Solo Songs, 1900–1949, by Composer Alfrēds Kalniņš (1879–1951)

Kalniņš was born into a poor rural family near Cēsis in Vidzeme and went on to study organ playing and composition at the St. Petersburg Conservatorium. He was both a man of the world, a friend of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and other. Free of sentiment and melodrama, his songs have been said to be music for people who know how to listen, evoking moods, episodes, historical scenes and paintings.

In his songs, melody did not play a dominant role. Rather, he drew on a myriad of psychological approaches and stylistic harmonies, which has led to comparisons between his works and those of Richard Strauss and Claude Debussy.

The archives of national broadcaster Latvijas Radio include recordings of Kalniņš’ songs by outstanding singers from various periods, including Mirdza Kalniņa (1932−2005), Maija Krīgena (1939), Jānis Sproģis (1944) and Kārlis Zariņš (1930−2015), as well as a legendary rendition of “I Wonder” (Brīnos es) by Jānis Zābers (1935−1973). The poets whose works he put to music included Aspazija (1865−1943), Fricis Bārda (1880−1919), Kārlis Skalbe (1879−1945) and Rainis (1865−1929).

In addition to his solo songs, Kalniņš also composed symphonic works, piano pieces, ballet score, cantatas, and arranged folk songs and choir music. He also wrote the score for one of the first important operas in the Latvian language, “Baņuta” (1918, premiere 1920), followed by another opera “The Islanders” (Salinieki), second redaction under the title “The Homeland’s Awakening” (Dzimtenes atmoda). In 1926 he was the Head Conductor for the VI All Latvian Song Celebration. He was also a highly regarded church organist and educator, becoming rector of the Latvian State Music Academy at the end of his life.

In his day, Kalniņš headed the Central Library of Music Scores, and the Music Reading Room at the current National Library of Latvia is named in his honour. The music secondary school in Cēsis is also named after him.

Filips Birzulis