The concert program dedicated to Three Kings' Day will feature medieval songs monks sang at monasteries and improvised percussions, creating a unique, contemporary dialogue between the ages. Rihards Zaļupe (marimba), Ivars Kalniņš (percussion instruments), Guntars Prānis (hurdy-gurdy) and the vocal group "Schola Cantorum Riga" will unite musical values inherited through the centuries with their interpretation from a contemporary perspective.

It will be a spiritual meditation with rhythmic interludes made even more special due to playing of the only hurdy-gurdy in Latvia. The hurdy-gurdy is a unique medieval string instrument, that connects the medieval and traditional musical world.

Participating:

Vocal group “Schola Cantorum Riga”

Guntars Prānis (hurdy-gurdy)

Rihards Zaļupe (marimba)

Ivars Kalniņš (percussions)

The vocal group “Schola Cantorum Riga” was founded in 1995 as a special ensemble for the authentic interpretation of early music, especially Gregorian chant, and has evolved into a group with a very wide variety of repertoires. One of its main goals is to play music at high artistic and professional levels, which is reflected in the group's numerous concerts in Latvia and abroad, as well as on regular recordings. Now "Schola Cantorum Riga" mainly plays medieval music and focuses on the work of contemporary Latvian composers.

The group's singers are professional musicians and music students who love the early music and wish to play it according to the latest findings in the field of authentic interpretation of early music.

The recording "Rīgas mesa" received the Annual Latvian Music Recording Award and the ensemble has been nominated for the Latvian Grand Music Award for remarkable concert activity in 2016.

Guntars Prānis is the founder and manager of the early music ensemble "Schola Cantorum Riga", Rector and Professor at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. Together with the ensemble, Prānis actively performs concerts in Latvia and abroad, as well as has recorded countless music recordings. Since 2000, he is also the music director of Riga Dom, conducts the Riga Dom Choir and the vocal group "Laudate". He has studied early music in Austria, Germany and Switzerland, focusing on medieval music. Prānis is the author of many publications and an in high demand as a lecturer in various early music courses and conferences in Latvia and abroad. He has studied with the most important specialists in Gregorian chanting - G. Joppiha, J. B. Gošla, A. Turko and F. Prasla. He is a member of the International Association for Studies of Gregorian Chant (AISCGre).

Rihards Zaļupe is an award-winning Latvian composer and percussion virtuoso, plays in the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra's percussion group and is a lecturer at J. Vītols Latvian Academy of Music. Along with the work with LNSO, Zaļupe plays chamber music and gives solo performances. He has soloed with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, State Chamber Orchestra "Sinfonietta Riga", Professional Brass Band "Riga", "Sinfonia Concertante" and the Vidzeme Chamber Orchestra. Zaļupe works closely with the brothers Raimonds and Oskars Petrauskis.

He devotes much time for composition and arrangement. He has composed several pieces for percussion instruments, marimba, piano, orchestra, choir, etc. In 2008, his first record - Marimba Dance - was released. Zaļupe and the record Marimba Dance received the 2008 Annual Latvian Music Recording Award in the "Annual debut" nomination.

Zaļupe has performed in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Spain. Alongside academic music, Rihards Zaļupe often reveals himself as a drummer and percussionist in jazz, Latin, pop and rock music.

Ivars Kalniņš is an artist for the Symphony Orchestra of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet. As a drummer and percussionist, he actively plays and collaborates with many ensembles and artists (Remix, Igo Fomins, Karīna Tatarinova, Ludus, Putnu Balle, Turaidas roze, Jukebox, Tenoru trio, Ilona Bagele, Labvēlīgais tips, Tev Tuvumā), as well as composers (Uldis Marhilēvičs, Valts Pūce). Ivars can adjust his play to any style of music, so he is a percussionist in high demand in Latvia.

Concert in one part. Duration: approximately 1 hour 20 minutes.

Tickets: from € 7.00

Discounts:

• School children, students, teachers, seniors - 25%

• Seniors with group I and II disabilities, and their carers - 50%

• Group tickets:

• 10-30 persons - 20%

• 30 and more persons - 25%

Venue: Great Hall

Organised by: Great Amber