Janis Kalnins

Kalnins, Janis
Kalnins, Janis. Conductor, composer, organist-choirmaster, b Pärnu, Estonia, of Latvian parents, 3 Nov 1904, naturalized Canadian 1954, d Fredericton 30 Nov 2000; honorary D MUS (Mount Allison) 1981. His father, Alfreds Kalnins, an organist, conductor, and composer, was one of Latvia's most prominent musicians of his time. After early studies 1920-4 in composition with J. Vitols and conducting at the Latvian State Conservatory in Riga, Janis Kalnins studied with Erich Kleiber in Salzburg and with Hermann Abendroth and Leo Blech in Berlin. He conducted 1923-33 at the Latvian National Theatre and 1933-44 at the Latvian National Opera and was a guest conductor in Sweden (Royal Opera House, Stockholm), Germany, and Poland.

He moved to Canada in 1948 to become organist-choirmaster at St Paul's United Church in Fredericton, NB, and retained the position for over 40 years, becoming organist emeritus in 1991. In 1951 he was appointed conductor of the Fredericton Civic Orchestra and instructor in music education at the provincial teachers' college, holding the latter position until 1971. He was the sole conductor of the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra (1962-8) and also conducted orchestras in Latvian festivals throughout North America. In 1978 he conducted the Windsor Symphony Orchestra in his own Third Symphony and New Brunswick Rhapsody.

Kalnins wrote with facility in all the principal forms, and his style blends romantic and modern elements. He received commissions from the CMEA (Symphonic Poem), from the New Brunswick Bicentennial Commission (New Brunswick Song Cycle), and St. Paul's United Church, Fredericton (Psalm 150, 1990) as well as several from the Latvian Song Festival Committee. His last major work was Requiem (1988-1991).

The North American Latvian community honoured Kalnins on his 80th birthday with three concerts (Toronto, Chicago, and New York) which featured his works; a special 1985 Fredericton concert saluting his life and works was broadcast on the CBC. His Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra was premiered by Arthur Ozolins 6 Jul 1986 at the eighth Latvian Song Festival, held in Toronto. He received a New Brunswick award for excellence in the arts in 1984. He was buried in his homeland, where a memorial concert was held July 2001 as part of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival. Kalnins' choral music can be heard on recordings by the Riga Chamber Choir, Ave Sol (Anthology of Latvian Choir Music, Part 2, Following the Stars, and Part 3, Reach for the Sun; and Janis Kalnins, DCM Sweden AG 9506, 1995 and, under the same name, BAF 9611, 1996.)

Selected Compositions
Orchestra

Two Latvian Peasant Dances. 1936. UE 1937

4 Symphonies (1939-44, 1953, 1973, 1977). All manuscript

Concerto in F-Sharp Minor. 1946. Vn, orch. Ms

Music for String Orchestra. 1965. Ms

New Brunswick Rhapsody. 1967. Ms

The Long Night (Velta Toma). Nd. SATB, orch. Ms. Kaibala 30C01-A-B

Symphonic Poem (Carmen).1982. SATB, orch. Ms

Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra. 1984. Ms

Chamber
Sonata for Oboe and Piano. 1963. Ms

Two Shepherd Songs for voice, oboe, and piano (traditional). 1963. Ms

String Quartet in G-Sharp Minor. Nd. Ms

Trio for Violin, Viola and Cello. 1979. Ms

Sonata No. 2 for Organ. 1981. Ms

Three Preludes for Organ. 1983. Ms

Piano Quintet. 1987. Ms

Some works for violin and piano, including Klusa Stunda (1968), Larghetto Serioso (1975), and Sonata (1975). All manuscript

Choir and Voice
'The Bird's Lullaby' (E. Pauline Johnson). 1950. FH 1951

'The Lord's Prayer' and 'When Jesus Came to Birmingham.' Ca 1954. FH 1954

The Potter's Field (Bible), cantata. SATB, organ. Ms

Latvijai (E. Raisters). 1976. Women's voices, string quintet. Ms

New Brunswick Song Cycle (Cogswell, Comeau, Carmen, LeBlanc, Smith). 1984. Ms

Trimdinieku Vakardziesma (Krŭminš), cantata. 1988. Solo voice, SATB, orch. Ms

Requiem in E Minor. Sop, bar, SATB, piano (organ or orch). Ms

Also 4 operas: Unguni and Lolita's Magic Bird (1933); In the Fire (1934); Hamlet (1935). All manuscript. ('Christina's Song' from Unguni) DVRV 6621191 (L. Petersone mezzo, N. Zalite piano). A few works for organ and several for piano

Author Robert C. Bayley, Betty Nygaard King

Bibliography

'Janis Kalnins,' Atlantic Advocate, vol 48, May 1958

'Orchestra-conductor,' ibid, vol 52, Aug 1962

Phillips, Fred H. 'Eminent conductor, Janis Kalnins, leads New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra,' PfAC, Winter 1963

Hoyt, Don. 'Janis Kalnins: still making music at 80,' Saint John Telegraph Journal, 12 Oct 1985

Links to Other Sites
Janis Kalnins
Brief profile of musician and educator Janis Kalnins. From the Faces of Our World website.

Janis Kalnins
See a biography of Janis Kalnins and listen to an audio clip of his composition "New Brunswick Rhapsody," as performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the National Latvian Opera. From the Canadian Music Centre.

Primavera
Listen to a series of audio clips featuring performances of music composed by Janis Kalnins. From archive.org.