Peteris Plakidis
Encyclopedia
Pēteris Plakidis is a Latvian composer
and pianist
.
College of Music before studying as an undergraduate
in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols
State Conservatory (now the Latvian Academy of Music
). He graduated in 1970, having been taught by composers Jānis Ivanovs
and Valentīns Utkins. Plakidis undertook further postgraduate study
at the conservatory, which he completed in 1975.
for the Latvian National Theatre.
Since 1975 he has been a tutor in the Composition Department at the Latvian Academy of Music, and in 1991 he became Professor of Composition. Plakidis has received much recognition as a composer. In 1969 he received a diploma at the All-Union Young Composers' Competition, for his composition "Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani" and in 1982 was awarded the title of Honoured Artist. He was the recipient of the Jānis Ivanovs
Prize in 1987 and in 1990 the was awarded the title of People's Artist
. In 1996 Plakidis was won the Latvian Great Music Award for "Variations for Orchestra".
's reportoire, and he was commissioned to write orchestral works for their 60th, 65th and 70th anniversaries. His works have also been performed by the New York University Chamber Music Society
who performed "Pastorale". The New York Times
described the piano part as "couched in brash, clustered harmonies" and the piece as "fascinating". "Distant Song" has featured as a piano piece for ABRSM
exams.
On 26 July 2007, at the Lithuanian embassy in London, record label Toccata Classics
released an album of the composers works entitled "Peteris Plakidis: Music for String Orchestra" on which the composer was pianist. Reviews include a description of "Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani" as a "Bartók
inspired (...) vehicle for nationalist and separatist feeling".
Concertante
Chamber music
Vocal
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
.
Early life
Plakidis was educated at the Emīls DārziņšEmils Darzinš
Emils Darzins, in Latvian Emīls Dārziņš, was a Latvian composer, conductor and music critic. Dārziņš' work bears a distinct romantic character, with a strong trend towards national themes. His main musical authorities and influences were Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Jean Sibelius...
College of Music before studying as an undergraduate
Undergraduate education
Undergraduate education is an education level taken prior to gaining a first degree . Hence, in many subjects in many educational systems, undergraduate education is post-secondary education up to the level of a bachelor's degree, such as in the United States, where a university entry level is...
in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols
Jazeps Vitols
-Biography:Vītols, the son of a schoolteacher, began his studies in composition in 1880 at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. After graduating in 1886, he remained at the Conservatory to teach composition and reached the rank of Professor in 1901. His pupils there...
State Conservatory (now the Latvian Academy of Music
Latvian Academy of Music
The Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music , formerly Riga Conservatory, is the major higher learning music institution in Latvia. The junior institute is the Emils Darzins Music School.-History:...
). He graduated in 1970, having been taught by composers Jānis Ivanovs
Janis Ivanovs
Jānis Ivanovs was a Soviet Latvian classical music composer.In 1931, he graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga. In 1944, he joined the conservatory's faculty, becoming a full professor in 1955. He is regarded as being the most distinguished Latvian symphonist...
and Valentīns Utkins. Plakidis undertook further postgraduate study
Postgraduate education
Postgraduate education involves learning and studying for degrees or other qualifications for which a first or Bachelor's degree generally is required, and is normally considered to be part of higher education...
at the conservatory, which he completed in 1975.
Career
From 1969-74, before he had graduated, Plakidis held the post of Musical DirectorMusic director
A music director may be the director of an orchestra, the director of music for a film, the director of music at a radio station, the head of the music department in a school, the co-ordinator of the musical ensembles in a university or college , the head bandmaster of a military band, the head...
for the Latvian National Theatre.
Since 1975 he has been a tutor in the Composition Department at the Latvian Academy of Music, and in 1991 he became Professor of Composition. Plakidis has received much recognition as a composer. In 1969 he received a diploma at the All-Union Young Composers' Competition, for his composition "Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani" and in 1982 was awarded the title of Honoured Artist. He was the recipient of the Jānis Ivanovs
Janis Ivanovs
Jānis Ivanovs was a Soviet Latvian classical music composer.In 1931, he graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga. In 1944, he joined the conservatory's faculty, becoming a full professor in 1955. He is regarded as being the most distinguished Latvian symphonist...
Prize in 1987 and in 1990 the was awarded the title of People's Artist
People's Artist
People's Artist is a honorary title in the Soviet Union, Union republics, in some other Eastern bloc states , as well as in a number of post-Soviet states, modeled after the title of the People's Artist of the USSR....
. In 1996 Plakidis was won the Latvian Great Music Award for "Variations for Orchestra".
Music
Plakidis' music is often part of the Latvian National Symphony OrchestraLatvian National Symphony Orchestra
The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra is Latvia's main symphony orchestra. It was founded in 1926 as the Latvian Radio Centre Orchestra by the conductor, Arvīds Pārups. Its current Chief Conductor and Artistic Director is Karel Mark Chichon...
's reportoire, and he was commissioned to write orchestral works for their 60th, 65th and 70th anniversaries. His works have also been performed by the New York University Chamber Music Society
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
who performed "Pastorale". The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described the piano part as "couched in brash, clustered harmonies" and the piece as "fascinating". "Distant Song" has featured as a piano piece for ABRSM
Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music
ABRSM is an internationally recognised educational body and charity that provides examinations in music The organisation, based in London, UK, runs exams in centres all over the world...
exams.
On 26 July 2007, at the Lithuanian embassy in London, record label Toccata Classics
Toccata Classics
Toccata Classics is an independent British classic music label founded in 2005.The founder of Toccata Classics is Martin Anderson, a music journalist. The label was founded primarily to promote unrecorded works by lesser-known composers, including British composers...
released an album of the composers works entitled "Peteris Plakidis: Music for String Orchestra" on which the composer was pianist. Reviews include a description of "Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani" as a "Bartók
Béla Bartók
Béla Viktor János Bartók was a Hungarian composer and pianist. He is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and is regarded, along with Liszt, as Hungary's greatest composer...
inspired (...) vehicle for nationalist and separatist feeling".
Selected works
Orchestral- Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani (1969)
- Atskatīšanās (Glance Back) for orchestra (1991)
- Dziedājums (Canto) for orchestra (1986)
- Dziedoša prelūdija un dancojoša fūga (Singing Prelude and Dancing Fugue) for orchestra (1994)
- Legend for orchestra (1976)
- Variations for Orchestra (1996)
Concertante
- Sasaukšanās (Interplay), Concerto for piccolo, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, horn and orchestra (1977)
- Concerto for Two Oboes and String Orchestra (1982)
- Koncerts balāde (Concerto Ballade) for two violins, piano and string orchestra (1984)
- Concerto da camera for string orchestra, two off-stage violins and piano (1992)
- Intrada for clarinet and orchestra (1992)
- Vēl viena Vēbera opera (One More Weber Opera) for clarinet and orchestra (1993)
- Brīvdabas mūzika (Open-Air Music) for violin and orchestra (2003)
- Pasticcio à la Rossini for cello and string orchestra (2006)
Chamber music
- Prelūdija un pulsācija (Prelude and Pulsation) for wind quintet (1975)
- Divas variācijas (Two Variations) for cello solo (1976)
- Detektīva epizode (Episode from a Crime Story) for violin, bassoon, cello and piano (1977)
- Divas skices (Two Sketches) for oboe solo (1977)
- Divas sienāža dejas (Two Grasshopper Dances), 2 children's pieces for violin (1978)
- Mazs koncerts (Little Concerto) for 2 violins (1991)
- Nakts sarunas (Night Conversations) for clarinet and piano (1992)
- Bezmiegs (Sleeplessness) for clarinet, cello and piano (1997)
- Ēnu dejas (Dances of the Shadows) for viola and piano (2007)
Vocal
- Div' buramdziesmas (Two Magical Songs) for mixed choir (1980)
- Fatamorgana for mixed choir (1980)
- Nolemtība (Destiny), choral symphony for mixed choir (1985)
- In Memoriam for mixed choir (1990); words by Broņislava Martuževa
- Dziesmas vējam un asinīm (Songs for the Wind and Blood) for mezzo-soprano and string orchestra (1991)
- Mūžība (Eternity) for mixed choir (1998); words by Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš