Jānis Kalniņš

Janis Kalnins ( born November 3, 1904 in Pärnu, † November 30, 2000 in Fredericton ) was a Canadian composer of Latvian origin.

The son of composer Alfrēds Kalnins studied from 1920 to 1924 composition with Jāzeps Vītols and orchestral conducting at the State Conservatory in Riga. He continued his training with Erich Kleiber in Salzburg and at Hermann Abendroth and Leo Blech in Berlin. He was from 1923 to 1933 conductor at the Latvian National Theatre and until 1944 at the Latvian National Opera. He also had guest appearances in Sweden, Germany and Poland.

In 1948 he came to Canada and became organist and choirmaster at St Paul's United Church in Fredericton. He held until his retirement in 1991 as organist. In 1951 he became conductor of the Fredericton Civic Orchestra and Instructor of Music at the Teachers College of the province. In 1954, he received the Canadian citizenship. From 1962 to 1968 he was chief conductor of the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra.

Kalnins composed symphonic works, chamber music, choral works, including a Requiem and four operas. In 1978, he led the Windsor Symphony Orchestra at his Third Symphony and the New Brunswick Rhapsody. On his 80th birthday, he was honored with three concerts in Toronto, Chicago and New York, he received a New Brunswick Award for Excellence in the Arts. The following year, the CBC broadcast a concert in his honor. At the eighth Latvian Song Festival in 1996 Arthur Ozolins was the soloist at the premiere of his Piano Concerto.

Works

  • Unguni, opera, 1933
  • Lolita 's Magic Bird, opera, 1933
  • In the Fire, opera, 1934
  • Hamlet, opera, 1935
  • Two Latvian Peasant Dances for Orchestra, 1936
  • Symphony No. 1, 1939-44
  • Concerto in F -Sharp Minor for Violin and Orchestra, 1946
  • The Bird 's Lullaby ( text by E. Pauline Johnson ), 1950
  • Symphony No. 2, 1953
  • The Lord's Prayer, 1954
  • When Jesus Came to Birmingham, 1954
  • Sonata for Oboe and Piano, 1963
  • Two Shepherd songs for voice, oboe and piano, 1963
  • String Quartet in G Sharp Minor
  • Music for String Orchestra, 1965
  • New Brunswick Rhapsody for Orchestra, 1967
  • The Long Night ( Velta Toma ) for choir and orchestra
  • Klusa Stunda for Violin and Piano, 1968
  • Symphony No. 3, 1973
  • Larghetto Serioso for Violin and Piano, 1975
  • Sonata for Violin and Piano, 1975
  • Symphony No. 4, 1977
  • Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello, 1979
  • Sonata No.. 2 for Organ, 1981
  • Symphonic Poem ( Carmen ) for chorus and orchestra, 1982
  • Three Preludes for Organ, 1983
  • Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra, 1984
  • Piano Quintet, 1987
  • The Potter's Field, cantata for mixed choir and organ
  • Latvijai for women's choir and string quartet, 1976
  • New Brunswick Song Cycle, 1984
  • Trimdinieku Vakardziesma, cantata for solo voice, mixed choir and orchestra, 1988
  • Requiem in D minor for soprano, baritone, mixed choir and piano, organ or orchestra

Swell

  • The Canadian Encyclopedia - Janis Kalnins
  • Canadian Music Centre - Janis Kalnins
  • Canadian Composer
  • Latvian
  • Born in 1904
  • Died in 2000
  • Man
Integrated Authority File
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