(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 Sāremā – Impressions of Saaremaa), the Vernisāa 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.
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