Composers > Ilze Arne

Ilze Arne

"In life and in art, I enjoy contrasts, that is why I compose both large, serious, sacred music works, as well as miniatures for choir – of course I have never written overly refined chamber music – the sad breath for a lonely clarinet... Dynamics, rhythm, simplicity, and laconicism – that is my Credo. I also have not been afraid of melodiousness – the souls of music."

Ilze Arne


BIOGRAPHY

Ilze Arne was born on August 19th, 1953, in Riga. She studied composition at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music with Pauls Dambis and at the Latvian State Conservatory with Valentīns Utkins (1972–1977). After receiving her diploma, alongside creative work, Ilze Arne teaches budding musicians: at the Emīls Dārziņš School of Music (1977–1980), the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music (1987–1996); as of 1978, she is member of the faculty of the Latvian State Conservatory/the Latvian Academy of Music, both as an accompanist in the music education division, as well as leading choir arrangement, improvisation, and chamber ensemble studies. In 2001, she received a master’s degree with her thesis Latvju dainu izmantošana improvizācijā bērna iztēles ierosināšanai and bagātināšanai (The Use of Latvian Folk Songs in Improvisation to Motivate and Enrich a Child’s Vision).

Ilze Arne composes mainly choir music and expanded instrumental or oratorio works. Her choir music has received the most attention – her works have many times been included in the Song Festival choir repertoire both in Latvia and internationally, and have received many awards at competitions. For example, Ilze Arne’s song Hand Holds Hand with words by Andrejs Eglītis was recognized as the best song at the Scandinavian and Baltic States IV Song Festival choir composition competition.

As of 1986, Ilze Arne is a member of the Latvian Composer’s Union.

She regularly performs in concerts as a composer and as an accompanist, playing piano, organ, or harpsichord. The composer frequently is a jury member at many different competitions and performances. More than thirty concerts of her works have been given in concert halls, as well as city and town schools. An evening of Ilze Arne’s music was held in 1999 in Toronto, Canada.


DISCOGRAPHY

Zem viena Jāņu vainaga (Under One Midsummer’s Wreath) for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis // XXI Vispārējie Latviešu Dziesmu svētki – 1993 – 1993, Rīgas Skaņu ierakstu studija

Izkal man, bāleliņ (Brother, Forge For Me) for women’s choir / Text – Olafs Gūtmanis; Buramvārdi (Magic Words) for women’s choir / Text – Māra Zālīte // Aija – 1998, Rīgas skaņu ierakstu studija

Nāc šonakt (Come Tonight) for mixed choir / Text – Knuts Skujenieks // LU koris Juventus – 1999, Ierakstu studija 55

Ai, Vidzeme (Oh, Vidzeme) for men’s choir / Text – Ilze Kalnāre // Cauri gadiem (vīru koris Absolventi) – 1999, Latvijas Radio

Turiet savu zemi ciet (Hold Your Land Tightly) for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis // Mēs savai skolai – 1999, released by the Tukums city council

Karavīram (For a Soldier) for men's choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis; Nezūdība (Never Fading) for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis // Apkārt Rīgu dziesmu viju – sing choirs of Riga, 2000

Mēs esam dzirksts (We are a Spark) for mixed choir / Text – Indra Gubiņa; Mīlestība, dzīvība, mūžība (Love, Life, Eternity) for mixed choir and piano / Text – Andrejs Eglītis; Es dzirdu karavīru dziedot (I Hear a Soldier Singing) for mixed choir and piano / Text – Andrejs Eglītis; Aizdod, debess (Lend, Heavens) for mixed choir and piano / Text – Andrejs Eglītis; Audiet mani karogā (Weave me Into the Flag) for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis; Mūžīgi mūžos (Forever and Ever), cantata for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis // Mēs esam dzirksts – 2000, Studio Dainis Creatio, Canada

Mirabo tilts (Mirabeau Bridge), poem cycle for five saxophones / Riga Saxophone Quartet and Jean-Pierre Baraglioli (France) // Le Pont Mirabeau. Le Quatuor de Saxophones de Riga avec Jean-Pierre Baraglioli – 2000, Rīgas skaņu ierakstu studija

Viva la musica for mixed choir and piano // Internationales Kinder Chor Festival Halle – 2002

Idille for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis; Mēs viens otrā esam (We are in One Another) for mixed choir / Text – Andrejs Eglītis // Mūžība. Latviešu kora dziesmas antoloģija V – 2003, SIA AVE SOL

Ave Maria for women’s choir and piano / Šonakt skriešu raganās (Tonight I Will Run Amongst the Witches) for women’s choir / Text – Vizma Belševica / The University of Latvia women’s choir Minjona, Conductor Romāns Vanags // Minjona – 2005, Riga Sound Recording Studio


LITERATURE

Latviešu komponisti un muzikologi (Latvian Composers and Musicologists). – Riga: Latvijas Komponistu savienība, 1989 • I. Lūsiņa, Komponiste bez kompleksiem (A Composer Without Complexes) // Diena, November 12th, 1997 • L. Ašme, Sieviete. Komponiste (Woman. Composer) // Māksla, 1994. no. 2 • I. Lūsiņa, Operas erotizācija (Eroticisation of Opera) // Diena, October 26th, 2001 • J. Kudiņš, Jauna opera. Process (New Opera. Process) // Mūzikas Saule, 2001, no. 7/8, page 34 • I. Lūsiņa, Dzimšanas diena bez īsziņām (A Birthday Without Messages) // Diena, August 20th, 2003 • O. Grāvītis, Viņa skaidri zina, ko grib (She Clearly Knows What She Wants) // Dziesmusvētki, 2003, no. 8–9


Ligita Ašme
Photo - Edmunds Mickus
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