Tālivaldis Ķeniņš 100
April 1919 - January 20, 2008
One of the founders of the Toronto Latvian Concert Association, the late composer Talivaldis Kenins, would have celebrated his 100th birthday in 2019. In tribute to his musical genius and lasting contribution to Canadian and Latvian music, we are dedicating this space to information about his life and work and events commemorating his centenary.
Since the release of the CMC recording “Canadian Amber” which included the 1991 world premiere performance of his Concerto for Piano with String Orchestra and Percussion with Arthur Ozolins as soloist there is now a second recording of this work with Latvian pianist Agnese Egliņa and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra on the Ondine label.
The Tālivaldis Ķeniņš centenary sparked great interest in Latvia with many concerts dedicated to his vast catalogue of compositions – choral, chamber and orchestral – including multiple performances of his Violin Concerto, his 8th Symphony, his Scherzo concertante and many other works.
The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra has since recorded many of these works including all eight symphonies. This is a unique and unprecedented honour for a Canadian composer.
These discs are now available and receiving global attention with very positive reviews in prestigious magazines like The Strad (Nov. 26 2020) and elsewhere.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Jan/Kenins-VC-LMIC088.htm
A simple Google search of “Kenins Concerto” will lead to a vast array of articles and links to CDs such as these:
https://www.amazon.ca/Talivaldis-Kenins-Concerto-Percussionists-Orchestra/dp/B08JGWG3FJ
The following link offers more information and some brilliant broadcast performances of works not yet available on CD or Spotify.
Since the release of the CMC recording “Canadian Amber” which included the 1991 world premiere performance of his Concerto for Piano with String Orchestra and Percussion with Arthur Ozolins as soloist there is now a second recording of this work with Latvian pianist Agnese Egliņa and the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra on the Ondine label.
The Tālivaldis Ķeniņš centenary sparked great interest in Latvia with many concerts dedicated to his vast catalogue of compositions – choral, chamber and orchestral – including multiple performances of his Violin Concerto, his 8th Symphony, his Scherzo concertante and many other works.
The Latvian National Symphony Orchestra has since recorded many of these works including all eight symphonies. This is a unique and unprecedented honour for a Canadian composer.
These discs are now available and receiving global attention with very positive reviews in prestigious magazines like The Strad (Nov. 26 2020) and elsewhere.
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2021/Jan/Kenins-VC-LMIC088.htm
A simple Google search of “Kenins Concerto” will lead to a vast array of articles and links to CDs such as these:
https://www.amazon.ca/Talivaldis-Kenins-Concerto-Percussionists-Orchestra/dp/B08JGWG3FJ
The following link offers more information and some brilliant broadcast performances of works not yet available on CD or Spotify.
We invite you to check in here for updates, a partial discography and additional information as it comes available.
Tālivaldis Ķeniņš – A Partial Discography
CANADIAN MUSIC CENTRE DISCS
CMC-CD 26519 “Canadian Amber”
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- Concerto for Piano with String Orchestra and percussion (1990) World Premiere recording
CMC-CD 5997
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- Sonata for cello and piano (1950)
- Concertante for flute and piano (1966)
- Piano Quartet No. 2 (1979)
CMC-CD 9403 “Portraits” (2 CD’s)
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- Documentary and interviews (CD 1)
- Septuor (winds and strings 1948-49)
- Piano Sonata No.1
- Quintet (piano and winds)
- Symphony No. 4
CBC RECORDINGS
SMCD 5131 “I Musici de Montreal”
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- Partita for Strings on Lutheran Chorales (1983)
ACM 33 CD 1-4 “Anthology of Canadian Music”
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- Talivaldis Kenins talks with Eric McLean
- Septuor (1948-49)
- Suite concertante for cello and piano (1955)
- Piano Quartet No.1 (1957-58)
- Divertimento for clarinet and piano (1960)
- Beatae Voces Tenebrae for orchestra (1977)
- Piano Sonata No. 1 (1960)
- Bonhomme! Bonhomme! for choir (1962)
- Suite in D for organ (1967)
- Symphony No. 4 (1972
- Violin Concerto (1974) with Steven Staryk
- Sinfonia Notturna for organ (1978)
- Quintet for piano and winds (1983)
- Sonata No. 3 for piano (1985)
OTHER RECORDINGS
LMIC/SKANI 088
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- Violin concerto (1974) with Eva Bindere
- Concerto for Five Percussionists and Orchestra (1983)
- Beatae voces Tenebrae (1977)
ONDINE ODE 1350-2
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- Concerto di camera No. 1 (1981)
- Concerto for Piano, Strings and Percussion (1990)
- Symphony No. 1 (1959)
ONDINE ODE 1354-2
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- Symphony No. 4 (1972)
- Symphony No. 6 (1978)
- Canzona Sonata for Viola and String Orchestra
ONDINE ODE 1388-2
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- Symphony No. 5 (1976)
- Symphony No. 8 (1986) “Sinfonia concertata” for organ & orchestra
- Aria per corda (1984) String orchestra version
ULMA – 123 “RIX Piano Quartet”
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- Piano Quartet No. 1 (1958)
LRCD – 038 “Colloquens Patriae – Chamber music”
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- Colloquens Patriae for cello and piano
- Piano quartet No. 1
- Die Zauberklarinette for solo clarinet
INDEPENDENT RELEASES
“On the Bridge – Chamber music by Latvian composers“: Ilona Kudina (2006)
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- Fantasy variations on an Inuit lullaby
Bridge across the Seas – Music by Latvian and Canadian composers“: Vilma Indra Vitols (2010)
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- Melodies for Amanda for mezzo soprano and piano
- Two Latvian folksongs (1960): Silta saule, karsta saule and Ai, zaļai līdaciņa
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