Dubra,
Rihards (1964) 
Biography
Works
Foto 1
Rihards Dubra was born on February
28th, 1964 in Riga. He studied music first in Jūrmala, after that
at the Emīls Dārziņš College of Music, where his instructors in
composition were Jāzeps Lipšāns and Ģederts Ramans. In 1989, he
graduated from the Latvian State Conservatory composition class
under Ādolfs Skulte (as an elective he learned symphonic conducting
under Aleksandrs Viļumanis), and in 1996 earned his master’s degree
at the Latvian Academy of Music under Juris Karlsons. During his
studies, he began to teach harmony and composition at the Jūrmala
School of Music, where he still works today. His other sphere of
work is involved with the organ and liturgy. Rihards Dubra was the
organist at the Riga Our Lady of Suffering Church, and, as of 1999,
he is the cantor of the Riga St. Mary Magdalene Church.
The most recent works of Rihards Dubra are closely involved with
sacred music. All of his works have a spiritual content at their
foundation, whether they are vocal or instrumental. The composer
has written minimalist, Gregorian, and Renaissance-style music,
thinking not just of intonation, exposition, and similar spheres,
but firstly the philosophical side. At the same time, the fusion of
the means is romantic.
His choir works and vocal instrumental compositions are heard at
international festivals and concerts. The English public that have
heard the composer’s spiritual choir songs in Latvian, have
declared them to be Latvian motets.
Dubra received the Latvian Great Music Award in 2003 for his work
Te Deum, performed at the XXIII Overall Latvian Song Festival
sacred music concert.
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