Pēteris Plakidis Explained

Birth Date:4 March 1947
Birth Place:Riga, Latvia
Background:non_vocal_instrumentalist
Occupation:Composer, pianist
Instrument:Piano
Genre:Classical

Pēteris Plakidis (4 March 1947 – 8 August 2017) was a Latvian composer and pianist.

Early life

Plakidis was born on 4 March 1947 in Riga, Latvia. He was educated at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music before studying as an undergraduate in the Composition Department at the Jāzeps Vītols State Conservatory (now the Latvian Academy of Music). He graduated in 1970, having been taught by composers Jānis Ivanovs and Valentīns Utkins. Plakidis undertook further postgraduate study at the conservatory, which he completed in 1975.

Career

From 1969 to 1974, before he had graduated, Plakidis held the post of musical director for the Latvian National Theatre. Since 1975 he has been a tutor in the composition department at the Latvian Academy of Music, and in 1991 he became professor of composition. Plakidis has received much recognition as a composer. In 1969 he received a diploma at the All-Union Young Composers' Competition, for his composition "Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani" and in 1982 was awarded the title of Honoured Artist. He was the recipient of the Jānis Ivanovs Prize in 1987 and in 1990 he was awarded the title of "People's Artist". In 1996, Plakidis won the Latvian Grand Music Award for "Variations for Orchestra".[1]

Music

Plakidis's music is often part of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra's repertoire,[2] and he was commissioned to write orchestral works for their 60th, 65th and 70th anniversaries. His works have also been performed by the New York University Chamber Music Society who performed "Pastorale". The New York Times described the piano part as "couched in brash, clustered harmonies" and the piece as "fascinating".[3] "Distant Song" has featured as a piano piece for ABRSM exams.[4]

On 26 July 2007, at the Lithuanian embassy in London, record label Toccata Classics released an album of the composer's works entitled "Peteris Plakidis: Music for String Orchestra" on which the composer was pianist.[5] Reviews include a description of "Music for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani" as a "Bartók inspired (...) vehicle for nationalist and separatist feeling".[6]

Personal life

Plakidis was married to opera and concert singer Maija Krīgena. He died on 8 August 2017.[7]

Selected works

Orchestral

Concertante

Chamber music

Vocal

References

General
Specific

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Great Music Award: Laureates - 1996. Music in Latvia. 2008-09-09.
  2. Web site: Music in Latvia: Orchestral Voices United in Harmony. Online Latvia. The Latvian Institute. 2008-09-09.
  3. Web site: Review/Music; Merkin Program of Works by Baltic Composers. Kozinn. Allan. 1990-02-27. The New York Times. 2008-09-09.
  4. Web site: Spectrum 3. ABRSM Publishing. ABRSM. 2008-09-09.
  5. Web site: CDs on Toccata Classics by Pēteris Plakidis. Toccata Classics. 2008-09-09.
  6. Web site: The sound of resistance. Jones. Rick. 2007-07-05. New Statesman. 2008-09-09.
  7. News: In memoriam. Pēteris Plakidis (04.03.1947-08.08.2017) . Latvian . LSM.lv . 2017-08-08.
  8. News: The ten most important musical works of Latvia's centenary . 31 August 2018 . . 1 August 2018.

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