years were spent in Latgale, but secondary school was completed in Sloka. From his father – organist Boļeslavs Jermaks – he received an interest in music that brought him to the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music (1954–1957) and further on to the Latvian State Conservatory. While studying in the class of Jānis Ivanovs, he finished his first symphonic score, gained noticed for his chamber works, and received a diploma with honours (1962). After graduation, he gained practical experience in the field of music theory while working as a teacher in the Rēzekne (1962–1963) and Cēsis (1963–1964) Colleges of Music, and as a sound engineer in the studios of Latvian Television (1964–1971).

As of 1971, R. Jermaks’ work was involved with the Conservatory (Latvian Academy of Music). In 1976, he was elected as a senior lecturer in the composition department, and in 1988 as an associate professor. When, after the reestablishment of Latvia’s independence, newly revived church congregations had a great need for educated organists, R. Jermaks also became a teacher at the Daugavpils College of Music (1992–1997), where, putting to use his education in organ playing gained with Nikolajs Vanadziņš, along with experience gained practically through life, he renews the organ class. In the area of organ art, R. Jermaks’ experience is especially rich, participating in the creation of the 25 record series Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles (Historical Organs of Latvia), proficiency in organ construction and repair, assisting with the activities of the Organ Centre of Latvia (as of 1989) and many church concerts. He organised a yearly festival in the Tukums region Apšuciems (as of 1983), where his own summer house has been outfitted with a concert hall with self built organ, which has been especially fruitful in composing for organ. Organists of the United States have noted the significance of this dedication – the composer was elected as an honorary member of the American Latvian Organist Guild (1995).

R. Jermaks has composed approximately 900 works. The genre amplitude of the creative output is broad, the range of images is also broad – from grand vocal instrumental work frescoes to songs for a social setting, from intellectually sophisticated sound watercolours to humorous genre scenes. Still, there are many main lines that are woven through the entire body of creative work by the composer. The most important is the desire to dive down into the multiform depths of an ocean of sacred sensation. This is expressed by the true, deep spirituality of the masses, the fascination of the eternity of the universe, the miraculous world of the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, the poetry of Latvian folk songs, the ruminative voice of the kokle – these are all contained in the works of R. Jermaks. The second line – the sense of the events of Latvian history, which are dramatically summarized and concentrated in his oratorio works. The third is instrumental performance and the intensive spirit of performance. It is a bed where vivid colours express vitality and the joy of playing.

R. Jermaks has been awarded the title of Latvian SSR Distinguished Artist (1989). The composer’s work has also been awarded with the Jānis Ivanovs award (1988), his creative assistance in the organisation of the visit of Pope John Paul II to Latvia was acknowledged with an honorary diploma from the Aglona Basilica (1993). For his contribution to Latvian culture, he has been recognized with many composition competition awards, honorary writings, and he received the Republic of Latvia Culture Ministry Award of Gratitude for his lifetime of investment in Latvian music (2001).


DISCOGRAPHY
LP

[First] Concerto for Organ and Chamber Orchestra / Pēteris Sīpolnieks, Latvian SSR philharmonic chamber orchestra, Conductor Tovijs Lifšics // Latviešu komponistu skaņdarbi ērģelēm (recorded at the Riga Dome Cathedral approximately 1970) – Melodija, 33CM 03523 4

Latviešu sarkano strēlnieku laukumā (In the Square of the Latvian Red Riflemen) for men’s choir / Text – Jānis Peters / the choir Dziedonis, Conductor Edgars Račevskis // Jubilejas dziesmu svētku repertuārs. 1873–1973. Vīru koru dziesmas (recorded 1973) – 1973, Melodija, 33CM 04019 20

Pretī zvaigznēm (Towards the Stars), overture for two organists / Pēteris Sīpolnieks, Vija Vismane // Vija Vismane, Pēteris Sīpolnieks. Ērģeles (recorded at the Riga Dome Cathedral 1976, re-released – 1988), Melodija, CM 02057 8

Rīgas ainavas (Landscapes of Riga) for organ / Brigita Mieze – part I – 4’33”, part II – 5’37’’, part III – 4’40” / Andante commodo no 3. sonatas for organ / Brigita Mieze – 5’47’’ / Nocturne Ir tikai nakts (It is Only the Night) / Kārlis Zariņš, State Academic Choir, Brigita Mieze, Conductor Imants Cepītis – 8’23’’ / Second Concerto for Organ and Chamber orchestra / Brigita Mieze, Latvian SSR Philharmonic chamber orchestra, Conductor Tovijs Lifšics – 16’02’’ // Romualds Jermaks. Rīgas Doma lielās ērģeles (recorded 1979) – 1980, Melodija, C 10 13255 6

Gratias agimus tibi for organ / Oļģerts Cintiņš – 10’19’’ // N. Vanadziņa audzēkņu koncerts – J. Ļisicina, B. Mieze, O. Cintiņš, A. Kalējs (broadcast recording at the Riga Dome Cathedral March 14th, 1979.) – 1980, Melodija, C 10 14691 2

Toccata and Fugue in E minor for organ / Jevgeņija Ļisicina // Jevgeņija Ļisicina. Ērģeles (recorded at the Riga Dome Cathedral 1981) – 1983, Melodija, 33CM 03287 8

Jūra un tu (The Sea and You) for men’s choir / Text – Laimonis Pēlmanis – 2’34’’ / Latvian folk song arrangements: Čuči, guli, līgaviņa (Sleep, my Bride) – 3’16’’; Vakars nāce, vāverīte (The Evening Comes, Little Squirrel) – 1’54’’; Es karāi aiziedams (As I was Leaving for War) – 5’12’’ / the choir Gaudeamus, Conductor Edgars Račevskis // Tautas vīru koris Gaudeamus (recorded 1982) – 1983, Melodija, C 10 19179 002

Six songs with lyrics by R. Tagore [for voice and organ] / Text – Rabindranath Tagore, translation – Kārlis Egle / Solveiga Raja, Oļģerts Cintiņš – 20’52” / Poem for mixed choir and organ Visums (The Universe) / Text – Fazil Hisni Daglardza, translation – Uldis Bērziņš / State Academic Choir, Oļģerts Cintiņš, Conductor Ausma Derkēvica – 10’35’’ / Cycle for mixed choir Jūra dzied (The Sea Sings) / Text – Apsesdēls, Jānis Ziemeļnieks, Marta Silabriede, Skaidrīte Kaldupe / soloists – Smaragda Isajeva, Aleksandrs Pjaterņevs, State Academic Choir, Conductor Ausma Derkēvica – 12’11’’ // Romualds Jermaks. Sešas dziesmas ar R. Tagores vārdiem, Visums, poēma jauktajam korim, Jūra dzied, cikls jauktajam korim (1. – recorded at the Riga Jacob Church, 1983; 2. and 3. – recorded at the University of Latvia Great Hall, 1983) – 1985, Melodija, C 10 21981 001

Jubilejas maršs (Anniversary March) / Riga Polytechnic Institute SPO [Student Wind Orchestra], Conductor Hermanis Eglītis (recorded 1984) – A. Pelšes Rīgas Politehniskā institūta SPO – 1985, Melodija, C10 21415 009

Passacaglia Pūt, vējiņi (Blow, Winds) for organ / Tālivaldis Deksnis – 8’21’’ // Tālivaldis Deksnis. Rīgas Doma ērģeles (recorded 1986) – 1987, Melodija, C 10 26267 007

Ziedi, ziedi rudzu vārpa (Bloom, Bloom, Rye Spike), Latvian folk song arrangement for mixed choir / the youth choir Zvani, Conductor Jānis Garančs // Jauniešu Tautas koris Zvani (recorded 1987) – 1987, Melodija, C10 26317 000

Oratorio Salaspils sirdspuksti (Heartbeats of Salaspils) / Text – Ziedonis Purvs / Maija Krīgena (mezzo-soprano), Tālivaldis Deksnis (organ), the T. Kalniņa Choir, Latvian SSR State Philharmonic chamber orchestra, Conductor Edgars Račevskis – 39’58’’ // R. Jermaks. Salaspils sirdspuksti, oratorio (recorded 1987) – 1988, Melodija, C 10 26995 008

Third Concerto for Organ and String Instruments / Tālivaldis Deksnis, the violin ensemble Kantilēna, director Eduards Kunle – part II Sensibile – 7’13’’ // Kantilēna (recorded at the Riga Dome Cathedral 1989) – 1990, Melodija, RiTonis, C 10 30607 007

Es karāi aiziedams (As I Was Leaving for War), Latvian folk song arrangement for men’s choir / the choir Gaudeamus, Conductor Edgars Račevskis – 4’05’’ // XX Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu svētki. Mana dziesma II . Dziesmas sieviešu un vīru koriem (recorded 1990) – 1990, Melodija, C 10 30355 008

Latvian folk song arrangements: Aiz ezera augsti kalni (Beyond the Lake are Tall Hills) – 3’53’’; Kas kaitēja nedzīvot (Nothing Bothered my Living) – 1’34’’; Rotā saule, rotā bite (The Sun Plays, the Bee Plays) – 3’09’’ / the kokle trio Rāmava – Sandra Pļaviņa, Valda Puriņa, Māra Vanaga (recorded 1990) – 1991, RiTonis, 1991 – 3 007 C 3

Sidrabiņa lietiņš lija (A Silver Rain Rained), Latvian folk song arrangement / the men’s choir Gaudeamus, Ivars Cinkuss (tenor), Guntars Dziļums (baritone), Vigo Račevskis (bells), Imants Sneibis (flute), Aivars Kalējs (organ), Conductor Edgars Račevskis – 2’18’’ / Klusa nakts. (Silent Night) F. Gruber song arranged by R. Jermaks for soloists, mixed and boys’ choir, organ / Sonora Kalniņa (soprano), Nauris Puntulis (tenor), the chamber choir Sonore, the Riga Dome Boys’ Choir, Aivars Kalējs (organ), Conductor Edgars Račevskis – 5’43” // Prieks pasaulei. Ziemassvētku dziesmas. Gaudeamus. Sonore (recorded 1992) – 1992, RiTonis, SP 02 0011


The LP Series Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles:
Pastoral for organ [part II of the cycle Triptihs] / Brigita Mieze – 4’48’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [1] / Aizputes ērģeles (recorded 1977) – 1982, Melodija, C 10 13413 4

Leggenda antica for organ / Oļģerts Cintiņš – 11’47’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [3] / Rīgas Jēkaba baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1979) – 1981, Melodija, C 10 14851 2

Latvian folk melody for organ Rotā bite, rotā saule (The Bee Plays, the Sun Plays) / Oļģerts Cintiņš – 3’30’’// Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [4] / Dagdas un Kalupes baznīcu ērģeles (recorded at the Kalupe Church 1979) – 1981, Melodija, C 10 15101 2

Two Latvian folk song arrangements for organ: Ar laiviņu iepeldēju (I Floated in on a Boat); Mēs bijāmi duj’ bāliņi (We were Two Brothers) / Aivars Kalējs – 6’42’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [5] / Rucavas baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1980) – 1982, Melodija, C 10 17119 20

Capriccio for organ / Aivars Kalējs – 4’21’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [6] / Valmieras ērģeles (recorded at the Valmiera St. Simon Church 1980) – 1982, Melodija, C 10 16855 6

Latvian folk melodies for organ: Baltaitiņa jūru pelda (A White Sheep Swims in the Sea By Itself) – 2’34’’; Es izkūlu kunga riju (I Threshed the Lord’s Threshing Barn) – 2’38’’ / Aivars Kalējs // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [7] / Zlēku baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1980) – 1982, Melodija, C 10 18657 8

Passacaglia Pūt, vējiņi (Blow, Winds) for organ – 8’14’’, Latvian folk melody for organ Gaismiņa ausa (The Light Dawns) – 5’01’’ / Oļģerts Cintiņš // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [13] / Liepājas Sv. Trīsvienības baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1982) – 1985, Melodija, C 10 22521 006

Concerto for Trumpet and Organ / Jānis Klišāns, Aivars Kalējs – part I – 7’25’’, part II – 5’48’’, part III – 4’50’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [14] / Līksnas ērģeles (recorded 1984) – 1985, Melodija, C 10 22803 004

Latvian folk melodies for organ: Kas tie tādi, kas dziedāja (Who were Those that Sang) – 6’13’’; Daugaviņa lielījās (The Daugava Bragged) – 2’43’’ / Tālivaldis Deksnis // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [15] / Daugavpils Vissvētākās Jaunavas Marijas katoļu baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1984) – 1986, Melodija, C 10 24361 000

Latvian folk melodies for organ: Ko tās kokles gauži raud (Why did the Kokles Cry so Bitterly) / Atis Stepiņš – 3’56’’; Rīga dimd (Riga Resounds) / Vita Kalnciema – 2’51’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [16] / Trikātas baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1986) – 1988, Melodija, C 10 27613 009

Prelude in e minor for organ / Tālivaldis Deksnis – 3’43’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [18] / Velēnas baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1987) – 1990, Melodija, C 10 30123 003

L. Garūta–R. Jermaks, Passacaglia and Finale / Tālivaldis Deksnis – 11’18’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [19] / Liepājas Sv. Annas baznīcas ērģeles (recorded 1986) – 1991, RiTonis, 3 015 C 1

Koncerts Pētera Sīpolnieka piemiņai (Concerto in Memory of Pēteris Sīpolnieks) for solo organ / Vita Kalnciema – part I 7’42”, part II – 6’28’’, part III – 4’54’’ // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles [20] / Sv. Alberta baznīcas ērģeles (recorded at the St. Albert Catholic Church, Riga 1990) – 1991, RiTonis, 3 003 C 1


CD

Passacaglia Pūt vējiņi (Blow, Winds) for organ / Aivars Kalējs – 7’51” // Latviešu ērģeļmūzikas izlase (recorded at the Riga Dome Cathedral) – 1994, Remix producers group & ContinAt Ltd

Missa Solemnis, dedicata Suae Sanctitatis Papae Joanni Pauli II / Riga chamber choir Ave Sol, Sonora Kalniņa (soprano), Aivars Kalējs (organ), Conductor Imants Kokars – 25’04” // To our Lady of Aglona (recorded at the Riga Dome Cathedral 1995) – Ave Sol, AG 9402

Latvian folk song arrangements for men’s choir: Tumša nakte, zaļa zāle (Dark Night, Green Grass); Es karāi aiziedams (As I was Leaving for War) / for men’s choir Gaudeamus, soloist Ieva Ezeriete (soprano), Conductor Ivars Cinkuss // Latviešu romantiskā mūzika. RTU vīru koris Gaudeamus (recorded at the Riga Sound Recording Studio 1999) – 1999, Gaudeamus, Platforma Records, PRCD 031

Latvian folk song arrangements: Ar laiviņu ielaidos (With a Boat I Entered) (I – 3’13’’, Ko tās kokles gauži skan (Why do those Kokles Sound So) – 2’37’’, Trīs putniņi skaisti dzieda (Three Birds Sing Beautifully) – 2’58’’, Pērkons veda vedekliņu (The Thunder Brought a Daughter-in-law) – 2’50’’, Baltaitiņa jūru pelda (A White Sheep Swims in the Sea By Itself) – 1’52’’ / the kokle quartet Kārta – Māra Vanaga, Ieva Lapiņa, Anda Zaborovska, Inese Rasa // Latvijas kokle. 1. daļa. Latviešu tautasdziesmu apdares kokļu ansamblim (recorded at the Riga Sound Recording Studio, 2000) – 2000, SIA Rīgas skaņu ierakstu studija RS 028

Koncerts Pētera Sīpolnieka piemiņai (Concerto in Memory of Pēteris Sīpolnieks) for solo organ. part I Allegro energico – 7’43’’/ Vita Kalnciema (recorded at the Riga St. Albert Church, 1990) / Two parts of the cycle Rīgas ainavas (Landscapes of Riga): part I Allegro moderato – 4’31’’, part IV Andante – 4’47’’ / Lilita Ozola (recorded at the Riga St. Martin Church, 2001) // Rīga ērģeļu balsīs skan. Latviešu komponistu ērģeļmūzika – 2001, Riga Sound Recording Studio, RS 033

Aizsaules gaisma (The Light of the Afterworld) for mixed choir / Text – Andris Akmentiņš / The Talsi Ev. Luth. Church Choir, Conductor Benita Paegle – 2’09’’ // Talsi – pilsēta kalnā (recorded in 2002) – The Talsi Ev. Luth. Church, Studija FA

Five Latvian folk songs for four-handed piano: Es izkūlu kunga riju (I Threshed the Lord’s Thresh Barn) – 2’28’’; Kade pārnāksi, bāleliņ (When will You Come Home, Brother) – 3’31’’; Kas dimd, kas rīb (What Resounds, What Clatters) – 1’29’’; Sudrabiņa lietiņš lija (A Silver Rain Rained) – 2’11’’, Es biju māmiņai viena pati meitiņa (I Was My Mother’s Only Girl) – 1’33’’ / the piano duo Antra and Normunds Vīksne // Latvian Music Series, volume one. Antra and Normunds Vīksne, piano duo – 2003, Angelok 1, CD 7701

Sonata for solo violin / Jānis Bulavs – 8’36 // Latviešu jaunā mūzika. Jānis Bulavs un Larisa Bulava (recorded at the St. John’s Latvian Ev. Luth. Church, Toronto, Canada, 2004) – 2004, released by Indulis Sūna, Canada

Passacaglia over the theme of Latvian folk song Pūt vējiņi (Blow, Wind) for organ / Tālivaldis Deksnis – 8’24” // Divertimento. Tālivaldis Deksnis – 2008, Latvian Radio, Riga Recording Studio, RS 070


LITERATURE

A. Klotiņš, Līnijas komponista portretā (Lines in the Portrait of the Composer). – Literatūra un Māksla, September 30th, 1972 • I. Grauzdinja, Ob organnom stile Romualda Jermaka // Muzika narodov SSSR (50–70-e gg.) [About the Organ Music Style of Romualds Jermaks // Music of the Peoples of the Soviet Union' (50s – 70s)] – Moscow: Institut im. Gnesinyh, 1984, 112–133 • I. Grauzdiņa, Tūkstoš mēlēm ērģeles spēlē (The Organ Plays with a Thousand Tongues). – Riga: Liesma, 1987, 255 • K. Kalsone, 12 skaņu tehnikas individualizācija 20. gadsimta latviešu komponistu skaņdarbos (12 Sound Techniques Individualized in the Works of 20th Century Latvian Composers) / Bachelor’s work. – Riga: The Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, 1999, 59 • D. Markule, Baznīcas mūzikas žanri un valoda Romualda Jermaka vokāli instrumentālajā daiļradē (The Genres and Language of Church Music in the Vocal Instrumental Works of Romualds Jermaks) / Master’s work. – Riga: The Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, 2001, 38 • E. Jermaka, Romualda Jermaka Akvareļi komponista klaviermūzikas un vispārējās daiļrades stila kontekstā (The Watercolours of Romualds Jermaks in Context of the Composer’s Piano Music and Overall Creative Output) / Master’s work. – Riga: The Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, 2003, 37 • L. Misāne, Romualda Jermaka mūzika bērniem (The Music for Children of Romualds Jermaks) / Bachelor’s work. – Riga: The Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, 2003, 58


Choir song collections released by the composer

1. Romualds Jermaks. Garīgas dziesmas jauktajam korim. (Sacred Songs for Mixed Choir.) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 1999]
2. Romualds Jermaks. Garīgas dziesmas sieviešu korim I. (Sacred Songs for Women’s Choir I.) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 1999]
3. Romualds Jermaks. Lieldienu un Vasarsvētku dziesmas. (Songs of Easter and Pentecost) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 2000]
4. Romualds Jermaks. Dziesmas jauktajam korim. (Songs for Mixed Choir.) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 2001]
5. Romualds Jermaks. Dziesmas sieviešu korim. (Songs for Women’s Choir) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 2001]
6. Romualds Jermaks. Dziesmas vīru korim. (Songs for Men’s Choir) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 2002]
7. Romualds Jermaks. Latviešu tautasdziesmas jauktam korim. (Latvian Folk Songs for Mixed Choir) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 2002]
8. Romualds Jermaks. Latviešu tautasdziesmas vīru korim. (Latvian Folk Songs for Men’s Choir) – [Riga: Latvju kultūra, 2003]
9. Romualds Jermaks. Ziemassvētku dziesmas I. (Christmas Songs I.) – Riga, Latvju kultūra, 2003


Ilma Grauzdiņa
Photo - Edmunds Mickus
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