Barisons, Peteris (1904 - 1947)
Biography Works
A composer whose works were
talented additions to the late Romantic style in Latvian music. The
genres of orchestral music and vocal music with orchestra were his
forte, but his a cappella choral works (about 30 songs in all) also
belong with the best of Latvian music. He has also composed chamber
music, both vocal and instrumental. Barisons received his musical
education at the E.Vīgners College of Phonology in Riga. He
graduated from the College in 1928, and afterwards worked as a
lecturer there until 1939, though not continuously. After
graduating from the LC in composition (1932) and conducting (1934),
he worked for a few years as a director of symphony concerts and
opera productions. He became lecturer at the LC in 1936, head of
the Department of Composition and head of conducting at the LSC in
1944, a professor from 1945.
The genres of orchestral music (two symphonies and ten other
works) and vocal-orchestral music (three cantatas) were his forte.
He also composed various instrumental works. In vocal music
Barisons is known first for his original compositions for choir,
and many of these have achieved classic status
in Latvian music. The characteristic feature of his choral music –
a heightened lyrical sensibility, which at times becomes almost
ecstatically picturesque – is also evident in his solo songs. In
his relatively few, but striking choral arrangements of folk songs,
he does not follow the stylistic norms of folk music, but (as in
his original compositions) combines colourful chromatic harmony
with skilful polyphonic scoring and broad delineation of
structure.
The broad spectrum of Barisons' choral writing
characteristically displays lyrical intensity of emotion and is at
times almost ecstatically picturesque. Striking melodic line and
skillful polyphonic scoring combine with a rich harmonic language,
pellucid texture, and a developed sense of form. The sincerity and
nobility of feeling manifested by Barisons' works have made his
songs classics of Latvian choral music composed in the 1930s, and
they are among the most widely performed.