Imants Kalniņš

Imants Kalnins ( born May 26, 1941 in Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian composer who wrote both Classical and rock music. In addition, Kalnins involved in politics, he is for the party Tēvzemei ​​un Brīvībai / LNNK member of the Saeima, the Latvian Parliament.

After training in classical and choral music at the Jazeps - Vītols Academy of Music under Ādolfs Skulte he wrote six symphonies, six operas, including the first rock opera of the Soviet Union - egg, jus tur! (Hey, you there! ), Oratorios, cantatas, choral pieces, and a number of musical works for film and theater. Best known he was by his rock songs; he is regarded as the first composer of intellectual rock music in Latvia.

During the 1960s, Kalnins initiated in Liepāja the rock band 2xBBM that had large crowds because of their poignant songs and even the hippie lifestyle. Kalnins has become the symbol of mindset, worldview and rebellion in his age group and ultimately resulted in a ban on the tape by the authorities. However, that was not the end of music Kalnins ' - well, she was taken from the also popular band Menuets hearing that played almost nothing else. In 1967 he wrote the music for the Latvian musical cult film Elpojiet dziļi! ( Take a deep breath ).

In the 1970s, Kalnins again wrote symphonic music, but was performed in 1984 back to the rock and drew with Juris and Juris Kulakovs Sejanus the rock oratorio Kā jūra, kā zeme, kā debess ( Like the sea, like the earth, like the sky ). The oratorio was the first public appearance of the band Pērkons ( ' thunder '), for which he later wrote many new songs before he formed his own band with the name Turaidas Roze ( ' The Rose of Turaida ') founded. But this never achieved the same popularity and the same admiration as Menuets and Pērkons.

During the singing revolution, when Latvia again conquered its independence, Kalnins actively engaged in the political movement Tautas front, which played an important role in overcoming the Soviet occupation. Closely associated with the festival Kalnins Imantdienas is ( ' Imants -day '), which were very popular and therefore banned in the Soviet period. 1995, this tradition was resumed, the days took place every year ( with the exception of 1997, when the composer was traveling ) and are at least as successful as before. 2001 Kalnins turned back to classical music and composed his Sixth Symphony for chorus and orchestra on texts by Rabindranath Tagore and Psalms.

The cooperation of Imants Kalnins with Ainars Mielavs provided some excellent albums, mainly composed by Kalnins pieces such as Par lietām, kas tā ar ' Nekad nepāriet ( things that never go away completely ), 1997, It redzēju sapni (I saw in a dream ), 1998 and I Love You, 1999 ( despite the title, the lyrics of this album are predominantly Latvian). 2000 took the symphony orchestra of Liepaja the music for the film put, Vējiņi (bladder, wind, bubble ) from 1973 with famous singers new to.

Imants Kalnins from 1993 to 1995 and since 1998 for the nationalist party Tēvzemei ​​un Brīvībai / LNNK member of the Saeima. He currently works in the Budget and Finance Commission and the Commission for Mandates, ethics and procurement practices.

Kalnins translated the Koran and said that in Latvia a mosque should be built.

Kalnins daughter Rezija Kalniņa is a well-known actress, his son - Mart Kristian Kalnins is lead singer of the band Autobuss Debesis.