Interview: Music’s Hope and Love
- AIZPUTE, Latvia (AP) — Peteris Vasks, the celebrated Latvian composer, finds solace and inspiration in the natural world.
- The "Peteris Vasks Music April" festival, a tradition at the Cēsis concert Hall, recently concluded.
- The festival also included an opening of artist Biruta delle's exhibition, "The Gift of Being," and a conversation between art collector Helmut Strauh and Vasks, exploring life's values.
Peteris Vasks: Latvian Composer celebrates life, Music, and nature
AIZPUTE, Latvia (AP) — Peteris Vasks, the celebrated Latvian composer, finds solace and inspiration in the natural world. After years in Riga, he and his wife, Dzintra, have resided for over a decade in Drabesi Parish, near Amatciems, seeking a closer connection to nature.
An Anniversary Marked with Music
April marks a special time for Vasks. The “Peteris Vasks Music April” festival, a tradition at the Cēsis concert Hall, recently concluded. The festival featured performances by Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica, showcasing Vasks’ compositions alongside those of estonian composer Arvo Pärt. Opera singer Maija Kovalevska also presented a solo concert, highlighting Latvian vocal classics and Vasks’ work, including his 1987 chamber piece.
The festival also included an opening of artist Biruta delle’s exhibition, “The Gift of Being,” and a conversation between art collector Helmut Strauh and Vasks, exploring life’s values.
Collaboration and Connection
Vasks expressed gratitude for Inese Zagorsk, the artistic director of the Cēsis Concert Hall. “I write music, but I have no talent to sell it, so the musicians and people who organize concerts are approaching me with my ideas,” Vasks said. He noted the beatiful tradition that has resulted from their collaboration: “Peteris Vasks Music April.”
He emphasized the importance of connecting with listeners on a personal level.”We live in a world of materialism, but with my music I want to reach a person and show the way to another dimension,” Vasks said. “Music is also a comfort, gives hope and shows that there is a love path in this world.”
vasks also enjoys attending concerts at the Cēsis Concert Hall. He appreciates when composers provide context for their work, aiding audience understanding. He aims to demystify contemporary music, emphasizing its emotional depth and ability to enrich listeners.
“Every piece is a gift for the listener,” Vasks said. He acknowledges the challenges faced by contemporary composers, noting the abundance of masterpieces from past centuries. He likens a symphony to a novel, a substantial undertaking. He calls his compositions his “spiritual soul children,” each with its own destiny.
Commissioned Works and Inspiration
When asked about the origin of his works, vasks explained that professional composers frequently enough create on commission. He cited Bach and Beethoven as examples of composers who fulfilled specific orders, creating enduring works in the process.
A Musical Journey
Vasks’ musical journey began in a musical family. His father was a pastor, and his mother, a dentist with a soprano voice, sang in the church choir. Recognizing his interest, his father enrolled him in music school in Aizpute, where he learned violin. He later switched to double bass and played in the opera orchestra while also composing.
He continued his studies at the Vilnius Conservatory and later at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. His collaboration with the women’s choir “Dzintars” led to international recognition, and he eventually signed with the German publishing house Schott Musik International.
Evolution of Style
Vasks acknowledged the evolution of his musical style. In his youth,he sought to awaken audiences with radical sounds. While he doesn’t disavow that period,he now focuses on conveying hope and light. “There are so many tragedies in the world, but music can calm down, give hope,” he said. “Faith and love are the greatest power.”
Nature’s Embrace
Vasks finds solace and inspiration in his home in Amatciems, surrounded by nature. He enjoys the sounds of birds and the beauty of the Latvian seasons. He sees beauty in every season, from the dream of a white Christmas to the return of birds in the spring.
“If you live an intense spiritual life and be full of love, then I don’t know a more beautiful place than my native land,” Vasks said. He expresses a positive outlook, believing that “darkness cannot be eternal. The light will come.” He aims to infuse his music with this sense of hope, even amidst sadness and melancholy.
Vasks sees the world with a sense of wonder. “In the evening, when the sun sets, I look and think, oh dies, what beauty!” he said. He believes that each person has a unique purpose and should strive to make the world a better place.
Peteris Vasks: A Conversation with the Celebrated Latvian Composer
This Q&A delves into the life, music, and inspiration of Peteris Vasks, a renowned Latvian composer. Get ready too explore his unique outlook on life,art,and the profound connection between nature and music.
1. Who is Peteris Vasks?
Peteris Vasks is a celebrated Latvian composer known for his ability to evoke powerful emotions and a deep connection to the natural world through his music. Born in Latvia,his compositions reflect a spiritual and personal journey,drawing inspiration from his surroundings and life experiences. He is a leading figure in contemporary classical music.
2.What makes Peteris Vasks’ music special?
Vasks’ music resonates with listeners because it emphasizes emotional depth, spirituality, and the beauty of the world around us. He doesn’t shy away from difficult themes, but he always offers glimpses of hope and light. He is known for creating lovely melodies, evocative harmonies, and masterful use of instruments. His music frequently enough has spiritual undertones.
3. What inspires Peteris Vasks?
Vasks finds inspiration in his home in Amatciems and the stunning beauty of the Latvian countryside, particularly the changing seasons and the sounds of nature. Moreover, he is inspired by the spiritual aspects of life, by faith and love. He translates these inspirations into his music.
4. How has nature shaped his creative process?
Living close to nature has profoundly influenced Vasks’ music. He sees the world with a sense of wonder.The sounds of birds, the change of seasons, and the overall beauty of the landscape infuse his works. This close connection to nature informs his compositions,imbuing them with a sense of peace,beauty,and hope.
5. What is the “Peteris Vasks Music April” festival?
“Peteris Vasks Music April” is an annual festival held at the Cēsis Concert Hall that showcases Vasks’ compositions alongside other notable musical works. The festival is a festivity of his art and also offers a platform for other artists like Gidon kremer and Kremerata Baltica to perform his work. It also includes events such as exhibitions and conversations around art and life values.
6. How did his collaboration with the Cēsis Concert Hall come about?
Vasks has a long-standing collaboration with Inese Zagorsk, the artistic director of the Cēsis Concert Hall. He expresses gratitude for this partnership, noting the support he has received in bringing his musical ideas to life through concerts and performances. The result is the “Peteris Vasks Music April” festival.
7. What are Vasks’ thoughts on connecting with listeners?
Vasks stresses the importance of connecting with listeners on a personal level. He believes that music can transcend the material world, offering comfort, hope, and a pathway to a deeper dimension of understanding and feeling. He often provides context for his work during live performances.
8. Has his musical style changed over time?
Yes, vasks has acknowledged the evolution of his musical style. In earlier years, he explored a more radical sound, using it to awaken listeners. Now,he focuses on conveying hope and the power of love in the face of the tragedies in the world.
9. What is Vasks’ view on contemporary music?
Vasks is keen to demystify contemporary music for listeners.He stresses its emotional depth and its capacity to enrich those who experience it and considers that music is a gift for the listener. He acknowledges the challenges faced by composers in an era with an abundance of masterpieces from the past.
10. How does he describe his compositions?
Vasks views each piece of music as a “spiritual soul child,” each with its own unique purpose and destiny. He likens the process of creating a symphony to undertaking a major project, like writing a novel.
11. Tell us about Vasks’ musical journey.
Vasks’ musical journey began in a musical family. His father was a pastor and his mother was a dentist with a soprano voice who sang in the church choir. He started studying violin in aizpute,and later switched to the double bass. He studied at the vilnius Conservatory and the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. His collaboration with the women’s choir “Dzintars” brought him international recognition. Eventually, he was signed by the german publishing house schott Musik International.
12. Does Vasks write on commission?
Yes, Vasks explained that writing on commission is a common practice for composers. he cites Bach and Beethoven as examples of composers whose works arose from fulfilling specific commissions.
13. What is his message for those who listen to his music?
Vasks believes that each person has a unique purpose and should strive to make the world a better place. He infuses his music with a sense of hope.He encourages audiences to recognize the beauty around them and to live a full life, filled with love.