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Pēteris Vasks at 70

Apr. 01, 2016

Pēteris Vasks at 70

We send our warmest wishes to Pēteris Vasks on the occasion of his 70th birthday on April 16. Vasks is a passionate ambassador for the music of his native country Latvia. The son of a prominent Baptist pastor, Vasks began his career as a double bassist before devoting himself entirely to composition in the 1970’s. Under Soviet rule, Vasks was subject to repression for his religious beliefs and artistic convictions; today he enjoys international recognition. His works are performed around the world by major artists and used frequently in ballet. In his choral and instrumental works alike, he incorporates archaic, folkloristic elements from his native country in a fascinating juxtaposition with contemporary music language. 

Vasks addresses a broad spectrum of subjects through his music, ranging from the beauty of nature and life to the ecological and moral destruction of the world. Over time, his desire for peace has increasingly developed into the overriding theme of his compositions, as in his latest work Da pacem, Domine which receives its world premiere at the Riga Cathedral in Latvia on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

For more information on Pēteris Vasks visit schott-music.com.

Pēteris Vasks
Da pacem, Domine (2016)
for mixed choir and string orchestra
text (Lat.) after a Gregorian antiphon from the 9th century
10’

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