THE LIVING COMPOSERS PROJECT  

Ēriks Ešenvalds

(b. 26 January 1977, Priekule).

Latvian composer of mostly orchestral, chamber and choral works that have been performed in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Mr. Ešenvalds studied at a theological seminary in Latvia from 1995–97. He then studied at the Jāzepa Vītola Latvijas Mūzikas akadēmija – Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music in Rīga, where he graduated in 2002. He later had postgraduate studies in composition there with Selga Mence from 2002–04.

Among his honours are the Jāzeps Vītols Scholarship in Rīga (1999, 2002), an honourable mention in the competition of the International Clarinet Association in Miami (2000, for Iespaidi SāremāImpressions of Saaremaa), the Vernisāža Musical Centre and Latvian Creative Fund Scholarship in Rīga (2002), a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture of Latvia (2003, 2004), the Lielā Mūzikas balva – Latvian Grand Music Award for new composition of the year (2005, 2007), and the selected work in the category Under-30 at the UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers (2006, for Légende de la femme emmurée). His music has been performed in Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine, the UK, and the USA.

He is also active in other positions. He served as music minister at the baptist church Vīlandes in Rīga and sang as a member of the state choir Latvija in Rīga. He served as Fellow Commoner in Creative Arts at Trinity College, Cambridge from 2011–13.

He taught at High School No. 31 in Rīga from 1998–2002.

His primary publisher is Edition Peters.

CONTACT INFORMATION

E-mail address: eriks.esenvalds@music.lv

Website: http://www.eriksesenvalds.com/index.php?topic=home&lang=en

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS

STAGE:

The Craziness of Cæsar (incidental music), 2003

Joseph Is a Fruitful Bough (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Kārlis Vērdiņš, after the Bible), 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, countertenor, tenor, 2 baritones, 4 basses, 8 mixed voices, 9 male voices, flute (+ tin whistle), 3 trombones, tuba, 2 kokle (zithers from Latvia), accordion, percussion, 2007

The Latvia of Songs, mixed chorus, orchestra, film, 2008

A Christmas Legend, 3 male voices, mixed chorus, percussion, 2010

ORCHESTRAL:

From the Dim and Distant Past, 2002

Frontiers of Time, string orchestra, 2002

Fantasia, small orchestra (13 players), 2003

Music for the Towers of Old Rīga, 4 brass ensembles, 2003

Clouds, 2006

Songs of Silence, guitar, 20 or more strings, 2006

Fanfare, brass band, 2007

Nocturne, 2007

Dún Fhearghusa, small orchestra, 2010

Fanfare, 2010

Moonscape, viola, small orchestra (percussion, 21 strings), 2011

Visions of the Arctic: Night (concerto), clarinet, orchestra, fixed media, 2012

CHAMBER MUSIC:

Night in the Town, double bass, piano, 1998

Iespaidi Sāremā, clarinet, cello, 1999

The Tale of Romeo and Juliet, 4 clarinets, 2000

Cryptic, flute, 2 kokle, accordion, 2002

The Star Song, 2 pianos, percussion, 2003

Protest, 3 trombones, tuba, fixed media, 2004

Visions fugitives, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola, cello, double bass, piano, 2 percussion, 2004

The Last Letters, cello, fixed media, 2007

Reflections in the Water, clarinet (+ ocarina), cello, piano, 2008

The Sun at Solstice, ensemble of kokle, 2009

Laudate Dominum, alto saxophone, organ, 2010

CHORAL:

Summer Scene, mixed chorus, 1999

Eight Japanese Haiku, female chorus, 2003

Go Away, Rain, 8 mixed voices, tin whistle, 2 kokle, accordion, percussion, 2005

Légende de la femme emmurée, 5 mixed voices, 9 mixed voices, 2005

Passion and Resurrection (oratorio), soprano, 4 mixed voices, 8 mixed voices, 20 or more strings, 2005

A Drop in the Ocean, mixed chorus, 2006

Evening, mixed chorus, 2006

Night Prayer, mixed chorus, 2006

Aiviekste, mixed chorus, 2007

Blow, Wind, Blow, male speaker, folk voices from Latvia, 8 mixed voices, 2 bagpipes, accordion, double bass, piano, percussion, 2007

John's Day of Suiti Women, folk voices from Latvia, 8 mixed voices, 2 bagpipes, accordion, double bass, piano, percussion, 2007

Singing, I stood, mixed chorus, 2007

Sun Dogs, mixed chorus, 2007

All Lands, Rejoice for God, soprano, girls' chorus, boys' chorus, mixed chorus, organ, percussion, string orchestra, 2008

Benedictus Es, female chorus, 2008

Christmas Night (cantata), soloists, mixed chorus, oboe/flute, harp, percussion, string orchestra, 2008

Latvia. Impressions of the Seasons (cantata), soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, brass band, 2008

My Homeland (song-cycle), 2 female voices, 2 male voices, children's chorus, symphonic band/orchestra, 2008

Ubi Caritas et Amor, female chorus, 2008

Fireguard (cantata), soprano, baritone, speaker, 8 male voices, clarinet, organ, accordion, percussion, 2009

Genesis, 8 mixed voices, 4 saxophones, organ, 2 percussion, 2009

Lielupe, mixed chorus, 2009

O Salutaris Hostia, female chorus/mixed chorus, 2009

Steps, 8 mixed voices, flute, percussion, 2009

Vineta, 12 mixed voices, percussion, 2009

Adorning Gauja River's Daughter, female chorus, 2010

At Sunrise (oratorio), mixed chorus, orchestra, 2010

Long Road, mixed chorus, 2010

Only in Sleep, mixed chorus, 2010

Parallels, mixed chorus, guitar, shaker, 2010

Song of a Soul, mixed chorus, piano, 2010

Sunset: St. Louis, 8 mixed voices, fixed media, 2010

The Heaven Litany, 8 mixed voices (+ water glasses), small orchestra (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, 2 French horns, prepared piano, percussion, strings), fixed media, 2011

Seneca's Zodiac, 8 mixed voices (+ percussion), prepared piano, percussion, 2011

Stars, mixed chorus (+ singing bowls, water glasses), 2011

In Paradisum, mixed chorus, viola, cello, 2012

The New Moon, 10 mixed voices, 2012

O Emmanuel, 8 mixed voices, 2012

Psalm 67, mixed chorus, 2012

Spring, the Sweet Spring, female chorus, 2012

Trinity Te Deum, mixed chorus, brass, harp, percussion, 2012

The Heavens' Flock, 8 mixed voices, 2013

Northern Lights, tenor, 8 mixed voices (+ wind chimes, water glasses), 2013

VOCAL:

Intercessiones, soprano, string quartet, 2001

Songs of David, soprano, alto saxophone, organ, 2008

The Pathway of the Sun, voice, flute, synthesizer, percussion, ensemble of kokle, 2013

PIANO:

Seascape, 2000

ORGAN:

Fantasia, 2005

ELECTROACOUSTIC:

Radar, fixed media, 2003

RADIO PRODUCTION:

Cristina, Daughter of Lavrans, flute, kokle, synthesizer, 2009

ARRANGEMENTS:

Amazing Grace (hymn), mixed chorus, 2004

Six Little Drummers (folksong from Latvia), 10 mixed voices, 2009

My Picture Frame (Renārs Kaupers), mixed chorus, 2010

This Is My Father's World (hymn), 8 mixed voices, 2011

Vem kan segla förutan vind? (folksong from Sweden), children's chorus, harp, 2013