Composers > Oļģerts Grāvītis

Oļģerts Grāvītis

"...all the creative output that I have listed in my catalogue of completed works – music, books, manuscripts – has come into being solely in the Jaunzariņi house in Jaunpiebalga. There I was inspired not just by the beauty of the Latvian countryside, but also by Jāņaskola – located just over a kilometre south of Jaunzariņi – the birthplace of Piebalga’s famous son, composer Emīls Dārziņš. It is as if, since the 1940s, these invisible influences have given wings to my entire musical life, and still continue to inspire and refresh it to the present day."

Oļģerts Grāvītis


BIOGRAPHY

Composer and musicologist Oļģerts Grāvītis was born on 30 August, 1926, in Alūksne. He studied piano at the Cēsis People’s Conservatory (now the Cēsis Music College) from 1940 to 1945 (until May 1944 with Daina Pavasara, and to 1945 with Pauls Krieviņš), then at the Latvian State Conservatory’s music school from 1945– 1947, first with Igors Kalniņš, and then with Arvīds Žilinskis. He then studied in the History department of the Latvian State Conservatory (1947–1952, with Jēkabs Vītoliņš), from which he graduated with a diploma in musicology. He continued his studies at the Leningrad State Conservatory as a postgraduate in music history (1952–1956 with Georgij Tigranov), then at the Latvian State Conservatory’s composition department (1956–1960, with Jānis Ivanovs), from which he graduated with a diploma in composition.

He worked as a piano accompanist, later as a teacher of musical literature in the Emīls Dārziņš Music College and the Jāzeps Mediņš Music College (1948–1956). From 1961, he was a lecturer at the Latvian State Conservatory (now the Latvian Academy of Music) in the music history department; he became assistant professor in 1970 and professor in 1984. In 1994, he received the degree of Dr. Art. He has been senior scientific assistant at the Institute of Language and Literature at the Latvian Academy of Sciences, director of its music sector (1975–1983), and head of the Music History Department of the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (1984–1993). He heads the scholarly research for the J. Vītols memorial room. From 1999, he has been an active member of the research department of the Academy of Music, preparing for publication a series of monographs, brochures, and collected editions.

He is an active music journalist, publishing extensive essays on Latvian music history, features on anniversaries and the Latvian Song Festivals, concert reviews, critiques and obituaries, not only in Latvian journals and newspapers, but also in Russian and German music publications. Since 1991, he has been writing for the newspaper Laiks (USA), Brīvā Latvija (Europe), and the music periodical Latvju Mūzika (USA).

Starting in 1999, he developed the annual Latviešu mūzikas kalendāri (Calendars of Latvian Music), which from 2001 are no longer published. At the beginning of the 21st century, he began writing the Latviešu mūzikas vēstures konspekti (Abstracts in Latvian Music History), with some 70 abstracts having been distributed in computer printout form to listeners at lectures at the Latvian Academy of Music. He wrote the script for the TV programme Dzīves dziesma (The Song of Life) in 2003.

He has also been very active as a lecturer, from 1952 participating in broadcasts for Latvian Radio, and from 1956 for television. Starting in 1954, he presented concert lectures at the Latvian Philharmonia. As a piano lecturer, he has participated in author concerts organised by the Music Foundation throughout Latvia (1955–1985). He has given literally hundreds of introductory talks for concerts of Latvian music, and still gives lectures and papers at many different events.

He has been a member of the Latvian Composers’ Union since 1952, a member of the Union committee (1956–1981), and committee secretary (1959–1962, 1968–1974). He has participated in congresses of the Latvian Composers’ Union and at conferences on musicology. As a member of the Composers’ Union delegation in the 1960s–1990s he went on many different international assignments (former republics of the Soviet Union as well as Finland, Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany, Canada, the United States and elsewhere). He was a member of the Latvian Journalists’ Union (1960–1989), and was director of their music department for many years. He was a member of the Research Council of the Latvian Academy of Music (1959–1997). From 1997, he has been a member of the Riga Latvian Society, was chairman of its Music Committee from 1998 to 2005, and was elected to its council in 2001, 2003 and 2005.

He received the Jānis Ivanovs Award in 1986, the Order of Three Stars, IV class in 1998, a Certificate of Recognition from the Latvian Council of Ministers in 2006, and the Latvian Great Music Award in 2007. He is an honorary member of the Reiters Foundation board (1998), an honorary member of the Dziesmuvara choir (2000), and an honorary member of the Riga Latvian Society (2003).

His choral works (both original songs and Latvian folk song arrangements) have been performed in the 15th–22nd Latvian Song Festivals. He created the first television opera in Latvian music history – Vanadziņš (Little Hawk).


PUBLICATIONS

WRITINGS
Approximately 1300 publications for periodicals, including approximately 80 reviews and treatises in the Latvian (as of 1948) and international (as of 1991 in the periodicals Laiks, Brīvā Latvija, and the writing collection Latvju mūzika) press.


BOOKS, BROCHURES
Approximately 20 published, including

Jurjānu Andrejs [monograph]. – Riga: LVI, 1953, 171 [Latvian]; 1955 [Russian]

Lūcijas Garūtas Klavierkoncerts (The Piano Concerto of Lūcija Garūta) [a brochure in the series Palīgs mūzikas klausītājiem (A Guide for Music Listeners)]. – Riga: Liesma, 1956, 28

Jāzeps Vītols un latviešu tautas dziesma (Jāzeps Vītols and the Latvian Folk Song). – Riga: LVI, 1958, 255

Jazep Vitol un latyšskaja narodnaja pesnja. Translated by P. Pečerskis – Moskva –Leningrad: Muzyka, 1966, 192

Arvīds Žilinskis. Zelta zirgs (Golden Horse) [brochure]. – Riga: Liesma, 1967, 48

Marģeris Zariņš. Nabagu opera (Opera of the Poor) [brochure]. – Riga: Liesma, 1967, 52

Jānis Reinholds. Ainas no mūziķa dzīves (A Scene from the Life of a Musician). – Riga: Liesma, 1968, 173

Arvīds Žilinskis. – Riga: Liesma, 1971, 438

Izcilākie Tautas kori (The Most Distinguished People’s Choirs). – Riga: Liesma, 1979, 207

Dziesmu svētki Latvijā. Norise, skaitļi, fakti (The Song Festivals in Latvia. Process, Statistics, Facts) [co-author Ilma Grauzdiņa]. – Riga: Encyclopaedia of Latvia, 1990, 174

Teodors Reiters – triumfs un traģēdija [co-author Valentīna Gružāne]. – Riga: Māksla, 1993, 116

Latvju pūtējmūzikas lielais šķelmis (The Large Rogue of Latvian Wind Music) [about Gunārs Ordelovskis]. – Riga: TMC, 1997, 228

Emilis Melngailis 125 gadskārtu daudzveidībā (In the Diversity of Emilis Melngailis’ 125 Years) // Melngaiļa mūzikas svētki. – Rīga: TMC, 1999

No operetes Liepājā līdz Karnegi zālei Ņujorkā (From the Liepaja Operetta to Carnegie Hall in New York) [about the exiled United States Latvian musician Aleksandrs Okols Kulaks]. – Riga: Jumava, 2000, 212

Piebalgas dēls Emīls Dārziņš (Emīls Dārziņš, the Son of Piebalga) [also about his son Volfgang]. – Riga: Elpa, 2000, 40, 39

Gaujienas Anniņas – Jāzepa Vītola laimības sala (The Anniņas of Gaujiena – Jāzeps Vitols’ Island of Happiness) // Gaujiena – mana paradīze. J. Vītola dienas Gaujienā. – Riga: [without publisher], 2003, 17– 24

Arnolds Šturms. Mūzikā, rakstos, atmiņās (Music, Writings, Memories). – Riga: Elpa, 2004, 473

[Ilma Grauzdiņa], Dziesmu svētku mazā enciklopēdija (Small Encyclopaedia of the Song Festivals). – Riga: Musica Baltica, 2004, 324

Mūziķis un literāts Knuts Lesiņš (Musician and Writer Knuts Lesiņš). – Riga: Elpa, 2006, 450


Compiled and annotated writing collections (4) and sheet music collections (11)


DISCOGRAPHY
LP

Fragments from the opera Audriņi / Laima Andersone (Terēze), Kārlis Zariņš (Aleksis), Pēteris Grāvelis (Matvejs), Aleksandrs Daškovs (Lazdītis), Elza Zvirgzdiņa (Māte) / The T. Kalniņš Choir of Latvian Radio, the Latvian SSR State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Conductor Jāzeps Lindbergs // O. Grāvītis. Fragmenti no operas Audriņi – Melodija, 33Д-20223-4

The chorus Nakts pār baltu sniega pļavu (Night over the White Snow Field) from the 3rd act of the opera Audriņi / The T. Kalniņš Choir of Latvian Radio and orchestra, Conductor Jāzeps Lindbergs // [without title] – Melodija, 33Д- 00020841-2

Sonata for piano / Hermanis Brauns // Fortepiannyje proizvedenija latyšskih kompozitorov – Melodija, 33Д-029273-4

Sapņu strazdi (Dream Thrush), vocal cycle for voice and piano / Text – Imants Ziedonis / Kārlis Zariņš, Hermanis Brauns // Solo dziesmas. Latviešu komponistu vokālie cikli – 1971, Melodija, 33CM-02399-400

Maza biju, bet jau gudra (I was Small, but Already Smart), Latvian folk song arrangement for women’s choir / Combined women’s choirs, Conductor Imants Cepītis // Jubilejas dziesmu svētki. Apvienotie sieviešu un jauktie kori – 1976, Melodija, C 60-05995-6

Jauna gaita (A New Course) for mixed choir / Text – Jānis Sudrabkalns / Miers (Peace) for mixed choir / Text – Eižens Vēveris / Saplēsti gabali (Broken Pieces) for mixed choir / Text – Jānis Rainis / Atlantijas zvejnieku dziesma (Song of the Atlantis Fisherman) for mixed choir / Text – Jānis Dimants / Rudens atmatās (In the Autumn Fallows) for mixed choir / Text – T. Linde / Esonis for mixed choir / Text – Valdis Lukss / Ziemas pievārtē (Winter Gateway) for mixed choir / Text – Laimonis Pēlmanis / Kur miers? (Where is Peace?) for mixed choir / Text – Jānis Rainis / Uzvara (Victory) for mixed choir / Text – Eižens Vēveris / Māksliniekam (For the Artist), vocalise for mixed choir and violin / Valdis Zariņš (violin) / Ir viena zeme (There is One Land) for men’s choir / Text – Bruno Saulītis / Vecie zēni (Old Boys) for men’s choir / Text – Jānis Plotnieks / Baltā roze (White Rose) for mixed choir (vocalise) / Zaļa zīle skaisti dzieda (The Green Titmouse Sang Beautifully), Latvian folk song arrangement for mixed choir / Mātes meita, krējumlaiža (Mother’s Daughter, the Cream Sweet Tooth) for men’s choir / Text – Latvian folk song / Nāc pie manis, tautumeita (Come to Me, Folk Daughter) / Text – Latvian folk song / The T. Kalniņš Choir, conductor Edgars Račevskis / Daina. Dancis (Folk Song. Dance) for women’s choir and cello / the people’s choir Dzintars, Māris Villerušs (cello), conductor Imants Cepītis // Oļģerts Grāvītis. Kora dziesmas – 1978, Melodija, C10-10253-4

Māksliniekam (For the Artist), vocalise for mixed choir and violin / The Latvian SSR Radio and Television T. Kalniņš Choir, conductor Edgars Račevskis // Latvijas PSR Radio un televīzijas T. Kalniņa koris – Melodija, C 01741

Three preludes for organ / Atis Stepiņš // Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles. Kandavas un Kuldīgas baznīcu ērģeles – 1985, Melodija, C10 22635 007

CD

Māksliniekam (For the Artist), vocalise for mixed choir un violin / The Riga chamber choir Ave Sol, conductor Imants Kokars – 3’19” // Atmini sauli. Latviešu kordziesmas antoloģija – III. 1940–1965 – 1997, AKKA/LAA, LR-9703 [released also on cassette]

Rozēm kaisu istabiņu (I Filled the Room with Roses), Latvian folk song arrangement for double choir / Combined choirs, Conductor Vizma Maksiņa – 1’48” // Dziesmu svētki. II CD – 1998, Latvian Radio, Maestro Records, LR CD 021, MRCD 002

Rozēm kaisu istabiņu (I Filled the Room with Roses), Latvian folk song arrangement for women’s choir / The girls’ choir Skanda, conductor Alda Šeļegovska – 1’35” // Mūzai. XXII Vispārējo Latviešu dziesmu svētku dziesmas dzied labākie Latvijas kori – 1998, ADF 001

Zvaigžņotā Rīga (Starry Riga), popular song / Text – Laimonis Pēlmanis / Vocal ensemble directed by Kaspars Putniņš, instrumental ensemble directed by Gunārs Rozenbergs – 2’41” // Rīgas leģendas – 2001, LAULA, LACD 019 [released also on cassette – LACC-49]

Saplēsti gabali (Broken Pieces) for mixed choir / Text – Jānis Rainis / The Teodors Kalniņš Latvian Radio Choir, conductor Edgars Račevskis – 1’46” // Mana Latvija – 2002, manscd 02/02

Mēness gaita (The Course of the Moon) from the vocal cycle Mēness meitiņa (Daughter of the Moon) for voice and piano / Text – Jānis Rainis / Tālis Matīss, Ada Volfmane-Osis – 1’56” // Latviešu komponistu un tautas dziesmas dzied Tālis Matīss un Egils Siliņš – 2004, Balss, BACD 078


LITERATŪRA

R. Afanasjeva, O. Grāvītis // In the collection Padomju Latvijas mūzikas darbinieki (Music Workers of Soviet Latvia). – Riga: Liesma, 1965, 189–191 • S. Stumbre, Audriņi [brochure]. – Riga: LVI, 1967, 52 • V. Briede, Sniegputeņos (In the Snowdrifts) [brochure]. – Riga: Liesma, 1969, 56 • V. Briede, introduction to the book O. Grāvītis. Mūzikas publicistika (O. Grāvītis. Music Journalism). – Riga: Liesma, 1976, 216 • L. Fūrmane, Latviešu komponisti un muzikologi (Latvian Composers and Musicologists). – Rīga: LKS, 1989, 51–53

Mārīte Dombrovska
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