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Lūcija Garūta. Apple tree. CD
03.11.2023., LMIC
Lūcija Garūta • Latvian Radio Choir • Sigvards Kļava • 2023
Lūcija Garūta (1902–1977) is one of the first Latvian professional composers (women), who wrote dozens of a cappella chord songs. And only now with this album we experience several premieres of songs. Like many composers who were born in the beginning of the 20th century in Latvia and survived the times of occupation, L. Garūta’s work can be divided into before and after the Second World War. About the young composer, who was educated in Paris (1926–1928) in addition to her studies at the Latvian Conservatory, in the memories of her contemporaries in the 1930s, we read that L. Garūta’s solo song evenings, in which the composer herself sat at the piano, accompanying the most brilliant soloists of that time – soprano Milda Brehmane-Štengele, mezzo-soprano Herta Lūse, tenor Mariss Vētra and baritone Ādolfs Kaktiņš – were full of standing ovations. L. Garūta was enraptured by the unusual interplay of ideas between the most current in the world of music, bravely defending even the ideas of the French “Six”, and between the faithful string tension of Latvian music, especially celebrating the Latvian folk song.
Kristiāna Vaickovska
Sacred Love. CD
28.04.2023, LMIC
Lūcija Garūta • Māris Skuja • Jūlija Vasiļjeva • 2023
In music research circles, Lucija Garutas is often referred to as the Latvian Germaine Tailleferre, known as the composer of the French Les six. The reference is not accidental. Already in the early years of her studies, L. Garuta had a dream of music education abroad, she was especially interested in the new winds blowing from France. After years of study at the Latvian Conservatory, the young musician fulfilled her dream not only of studies, but also got to know the concert life of Paris (1926). Lucija Garut studied piano with prominent French musicians: Alfred Cortot and Isidor Philipp, who was a good friend of composer Claude-Achille Debussy. L. Garutas learned instrumentation from composer, conductor and music critic Paul Le Flem. Visiting Paris for the second time (1928), Lucija Garut continued her composition studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique under Paul Dukas, whose students include such composers as Maurice Duruflé and Olivier Messiaen.
Lucija Garutas is one of the first female composers, with an unusual aesthetic vision rooted in a deep love for Latvian, but at the same time with a desire for a worldly breath. In many ways, L.Garuta had already filled important pages in the history of Latvian music in the pre-war years in the genres of chamber music. I would like to claim that the composer’s talent and capabilities, if the Second World War had not started, would have gained at least the fame of Tayfera, maybe even more… But that was not the composer’s concern. It seems that Lucija Garutas realized early on that her earthly path leads to the stars, as the poet Zenta Mauriņa beautifully put it into words: “Starry – that’s what I call Lucija Garutas in the spirit. Her music takes you from the earth, it lifts you towards the stars and the sun. Her music has the power of tenderness, which purifies and explains”.
Kristiāna Vaickovska
Music for Piano. CD
2018, SKANI
Lūcija Garūta • Reinis Zariņš • Liepāja Symphony Orchestra
• Atvars Lakstigala • 2018 • 1 hr 13min
“Music is the breath of the soul” — that’s what Lūcija Garūta said. And in my view, she has done just that – she has written when her soul does not allow her not to write.
“This album and my encounter with Garūta’s world began right at the Piano Concerto. It is a truly important and special work among Latvian piano concertos because of its poignant truth, and although it is clear that it is a very personal message, at times I also hear the voice of the heartache of the entire nation. Perhaps it comes from the presence of folk song melodies, as they acquire timeless, universal overtones in this music. Similar power to the melody and words of the folk song is also found in the Variations, which stand on the other side of the album like a monumental beacon. Both of these large-scale works are a living testimony to the author’s indestructible faith in a bright future, even if it can only be found in eternity.
Garūta’s femininity and courage, fragility and strength also permeate the miniatures included in the album. Four Preludes is a truly masterful opus close to Scriabin’s colors, which simultaneously unites and also contrasts its four different characters. “Meditation” in the piano version allows you to get closer to the author’s soul again. And the final little song “Lellītes aiju dziesmiņa” “came” to me completely (accidentally) – once when I was visiting Garūta’s apartment in the center of Riga, I opened an album of her pictures and a small page with this song, lightly sketched with a pencil, fell out of it. And dedicated to the same girl, in whose memory the Piano Concerto was written 7 years later.
This year marks 40 years since Lūcija Garūta herself passed away. Therefore, I would like to express my gratitude to Daina Pormalei, Garūta’s sister’s granddaughter, who has carried the legacy of Lūcītis spirit to future generations, including me, with constant care and love.
In short, Garūta reminds me to strive to stay true – and for that I thank her.”
Reinis Zariņš
Other Colours: Latvian Composers for Flute. CD
Dzintra Erliha and Ilona Meija, 2013-2016, SKANI
This album – from miniatures to more elaborate compositions, from our classics to the compositions of the newest generation of composers – invites you on a very far journey – both by joining the musicians in a canoe, and by a flock of migratory birds on a flight over Latvia, and by boarding a modern aircraft to travel to the distant lands of the south. “When you start playing, everything is clear – what is your soul and what is in your head”, said Ilona May. And invites us to hear it.
Dzintra Erliha , 2010
The name of the composer Lūcija Garūta is mainly associated with the cantata Dievs, Tava zeme deg (1943, text by Andrejs Eglītis), but many pearls of vocal and instrumental chamber music created by the composer have not yet been discovered by a wider audience. The number of Garūta’s solo songs exceeds 200, while several valuable and historically significant works were created in the genre of instrumental chamber music, including the unique Four Etudes for Steinway long-tone pedal (1933/1956) in Latvian and world music. The chamber miniatures included in this volume have been recorded by Baiba Berķe (mezzo-soprano), Dzintra Erliha (piano), Ilona Meija (flute), Tatjana Ostrovska (violin), Ivars Bezprozvanovs (cello), Aivars Krancmanis (baritone), Krišjānis Norvelis (bass) and Ingus Pētersons ( tenor).
Dzintra Erliha , 2008
Andrejs Eglītis • Lūcija Garūta • Rīgas kamerkoris Ave sol
• Apgāds “Valters un Rapa” , 2007
An edition of Latvian poetry and music has been prepared in the anniversary year of the poet Andrejs Eglītis and the composer Lūcija Garūta. With a book in which you can read the cantata “God, Your land is on fire!” poetry, its recitations in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Japanese, a music disc with a recording of a cantata made in 2005 performed by the Riga Chamber Choir “Ave Sol” has also been released.
The publication originally published the works “Prayer” and “Fragment of Cantata” by Andrejs Eglītis submitted to the competition announced by Kuldīga parish, as well as the poet’s completed and improved cantata “God, Thy Earth is Aflame!” text. The collection includes new retellings of the cantata text: English by Edvīns Ivsiņš, German by Matiass Knolls and Gunters Strotmans, French by Astra Skrābane and Rosa Marija Fransuā, Italian by Pjetro Trillo, Spanish by Andris Kārkliņš, Japanese by Ajumi Kurosava.
DVD release in Japan, Jasarac, Yasunori Kikuchi, 2004
December 23 – Japan premiere recording in Tokyo. In the church “Kristus Shinagva Church” Participating: Choir Zemene. Conductor Masahito Osada, Yasuharu Fukishima (tenor), Jeffrey D. Tremblay (baritones, USA), Miki Asai (organ) L. Garūta’s “Meditation” for organ.
Andrejs Eglītis • Lūcija Garūta • Rīgas kamerkoris Ave sol
• 2003
Jānis Sproģis/ tenor, Aivars Krancmanis/ baritone, Aivars Kalējs/ Riga Doma organ, Ave Sol chamber choir and conductor Imants Kokars.
State Choir LATVIJA, 1999
Track 16 is organ only.
Recorded at Riga Dome Cathedral 1998.
Released Austria
Melodija, 1989
Ambiente Musikproduktion, Toms Spoģis, 1987
Baritone Vocals – Raimonds Spoģis Design – Juris Soikans Leader – Marks Opeskins Organ – Brigita Mieze Tenor Vocals – Kārlis Dēdelis
German Latvian Chamber Choir Dudas
Lettischer Kammerchor Bagpipes
Recorded in 1987. On June 12 and 13, in Osnabrik, in the Church of Joseph.
Aufgenommen am 12. und 13. Juni 1987 in der St.Joseph Kirche, Osnabrück.
Rīga: Melodija, 1971
Art Direction – Aleksandrs Grīva Artwork – Uldis Razums Chorus – Latvijas Radio T. Kalniņa Koris* Composed By – Lūcija Garūta Conductor – L. Vīgners* Engineer [Skaņu Ieraksta Inženieris] – Oļģerts Liepiņš Engineer [Skaņu Režisors] – Jurijs Kokžajans Liner Notes – Vizbulīte Bērziņa Lyrics By – Rainis Mezzo-soprano Vocals – L. Daine* Orchestra – Latvijas Radio Simfoniskais Orķestris* Tenor Vocals – J. Zābers*
Recorded in 1968 State Philharmonic Orchestra, Latvian Radio Teodora Kalniņa Choir, Leonarda Daine (mezzo-soprano), Jānis Zābers (tenor), Latvian conductor Leonids Vīgners
RAF «Raiņa un Aspazijas Fonds» (This album was released with the support of the Latvian Foundation), 1982
Composed By – Lūcija Garūta Conductor [Choir] – Teodors Reiters Design – Niklavs Strunke Lead Vocals – Mariss Vētra, Ādolfs Kaktiņš Lyrics By – Andrejs Eglītīs* Organ – Lūcija Garūta
Enclosed 2 inserts with lyrics and liner notes.
Rīga: Melodija, 1981
Kārlis Zariņš (tenor), Heine-Vagnere (soprano, Pēteris Grāvelis (baritone), Leonarda Daine (mezzo-soprano), Inta Villeruša (piano), Vilma Cīrule (piano), Māris Skuja (piano), Uldis Spružs (violin), Pēteris Sīpolnieks (organ), State Symphony Orchestra of the Latvian SSR), conductor Romualds Kalsons / Riga Sound Recording Studio.
Melodija, 1974
Songs for children.
