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Peteris Vasks: Latvian Grand Music Prize
- 15 Jan 2025
Pēteris Vasks will be honoured with the Latvian Grand Music Prize for his life’s work. The award ceremony will take place on 23 February at the Lielais dzintars concert hall in Liepaja.
Tagged with 'Pēteris Vasks'
Pēteris Vasks: 75th Birthday on 16 April 2021
- 14 Apr 2021
Pēteris Vasks, like no other composer, is an ambassador for the music of his native country
Latvia and the rich culture of the North. Prior to 1991, he was subject to repression for his beliefs and artistic convictions, but today he has long achieved international acclaim.
Vasks will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 49th Istanbul Music Festival in June, less than two months after his 75th birthday. The award is given annually by the festival: previous laureates include Daniel Barenboim, Philip Glass, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Zubin Mehta, Arvo Pärt, Krzysztof Penderecki and Murray Perahia. Following the award ceremony, the Modigliani Quartet will give the Turkish premiere of his String Quartet No. 6 for which Vasks received the Latvian Grand Music Award in March.
His instrumental works are performed across the world by renowned musicians and also utilised for ballets, most recently in ‘Solitude’, choreographed by Mario Schröder for Leipzig Ballet. Vasks incorporates archaic and folkloristic elements from his homeland in his compositions, bringing them into an exciting relationship with contemporary musical language. Topics as contrasting as the beauty of nature and the ecological and moral destruction of the world find their way into his music.
On the occasion of his birthday, Schott Music has issued a brochure featuring selected choral works which is available free of charge in printed form or as a download under the order number KAT 3485-99.
You can also discover our Vasks playlist at https://en.schott-music.com/shop/vasks-playlist/
Latvia and the rich culture of the North. Prior to 1991, he was subject to repression for his beliefs and artistic convictions, but today he has long achieved international acclaim.
Vasks will receive a lifetime achievement award at the 49th Istanbul Music Festival in June, less than two months after his 75th birthday. The award is given annually by the festival: previous laureates include Daniel Barenboim, Philip Glass, Gidon Kremer, Mischa Maisky, Zubin Mehta, Arvo Pärt, Krzysztof Penderecki and Murray Perahia. Following the award ceremony, the Modigliani Quartet will give the Turkish premiere of his String Quartet No. 6 for which Vasks received the Latvian Grand Music Award in March.
His instrumental works are performed across the world by renowned musicians and also utilised for ballets, most recently in ‘Solitude’, choreographed by Mario Schröder for Leipzig Ballet. Vasks incorporates archaic and folkloristic elements from his homeland in his compositions, bringing them into an exciting relationship with contemporary musical language. Topics as contrasting as the beauty of nature and the ecological and moral destruction of the world find their way into his music.
On the occasion of his birthday, Schott Music has issued a brochure featuring selected choral works which is available free of charge in printed form or as a download under the order number KAT 3485-99.
You can also discover our Vasks playlist at https://en.schott-music.com/shop/vasks-playlist/
Work in Focus – Pēteris Vasks: The Fruit of Silence
- 16 Dec 2019
On 22 December, Antwerp Cathedral Choir will perform The Fruit of Silence by composer Pēteris Vasks in the splendid setting of Antwerp’s Cathedral of Our Lady. The work, which exists in multiple versions for different instrumentations, will be performed in its version for choir and string orchestra.
The text used in Vasks’ work is based on words by Mother Teresa who often surprised conversational partners with a card containing a short text beginning with the phrase, “The fruit of silence is prayer”. In 2013, Vasks set these words as a prayer for peace in a commission from Schlewig-Holstein Music Festival. Originally composed for mixed choir accompanied by piano, The Fruit of Silence is a densly woven elegiac stream of sound. Vasks has since arranged the work for different forces, including choir and orchestra, and as a wordless settings for string quartet and piano quintet. In 2020, Schott Music will publish a further version of The Fruit of Silence for choir and organ.
Pēteris Vasks – The Fruit of Silence: strong words strengthen
The Fruit of Silence is a quiet meditative work constructed around a metaphorical road along which are five signs: ‘prayer’, ‘faith’, ‘love’, ‘service’, and ‘peace’. Vasks points to each sign by musically emphasising the five central words leading to the work’s climactic point on the word ‘peace’.
In the New Year, Vasks music will be performed in several concerts around Europe. In January, Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal will perform Vientulais eņǵelis (Lonely Angel) in Wuppertal and Hattingen, and in February a new ballet set to the composer’s Baltā ainava (White Scenery. Winter) will open at Theater Schweinfurt.
Photo: Adobe Stock / delbars
The text used in Vasks’ work is based on words by Mother Teresa who often surprised conversational partners with a card containing a short text beginning with the phrase, “The fruit of silence is prayer”. In 2013, Vasks set these words as a prayer for peace in a commission from Schlewig-Holstein Music Festival. Originally composed for mixed choir accompanied by piano, The Fruit of Silence is a densly woven elegiac stream of sound. Vasks has since arranged the work for different forces, including choir and orchestra, and as a wordless settings for string quartet and piano quintet. In 2020, Schott Music will publish a further version of The Fruit of Silence for choir and organ.
Pēteris Vasks – The Fruit of Silence: strong words strengthen
The Fruit of Silence is a quiet meditative work constructed around a metaphorical road along which are five signs: ‘prayer’, ‘faith’, ‘love’, ‘service’, and ‘peace’. Vasks points to each sign by musically emphasising the five central words leading to the work’s climactic point on the word ‘peace’.
Silence is a beautiful spiritual condition that can also be expressed in music. I get the sense that events in the world slowly cause a loss of foundations under our feet. God give that the horrors that we see in Ukraine and the Middle East can be extinguished, because otherwise we will be incinerated in this fire. Each of us can do something to stop this craziness. Let us speak good and loving words to one another, because they have much strength. Every smile, every word that is spoken with love, every caress – believe me, that is numerous strength. – Pēteris Vasks
In the New Year, Vasks music will be performed in several concerts around Europe. In January, Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal will perform Vientulais eņǵelis (Lonely Angel) in Wuppertal and Hattingen, and in February a new ballet set to the composer’s Baltā ainava (White Scenery. Winter) will open at Theater Schweinfurt.
- Pēteris Vasks – profile
- The Fruit of Silence – work details
- Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady
- Playlist on Spotify: Discover the music of Peteris Vasks
Photo: Adobe Stock / delbars
