Composer Profile: Ēriks Ešenvalds Monday, March 05, 2018
Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds (b.1977) is one of the most sought-after composers today, with a busy commission schedule and performances of his music heard on every continent. Customers have been requesting his music more and more frequently, and we know that whenever we see a piece from him, it will be rich, full of challenging divisi, and set to an impactful text.
Ešenvalds studied at the Latvian Baptist Theological Seminary and then went on to obtain his Master’s degree in composition from the Latvian Academy of Music. He has received multiple awards for his works, including the Latvian Grand Music Award (which he has won three times).
Below are some of our favorite Ešenvalds pieces:
Stars
(SSAATTBB and water-tuned glasses)
This stunning a cappella work for divisi chorus and six water-tuned glasses utilizes a text by Sara Teasdale. Widely performed by festival and collegiate choirs, and recorded by Voces 8, this beautiful Baltic piece is representative of the modern choral harmonic style with cluster cadences and effectively placed dissonance throughout.
O Salutaris Hostia
(SSAATTBB and SS soli)
This marvelous a cappella work in Latin has been performed throughout the world, a superb showcase for small choral ensembles or large choirs.
Northern Lights
(SSAATTBB, T solo, power chimes, and water-tuned glasses)
A gorgeous a cappella setting of a Latvian folk song for chorus with soloist, power chimes, and tuned water glasses. The choral text is in English while the soloist sings the Latvian text. With dramatic dynamic changes and alternating sections of lyrical, sustained singing followed by exciting contrasting sections, this modern choral work provides an ethereal setting for the text.
Selected Songs for Mixed Choir
Containing almost all of Ēriks Ešenvalds’ pieces for mixed choir, this book is an excellent resource to have on your literature shelf.
**Additionally, Ēriks Ešenvalds will be the Composer-in-Residence at Capital University here in Columbus, OH this month. During his residency, a full concert featuring his music will take place at Capital University, Mees Hall, on March 17, 2017 at 7:30pm (click here for more details).
If you would like more information about these and other similar pieces, visit us at stantons.com, email us at choral@stantons.com, or call us at 1.800.42.MUSIC ext.1. We are happy to help with all of your sheet music needs!
About the Authors:
Jen Sper has been with Stanton’s since 2006. A former middle school and high school choral director, she holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baldwin Wallace College Conservatory of Music. An active choral singer and accompanist throughout the Central Ohio area, she also enjoys good food, running (to counteract the good food…) and the Muppets.
Alissa Ruth began working at Stanton’s in the summer of 2016. She is a former middle and high school choir director and holds a Bachelor of Music in Education degree from Capital University. She is an active choral singer across the country, and she spends her free time running, doing yoga, cooking, and watching Netflix.