Imants Kalniņš facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Imants Kalniņš
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| Background information | |
| Born | 26 May 1941 |
| Origin | Riga, Latvian SSR (now Latvia) |
| Genres | Classical music, Choral music, Rock music |
| Occupation(s) | composer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1964–present |
Imants Kalniņš (born May 26, 1941) is a famous Latvian composer, musician, and politician. He studied classical and choral music. He has written many different types of music. This includes seven symphonies, several operas, and music for movies and plays. One of his operas was the first rock opera in the USSR. He is most famous for his rock songs. In 2021, he won a special award for his lifetime work in music.
He also served as a member of the Latvian parliament, called the Saeima. He was a politician from 1993 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 2010. He represented the For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK party.
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Imants Kalniņš's Life and Music
Imants Kalniņš was born in Riga, Latvian SSR, on May 26, 1941. In the 1960s, Kalniņš led a rock band called 2xBBM in Liepāja. People loved this band because of its heartfelt songs and hippie-like style. Kalniņš became a symbol for his generation's spirit and ideas.
The band had to stop playing because of pressure from official groups. However, Kalniņš's music continued to be played by another very popular band called Menuets. This band mostly played songs written by Kalniņš.
Music in the 1970s and 1980s
In the 1970s, Kalniņš started writing symphonic music again. In 1984, he wrote a rock oratorio called Kā jūra, kā zeme, kā debess. This means Like the sea, like the earth, like the sky. He wrote it with Juris Kulakovs and Juris Sējāns.
This oratorio was the first public performance by the band Pērkons. With Pērkons, Kalniņš returned to rock and roll. He wrote many new songs for them. These songs led him to start his own band, Turaidas Roze, in 1985. However, this band did not become as famous as Menuets or Pērkons.
Role in the Singing Revolution
During the Singing Revolution, Kalniņš was very active in the Popular Front of Latvia. This group played a key role in helping Latvia become independent from the USSR.
The Imantdienas Festival
The festival most connected with Kalniņš is called Imantdienas. This means 'The Days of Imants'. It was very popular during the Soviet times, so it was banned.
The festival started again in 1995. Since then, it has happened every year. The only exceptions were 1997, when Kalniņš was traveling, and 2009, after a financial crisis. The festival is still as popular as it was before.
Recent Music Projects
Recently, Imants Kalniņš has worked with the well-known Latvian musician Ainars Mielavs. They have released several albums together. These albums mostly feature music by Kalniņš. Some of these albums include Par lietām, kas tā ar' nekad nepāriet (1997), Es redzēju sapnī (1998), and I Love You (1999). Even though I Love You has an English title, most of its songs are in Latvian.
In 2000, the music for the 1973 movie "Blow, Wind" was re-recorded. The Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and many famous singers performed it.
In 1973, Kalniņš composed the song "In the city where the wind is born". This song became the official anthem of Liepāja in 1999.
In April 2015, some news reports said that Kalniņš had converted to Islam. This happened after he translated the Quran from Arabic to Latvian. However, Kalniņš himself later said these claims were not true.
Imants Kalniņš's Family Life
Imants Kalniņš has been married and has seven children. His third marriage was to the actress Helga Dancberga, who passed away in 2019. They had three children together. These include Dana Kalniņa-Zaķe, who leads a health care chaplain association, actress Rēzija Kalniņa, and pastor Krists Kalniņš. Since 1999, he has been married to Agra.
Musical Works by Imants Kalniņš
Orchestral Music
Symphonies
- No. 1 (1964)
- No. 2 (1965)
- No. 3 (1968)
- No. 4 with Soprano (1973)
- No. 4 (revised without singer)
- No. 5 (1979)
- No. 6 with Choir (2001)
- No. 7 (2015)
Concertos
- Concerto for Cello (1963)
- Concerto for Orchestra (1966)
- Concerto for Oboe (2012)
Other Orchestral Works
- Symphonic Miniature, Santa Cruz (2015)
Vocal Music
Oratorios
- October Oratorio (1967)
- The Poet and the Mermaid
- Morning Hours
Rock Operas
- Hello, Out There (Ei, jūs turl!) (1971)
- I Played, I Danced
Incidental Music for Theater
- The Prince and The Pauper
- The Three Musketeers
- Motorcycle (based on poetry by Imants Ziedonis) (1967)
Film Music
- Blow, Wind (Pūt, vējiņi!) (1973)
