Latvian rock
Encyclopedia
Latvian rock
has been an important part of Latvia
's music scene since the 1980s, when it was a part of the discontents of Soviet
rule.
The city of Liepāja
has an especially active rock scene. Līvi, Credo and Remix
are from Liepāja
, as are rock composers Imants Kalniņš
and Zigmars Liepiņš
.
In the 1980s, Pērkons
played a pompous sort of hard rock that was popular with audiences. Underground studio-based groups NSRD
and Dzeltenie Pastnieki
introduced extensive use of electronic instrumentation, while Zig Zag and Aurora brought guitar-based post-punk
tendencies (though about ten years after the fact).
In 1988, rock opera
Lāčplēsis
by Zigmars Liepiņš and Māra Zālīte, based on the national epic
, became a hit, with Igo (Rodrigo Fomins) in the title role of Lāčplēsis.
Inokentijs Mārpls, Baložu Pilni Pagalmi and Sirke are among the most important acts within the later alternative scene.
In the 2000s Olive Mess
reached international success in the progressive rock
scene.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
has been an important part of Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
's music scene since the 1980s, when it was a part of the discontents of Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
rule.
The city of Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
has an especially active rock scene. Līvi, Credo and Remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
are from Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
, as are rock composers Imants Kalniņš
Imants Kalninš
Imants Kalniņš is one of the most important composers in the history of Latvian music. Having studied classical, as well as choral music, he has written six symphonies, several operas , oratorios, cantatas, choir songs, a lot of movie and theater music...
and Zigmars Liepiņš
Zigmars Liepinš
Zigmārs Liepiņš is a Latvian composer.-Works:*Lāčplēsis, rock opera*Adata, musical drama-References:...
.
In the 1980s, Pērkons
Perkons (band)
Pērkons was one of the most important and scandalous Latvian rock bands of the 1980s and is still performing in concerts. The group's lineup was Juris Kulakovs , Juris Sējāns , Leons Sējāns , Ieva Akurātere , Raimonds Bartaševics , Dainis Strazdiņš .At first, Pērkons played two completely...
played a pompous sort of hard rock that was popular with audiences. Underground studio-based groups NSRD
NSRD
NSRD or Nebijušu Sajūtu Restaurēšanas Darbnīca was a musical group from Latvia. They played experimental/electronic music with influences of New Wave and New Age....
and Dzeltenie Pastnieki
Dzeltenie Pastnieki
Dzeltenie Pastnieki are a Latvian band formed in 1981 in Riga, Latvia. Their name means "the yellow postmen" in Latvian, and is sometimes abbreviated to DzP. They were among the pioneers of new wave as well as reggae in the former Soviet Union...
introduced extensive use of electronic instrumentation, while Zig Zag and Aurora brought guitar-based post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
tendencies (though about ten years after the fact).
In 1988, rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
Lāčplēsis
Lacplesis (rock opera)
The rock opera Lāčplēsis is a Latvian musical based on the Latvian national epic Lāčplēsis. The libretto was written in 1986/87 by Māra Zālīte, with music composed by Zigmārs Liepiņš. It premiered in Riga on 23 August 1988...
by Zigmars Liepiņš and Māra Zālīte, based on the national epic
Lacplesis
Lāčplēsis is an epic poem by Andrejs Pumpurs, a Latvian poet, who wrote it between 1872-1887 based on local legends. Lāčplēsis is regarded as the Latvian national epic.-Synopsis:...
, became a hit, with Igo (Rodrigo Fomins) in the title role of Lāčplēsis.
Inokentijs Mārpls, Baložu Pilni Pagalmi and Sirke are among the most important acts within the later alternative scene.
In the 2000s Olive Mess
Olive Mess
Olive Mess is a progressive rock band from Latvia singing in English, one of the most famous Baltic progressive rock bands.-History:The band was formed in 1998 by Denis Arsenin , Edgar Kempish and Alexey Syomin ....
reached international success in the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
scene.