Musica Baltica
Encyclopedia
Musica Baltica is the trading name of Sia “Musica Baltica”, a music publisher based in Riga
, Latvia
also with an office in London
, United Kingdom. At the time of writing (2008) Musica Baltica publishes the works of over 60 contemporary composers, mostly in the fields of classical and academic music. Composers represented include Peteris Plakidis
, Rihards Dubra
, Andris Dzenitis, Arturs Maskats and Eriks Esenvalds. Musica Baltica is the largest music publisher in the Baltic States
specializing in such contemporary repertoire. Musica Baltica also publishes volumes of collected works, perhaps the most notable of which is the collected works of Jazeps Vitols
, the second volume of this edition is expected to be published in the summer of 2008. Musica Baltica also publishes academic books on musical subjects, mainly in the Latvian language
, as well as education material for use in Latvian schools.
with a masters degree in Ethnomusicology
. Lilija Zobens was awarded the Order of the Three Stars
by the Latvian state in 2008. She runs the office in London. Solvita Sejane was born in Latvia, graduated in music pedagogy at the Jazeps Vitols Music Academy, and later studied historical musicology at King's. She runs the office and studio in Riga.
1994, Peteris Plakidis
1995, Rihards Dubra
1995, Pauls Dambis 1998.
The first collection published by Musica Baltica appeared in 1995 and was Volume II (1918-1940) in the series “Anthology of Latvian Chorus Songs” edited by Arnolds Klotins. Volume 1 had been prepared during in Soviet times. The series was however superseded when the editorial team established a dedicated publishing company Sia “Sol” with links to the Latvian Choir “Ave Sol” and produced a new series starting again from the beginning with accompanying recordings.
Musica Baltica diversified very early in its history into the publication of music textbooks for use in junior music schools. This helped fill a gap left in music education materials by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Very successful was a series started in 1994 and written by Ligita Rosenberga and Irene Nelsona, which concentrated on the use of natural speech rhythms in music and contained many activities based on folk songs
, and included other elements of Latvian music.
Musica Baltica also initiated a series of early music publications "Musica Rigensis" timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the city of Riga
. This included the publication of a 6-voice through composed passion
(1587 re-published 1995) and various motets (1583 re-published 1996) by Paulus Bucenus Philorodus and a setting of Cantate Domino by Martinus Crusius (1596 republished 1996).
In 1998 Musica Baltica commemorated the 95th birthday of the composer Helmers Pavasars with the first volume of his collected works; unaccompanied songs for mixed choir.
Work on the promotion of contemporary Baltic composers surged forward at the beginning of the 21st century. In 2005 Musica Baltica exhibited at MIDEM
, and each year since 2004 at the Frankfurt Musikmesse. In 2005 Musica Baltica formed an alliance with Schott Music International
of Mainz, Germany, which made Musica Baltica's entire hire library of orchestral performance material available via Schott.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, 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...
also with an office in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, United Kingdom. At the time of writing (2008) Musica Baltica publishes the works of over 60 contemporary composers, mostly in the fields of classical and academic music. Composers represented include Peteris Plakidis
Peteris Plakidis
Pēteris Plakidis is a Latvian composer and pianist.-Early life:Plakidis was educated at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music before studying as an undergraduate in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols State Conservatory...
, Rihards Dubra
Rihards Dubra
Rihards Dubra is a Latvian composer. Several of his works are religious influenced, including a Te Deum and an Alma Redemptoris Mater for soprano saxophone, choir, and organ...
, Andris Dzenitis, Arturs Maskats and Eriks Esenvalds. Musica Baltica is the largest music publisher in the Baltic States
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
specializing in such contemporary repertoire. Musica Baltica also publishes volumes of collected works, perhaps the most notable of which is the collected works of Jazeps Vitols
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...
, the second volume of this edition is expected to be published in the summer of 2008. Musica Baltica also publishes academic books on musical subjects, mainly in the Latvian language
Latvian language
Latvian is the official state language of Latvia. It is also sometimes referred to as Lettish. There are about 1.4 million native Latvian speakers in Latvia and about 150,000 abroad. The Latvian language has a relatively large number of non-native speakers, atypical for a small language...
, as well as education material for use in Latvian schools.
Founders
Musica Baltica was founded in 1994 by two music professionals, Lilija Zobens and Solvita Sejane. Lilija Zobens was born in the UK of a Latvian expatriate family. She graduated King's College LondonKing's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
with a masters degree in Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is defined as "the study of social and cultural aspects of music and dance in local and global contexts."Coined by the musician Jaap Kunst from the Greek words ἔθνος ethnos and μουσική mousike , it is often considered the anthropology or ethnography of music...
. Lilija Zobens was awarded the Order of the Three Stars
Order of the Three Stars
Order of the Three Stars is order awarded for merits in service for Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra"...
by the Latvian state in 2008. She runs the office in London. Solvita Sejane was born in Latvia, graduated in music pedagogy at the Jazeps Vitols Music Academy, and later studied historical musicology at King's. She runs the office and studio in Riga.
History
Musical Baltica was formed to provide a commercial outlet for the works of contemporary Baltic composers, especially from Latvia. The first composers to appear in Musica Baltica printed editions were by Ilona BregeIlona Brege
Ilona Breģe is a composer, pianist and musicologist. She graduated the Latvian Music Academy as pianist and composer , Doctor of Art ....
1994, Peteris Plakidis
Peteris Plakidis
Pēteris Plakidis is a Latvian composer and pianist.-Early life:Plakidis was educated at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music before studying as an undergraduate in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols State Conservatory...
1995, Rihards Dubra
Rihards Dubra
Rihards Dubra is a Latvian composer. Several of his works are religious influenced, including a Te Deum and an Alma Redemptoris Mater for soprano saxophone, choir, and organ...
1995, Pauls Dambis 1998.
The first collection published by Musica Baltica appeared in 1995 and was Volume II (1918-1940) in the series “Anthology of Latvian Chorus Songs” edited by Arnolds Klotins. Volume 1 had been prepared during in Soviet times. The series was however superseded when the editorial team established a dedicated publishing company Sia “Sol” with links to the Latvian Choir “Ave Sol” and produced a new series starting again from the beginning with accompanying recordings.
Musica Baltica diversified very early in its history into the publication of music textbooks for use in junior music schools. This helped fill a gap left in music education materials by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Very successful was a series started in 1994 and written by Ligita Rosenberga and Irene Nelsona, which concentrated on the use of natural speech rhythms in music and contained many activities based on folk songs
Traditional music
Traditional music is the term increasingly used for folk music that is not contemporary folk music. More on this is at the terminology section of the World music article...
, and included other elements of Latvian music.
Musica Baltica also initiated a series of early music publications "Musica Rigensis" timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the city of Riga
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
. This included the publication of a 6-voice through composed passion
Passion music
In church music, Passion is a term for sung musical settings, normally at least partly choral, of the Gospel texts covering the Passion of Jesus, the events leading up to the Crucifixion of Jesus, and emphasising his suffering...
(1587 re-published 1995) and various motets (1583 re-published 1996) by Paulus Bucenus Philorodus and a setting of Cantate Domino by Martinus Crusius (1596 republished 1996).
In 1998 Musica Baltica commemorated the 95th birthday of the composer Helmers Pavasars with the first volume of his collected works; unaccompanied songs for mixed choir.
Work on the promotion of contemporary Baltic composers surged forward at the beginning of the 21st century. In 2005 Musica Baltica exhibited at MIDEM
Midem
-MIDEM:Short for Marché International du Disque et de l'Edition Musicale, MIDEM is the world's largest music industry trade fair, which has been held annually at and around the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, since 1967...
, and each year since 2004 at the Frankfurt Musikmesse. In 2005 Musica Baltica formed an alliance with Schott Music International
Schott Music
Schott Music is one of the oldest German music publishers. It is also one of the largest music publishing houses in Europe and is currently the second oldest music publishing house. The company headquarters of Schott Music was founded by Bernhard Schott in Mainz, Germany in 1770.Established in...
of Mainz, Germany, which made Musica Baltica's entire hire library of orchestral performance material available via Schott.