# Pēteris Vasks: Plainscapes

> Pēteris Vasks: Plainscapes – Latvian Radio Choir, Sigvards Klava. Ondine ODE 1194-2, CD, released January 2012. The outstanding Latvian Radio Choir focuses…

Source: https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1194-2

- **Composer:** Pēteris Vasks
- **Work(s):** Plainscapes
- **Performers:** Latvian Radio Choir; Sigvards Klava
- **Label:** Ondine
- **Catalogue no.:** ODE 1194-2
- **Format:** CD
- **Release date:** 1 January 2012
- **EAN / UPC:** 0761195119426
- **Tracks:** 11, total 71:25
- **Genres:** Choral

## Track listing

**Peteris Vasks**

1. The Tomtit?s Message (Ziles zina, 1981/2004) (9:34)
- *Silent Songs (Klusas dziesmas, 1979/1992)*
2. I. Nosapi parsapi (3:38)
3. II. Dusi dusi (1:36)
4. III. Tris mezi (3:08)
5. IV. Paldies tev vela saule (2:35)
6. Our Mother?s Names (Musu masu vardi, 1977/2003) (12:32)
7. The Sad Mother (Skumja mate, 1980/91) (3:35)
8. Summer (Vasara, 1978) (4:22)
9. Plainscapes (Lidzenuma ainavas, 2002) (16:41)
10. Small, Warm Holiday (Mazi, silti svetki, 1988) (1:27)
11. Birth (Piedzimsana, 2008) (12:17)

## About this recording

The outstanding Latvian Radio Choir focuses once again on works by cult composer Peteris Vasks.

This CD presents a cross section of a cappella choral works by cult composer Pēteris Vasks, performed by the acclaimed Latvian Radio Choir under the direction of Sigvards Kļava.

Following on from their successful recording of liturgical Vasks compositions ("Beautifully performed, a rare outing for Vask's choral music" - Gramophone) ([ODE 1106-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1106-2)), the Latvian Radio Choir once again draws on the Baltic countries' extraordinary choir music tradition, focusing here on secular repertoire.

The title piece on this disc is Plainscapes, written in 2002 for mixed choir, solo violin (Sandis Šteinbergs) and solo cello (Guna Āboltiņa) on commission from violinist Gidon Kremer; meditating on the inspiring beauty of the Latvian lowlands, it uses vocalises to celebrate nature's cyclic miracles. The Sad Mother (1980/91) and Summer (1978) are written for female choir. In Birth (2008) a mixed choir, together with a solo percussion (Jānis Kokins), pays tribute to the sun as a symbol for life.

The present release features world premiere recordings of Our Mother's Names (1977/2003), The Sad Mother (1980/91), Summer (1978), and Small, Warm Holiday (1988).

Ondine's releases of Peteris Vasks' music have garnered several awards, including a 2004 Cannes Classical Disc of the Year Award for the Second Symphony ([ODE 1005-2](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1005-2)).

## Features

Booklet with liner notes in English and the song texts in the original Latvian and in English

## Press

(...) aina kun Latvian radiokuoron julkaisee levyn, kyseessä on merkkitapaus.

Kare Eskola, YLE Radio 1, 19.1.2012

## Buy or stream

- [Buy](https://Ondine.lnk.to/ODE11942OW)

## Related pages

- [Peteris Vasks (1946-)](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/composers/vasks-peteris.md)
- [Latvian Radio Choir, Ensemble](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/latvian-radio-choir.md)
- [Sigvards Klava, Conductor](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/artists/klava-sigvards.md)

## Also recommended

- [Pēteris Vasks: Pater noster · Dona nobis pacem · Missa](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1106-2.md): Latvian Radio Choir · Sinfonietta Riga · Sigvards Klava (ODE 1106-2, 2007)
- [Pēteris Vasks: Symphony No. 3 · Cello Concerto](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1086-5.md): Marko Ylönen, cello · Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · John Storgårds, conductor (ODE 1086-5, 2006)
- [Pēteris Vasks: Symphony No. 2 · Violin Concerto "Distant Light"](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1005-2.md): Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra · John Storgårds, conductor · John Storgårds, violin · Ostrobothnian Chamber Orchestra · Juha Kangas, conductor (ODE 1005-2, 2003)
- [Sergei Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom](https://ondine.eyelabel.com/catalogue/ode-1151-5.md): Latvian Radio Choir · Sigvards Klava (ODE 1151-5, 2010)