Composers > Maija Einfelde

Maija Einfelde

"... I do not really understand my younger colleagues when they declare that they wish to extinguish any kind of Latvian roots in their music. I am happy if there are national roots in music and I am sad if they are not there. It is satisfying when you know what happens in the world, and still you remain who you are."

Maija Einfelde


BIOGRAPHY

Along with her victory in 1997 at the international Barlow Endowment for Music Composition Competition in the United States, Maija Einfelde began to receive wide international recognition for her music.

The composer was born in Valmiera on January 2nd, 1939. Her father was an organ builder, and her mother played the organ in church. Her music education was in Cēsis, at the Alfrēds Kalniņš Music School and in Riga at the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music. She studied in Jānis Ivanovs’ composition class at the Latvian State Conservatory, which she graduated in 1966. In 1968 she began her work in education, teaching composition and music theory (at the Alfrēds Kalniņš Cēsis School of Music, the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music, the Emīls Dārziņš School of Music, and the evening music school Rīdze).

Maija Einfelde mainly composes choral music and chamber music. At the Barlow competition she received the highest award for her chamber oratorio Pie zemes tālās... (At the Edge of the Earth…) with lyrics by Aeschylus. After her victory at the Barlow competition, she was commissioned to write a new choral work – the 15th Psalm. Four choirs performed this work (The Brigham Young University Choir and the Kansas City Chorale in the United States, the Vancouver Chamber Choir in Canada, and the Netherlands Radio Choir), and the work was performed in Kansas City and in New York City at Carnegie Hall, with the author herself in attendance. The work Un es redzēju jaunas debesis (And I Saw a New Heaven), text from the Book of Revelations, was composed in 1998 as the result of a commission from the world famous English Hilliard Ensemble. The music of Maija Einfelde has achieved distinguished success at the UNESCO International Music Council (IMC) competition Rostrum: Her Concertino for four clarinets and Maija balāde (May Ballad) with lyrics by Aspazija for 8-part mixed choir are among the works of Latvian composers which Rostrum recommends to the world’s broadcasters to include in their programs.

In 1997, Maija Einfelde was awarded the Latvian Great Music Award. In 1999, she was awarded the Culture Award of the Republic of Latvia, and in 2000, the Copyrights’ Infinity Award, which was awarded to her by the Latvian Authors’ Union. In 2002, the composer became an honorary member of the Academy of Science.

The composer’s son Jānis Einfelds is a writer. Maija Einfelde composes daily, not waiting for inspiration. She carefully works out all the details and nuances of her works. She willingly develops many editions and versions of one work, for example Ave Maria (for women’s choir, for mixed choir, and for organ), or Adagio (a movement from the string quartet, also for piano trio, also for violin, cello, and organ).

Ligita Ašme


DISCOGRAPHY

No Tevis (From You) / Female Choir Dzintars, Conductor Ausma Derkēvica – 5’36” // Female Choir Dzintars – 1995, Riga Recording Studio, RS 004

Ave Maria / Female Choir Dzintars, Tālivaldis Deksnis, Conductor Ausma Derkēvica – 5’01” / Šūpļa dziesma (Lullaby) / Female Choir Dzintars, Conductor Ausma Derkēvica – 2’43” // Female Choir Dzintars – [1996/97], RS 022

Trīs jūras dziesmas (Three Songs of the Sea) for oboe, French horn, and string orchestra / Uldis Urbāns, Viesturs Vārdaunis, Chamber Orchestra Rīgas kamermūziķi, Conductor Normunds Šnē – 16’44”// Rīgas kamermūziķi [Compilation of 20th Century Latvian music] – 1998, BRIZE BRCD 001

Gloria for piccolo trumpet and organ / mit Edwart H. Tarr, Irmtraud Krüger – 5’18” // Festliches Orgelkonzert im Dom zu Riga. Irmtraud Krüger – 1998, KREUZ PLUS: MUSIK, BEST. NR. 1627

Pie zemes tālās... (At the Edge of the Earth…) / Latvian Radio Chamber Singers, Conductor Kaspars Putniņš – 15’27” / Manas bērnības mājas (My Childhood Home) / Latvian Radio Choir, Ints Dālderis, Dagnija Zilgalve, Edgars Saksons, Conductor Sigvards Kļava – 8’36” / Iz senseniem laikiem (From Antiquity) / Larisa Bulava – 6’52” / Sirēnu sala (Isle of the Sirens) / Latvian Radio Women’s Chorus, soloists Inga Martinsone (soprano), Antra Dreģe (contralto), D Sigvards Kļava – 6’32” / Sonata for Violin and Organ / Jānis Bulavs and Larisa Bulava – 16’27” / 15th Psalm – 8’49” / Ave Maria – 5’18” / Latvian Radio Choir, Conductor Sigvards Kļava // Pie zemes tālās... (At the Edge of the Earth…) [Author CD] – 1999, LR CD O33

15th Psalm / Latvian Radio Choir, Conductor Sigvards Kļava – 8’49” // Latviešu mūzika Rīgā – 1999, LR CD 031

Maija balāde (May Ballad) / Latvian Radio Chamber Singers, Conductor Kaspars Putniņš – 7’41” // Latvian Millennium Classics – 2000, UPE CLASSICS

Noktirne (Nocturne) / Latvian Radio Choir, Conductor Sigvards Kļava – 10’10” // Eņģeļi viņas ausī. Latvian New Music – 2002, LR CD 042

Jāņu dziesmas (Songs of Midsummer): Kas tos Jāņus ielīgoja (Who started singing at Jāņi) – 4’58”, Jānīts jāja gad’ apkārti (Jānis rode the whole year through) – 3’41”, Jāņu nakti raganiņas pulcējās (The witches gather at Jāņi night) – 2’42”, Jāņu diena, svēta diena (Jāņi day, holy day) – 4’11” / Latvian Radio Choir, Conductor Sigvards Kļava // Divejāda saule tek. Latvian New Music – 2003, LR CD 043

Monologs (Monologue) for cello and piano – 8’57” // Spēlē Māris Villerušs CD 1 – 2003, RSWH 047

Dramatiskais dialogs (Dramatic Dialogue) – 4’46” / Sentimentālais dialogs (Sentimental Dialogue) – 4’03” / Cello duet Lolita Lilje un Diana Ozoliņa // Negaidīta atklāsme (Unexpected Inspiration) – 2003, Riga Recording Company, RS 046

Sirēnu sala (The Isle of the Sirens) / Vocal ensemble Putni, artistic leader Antra Dreģe - 7’39” // Vokālais ansamblis Putni. Pamošanās – 2003, PUTNI, PCD 3

Sonata for Violin and Organ / Jānis Bulavs and Larisa Bulava – 16’20” // Latvian New Music. Latviešu jaunā mūzika – 2004, Jānis Bulavs [recorded in Canada]

Trīs Friča Bārdas dzejoļi (Three Poems by Fricis Bārda)/ Latvian Radio Choir, Conductor Sigvards Kļava / Choral Symphony / Latvian Radio Choir, orchestra Rīgas kamermūziķi, Conductor Sigvards Kļava, soloists Daumants Kalniņš (sopranino), Andris Poga (trumpet), Uldis Zilberts (trombone) // Saules lēkts – 2005, LMIC& Latvian Radio Choir, LMIC CD-2005-3

Ave Maria / The Faber Singers, Iain Farrington (organ), Conductor Simon Hasley – 5’04” // Adoro te – 2005, Faber ff Music, 0-571-52423-0

Skumjās serenādes (Trīs dziedājumi mirstošai jūrai) [Sad Serenades] (Three Songs to the Dying Sea) for clarinet and string quartet / Ģirts Pāže (clarinet), Riga String Quartet: Uldis Viesturs Sprūdžs, Dagnija Sprūdža, Valērijs Avramenko, Agne Sprūdža – 11’43” // Latvian String Quartets. Latviešu stīgu kvarteti – 2008, LMIC 015

Skumjās serenādes (Trīs dziedājumi mirstošai jūrai) [Sad Serenades (Three Songs for the Dying Sea)] for clarinet and string quartet / Egīls Šēfers (clarinet), Sinfonietta Rīga String Quartet – 12’10” // Egīls Šēfers. Ziemeļsaule. Northern Sun – 2010, LMIC 022

Ave Maria for organ / Ligita Sneibe – 8’ // Ligita Sneibe. Latvian Organ Music – 2010, Riga Sound Recording Studio, RS 071

Maestoso for viola and piano – 4’55” / Sonata Meditation for viola and piano – 12’48” / Andra Dārziņa, Andreas Kersten // Latvian Impressions. Lettische Impressionen – 2010, Animato, ACD6117

Skumjās serenādes (Trīs dziedājumi mirstošai jūrai) [Sad Serenades] (Three Songs to the Dying Sea) for clarinet and string quartet / Ģirts Pāže (clarinet), Riga String Quartet: Uldis Viesturs Sprūdžs, Dagnija Sprūdža, Valērijs Avramenko, Agne Sprūdža – 11’43” // Ģirts Pāže. Retrospection - 2011, Ģirts Pāže


LITERATURE

Īsas ziņas (Brief News) about the authors of the performed works at the Soviet Latvia Composer’s Union general meeting. – Riga: Soviet Latvia Composer’s Union, 1982 • Pupa, G. Ne tikai lirika (Not Just Lyricism) [a review of the concert in the Artists’ House in the cycle Komponistu autorvakari (Composers Authors’ Evenings] // Literatūra un Māksla, 1985, March 8th, p. 5 • Živitere, A. Maija Einfelde // Padomju Latvijas mūzikas festivāls. (Soviet Latvia’s Music Festival.). – Riga: Avots, 1986, pp.15, 168–169, 188 • Latviešu komponisti un muzikologi. (Latvian Composers and Musicologists). – Riga: Latvian Composers Union, 1989, pp. 36–37 • Sproģe, G. Latviešu komponistu instrumentālā kamermūzika 1975–1985. (Latvian Composers’ Instrumental Chamber Music 1975–1985.).– Riga: Methodological Cabinet of the Ministry of Culture, 1989, pp. 5–17 • Vēriņa, V. Skan kamermūzika (Chamber Music Resounds) [about the 50th birthday concert for the Latvian State Conservatory] // Literatūra un Māksla, 1989, February 18th, p. 5 • Jaunslaviete, B. E-F-D-E. Skumjās serenādes (E-F-D-E. Sad Serenades) // Māksla, 1989, No. 3, pp. 41–43 • Zemzaris, I. Dažas piezīmes uz apciemojuma malām. Pie Maijas Einfeldes viņas vecajā dzīvoklī – Bolderājā (A Few Notes on the Edges of a Visit. With Maija Einfelde in her Old Apartment) // Māksla, 1989, No. 3, pp. 41–43 • Jaunslaviete, B. Sieviete, komponiste (Woman, Composer) // Komunārs, 1989, May 13th • Selickis, A. Vēl viens viedoklis par Kamermūzikas jaunumiem (Another Opinion of the Latest Chamber Music) [a review] // Literatūra un Māksla, 1989, September 30th, p. 7 • Latvijas Komponistu savienības XI kongress. (The Latvian Composers Union XI Congress). – Riga: Latvian Composers Union, 1992 • Liepiņa, I. Aishils, Dāvids un raganu dziesmas (Aeschylus, David, and Songs of Witches) [interview regarding her victory at the International Barlow Endowment for Music Composition Competition in the United States] // Fokuss, 1997, October 13th–19th, • Lūsiņa, I. Ir labāk ap dūšu (It is Better Around Courage) [The Composer Maija Einfelde tonight receives the Great Music Award. Interview] // Diena (in the supplement SestDiena), 1998, February 28th, pp. 4–5 • Amoliņa, M. Sevis drupināšana (Self Granulation) [interview] // Māksla Plus, 1998, No. 4, pp. 14–15 • Lūsiņa, I. Nagi niez komponēt... (The Nails Itch to Compose) [interview on the eve of the composer’s 60th birthday] // Diena, 1999, January 4th, p. 16 • Koļeda, R. Vēl ir, kurp doties (There Still Are Places to Go) [interview] // Dziesmusvētki, 1999, No. 1, pp. 8–9 • Dombrovska, M. Pasaulē atzītākā latviešu komponiste (The World’s Most Recognized Female Latvian Composer) [interview on the eve of the author’s anniversary concert] // Jaunā Avīze, 1999, March 6th–12th, p. 14 • Lūsiņa, I. Komponiste neiegrimst stereotipos (The Composer Does Not Drown in Stereotypes) [a review of the author’s concert in the St. John’s Church and the chamber music concert in the studio of Latvian Radio] // Diena, 1999, March 9th, p. 14 • Jakubone, I. Maija Einfelde – solo [a review of the CD Pie zemes tālās... (At the Edge of the Earth…)] // Literatūra un Māksla Latvijā, 1999, November 17th • Lūsiņa, I. Autobiogrāfija skaņās (An Autobiography in Sound) [a review of the CD Pie zemes tālās... (At the Edge of the Earth…)] // Diena, 1999, November 19th, p. 13 • Aperāne, D. Ieskats Maijas Einfeldes mūzikā (An Insight Into the Music of Maija Einfelde) // Toronto: Jaunā Gaita, September 2000, pp. 33–35, 60 • Reinis, A. Maija Einfelde un viņas ērģeļu daiļrade (Maija Einfelde and Her Creative Work for Organ) // Izglītība un Kultūra (in the supplement Kultūras Telpa un Laiks) No. 21, 2001, March 1st, p. 20 • Dombrovska, M. Dažas raksturīgas iezīmes Maijas Einfeldes daiļradē. (Some Characteristic Traits of the Creative Work of Maija Einfelde) Bachelor’s Thesis, Latvian Academy of Music, 2001 • Liepiņa, I. Trīs labas lietas pirmatskaņojumu dzīvē (Three Good Things in the Life of Premieres) [a review of the premieres of works by G. Pelēcis, R. Dubra and M. Einfelde at the Sacred Music Festival] // Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze, 2001, August 23rd, p. 13 • Lukševica, L. Kungs, apžēlojies! (Lord, Have Mercy!) [interview regarding the premiere of the oratorio Rīta liturģija (Morning Liturgy) in the Riga Dome Cathedral] // Literatūra un Māksla Latvijā, 2001, August 30th, p. 12, continued on September 6th, p. 12 • Ankrava, S. Rīta liturģija Domā un domās (Morning Liturgy in the Dome Cathedral and in Thoughts) [a review of the premiere of the Rīta liturģija (Morning Liturgy) oratorio] // Literatūra un Māksla Latvijā, 2001, August 30th, p. 12 • Divējāda saule tek... (The Sun Flows in Two Ways...) [a review of premieres of works by M. Einfelde, V. Šmīdbergs, and A. Dzenītis] // Diena, 2002, February 18th, p. 12 • Liepiņa, I. Simfonija kā pati dzīve (A Symphony as Life Itself) [interview regarding the anticipated premiere of the Symphony] // Forums, No. 28, 2003, July 11th–18th, pp. 11, 8 • Lūsiņa, I. Simfonija un valsis ar auskariņiem (Symphony and a Waltz with Earrings) [interview prior to the premiere of the Symphony] // Diena, 2003, October 4th • Liepiņa, I. Lēni, ātri, ar uzliesmojumiem (Slowly, Quickly, with Bursts of Flame) [interview prior to the premiere of the Symphony] // Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze, 2003, October 10th, p. 12 • Lūsiņa, I. Das ist Ein Feld (That is a Field) [a review of concerts at the Arēna Festival, also about the premiere of M. Einfelde’s Symphony] // Diena, 2003, October 14th, p. 11 • Liepiņa, I. Daiļā pretrunība (Beautiful Contradiction) [a review of the premiere of the Symphony] // Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze , 2003, October 14th, p. 10 • Sīzifs sāk no nulles. (Sisyphus Begins at Zero) Ilmārs Šlāpins speaks with composer Maija Einfelde // Rīgas Laiks, No. 10, pp. 46–51
Клотиншь, А. В раcцвете мастерства (In the Maturity of Mastery) // Музыка Советской Латвии (Music of Soviet Latvia). – Riga, 1988, pp. 73–96 • Яунславиете, Б. Портрет – эскиз (Portrait – Sketch) // Музыкальная академия, (Muzykal`naja akademija). – Riga, 1992, No. 4, pp. 67–69 • O. Silabriedis, Miķelīši un lilijas (Michaelmas Asters and Lilies) [interview] // Mūzikas Saule, 2008, No. 5, pp. 20–23


Mārīte Dombrovska
Photo - Edmunds Mickus
© LMIC