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Raminsh, Imant (b. 1943, Ventspils). Latvian-born Canadian composer of mostly orchestral and choral works that have been performed throughout the world.
Mr. Raminsh completed his ARCT diploma in violin at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and a BMus program at the University of Toronto and then spent two years at the Salzburg Mozarteum, where he studied composition, conducting, fugue, and violin. In addition, he has privately studied biology and geology.
Among his recent commissions are works for conductor Philip Brunelle, cellist Shauna Rolston and bassoonist George Zukerman, as well as for the Choeur St.-Laurent de Montréal, the Elmer Iseler Singers, the Ohlone Singers, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, and the Toronto Orpheus Choir.
Mr. Raminsh is also active in other positions. As a violinist, he briefly played in Camerata Academica Orchestra in Salzburg in the 1960s. He is the founding conductor of the Prince George Symphony Orchestra, the Youth Symphony of the Okanagan, the NOVA Children's Choir, and the AURA Chamber Choir. He has also worked for many summers as a naturalist/interpreter in British Columbia provincial parks.
He has lived in Canada since 1948. He is married to the architectural designer and poet Becky Strube, with whom he has collaborated on some of his choral works.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: trilogy@junction.net
Street address: Mr. Imant Raminsh, 11600 Upper Summit Dr., Coldstream, BC V1B 2B4, Canada
Telephone/fax: 250 542 1944
COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS
STAGE: The Nightingale (children's opera, libretto by James Tucker, after Hans Christian Andersen), 2003
ORCHESTRAL: Suite on Five Latvian Folk Songs, string orchestra, 1972 (also version for small orchestra, 1983); Prelude to the Golden Horse, 1975; ...and the great day that dawns, 1978; Sahali, 1991; Legend, cello, orchestra, 1991 (version of chamber work); Odyssey: A Symphonic Poem, 1995 (also version for slightly larger orchestra, 2000); Two Canzonas and a Fugue, string orchestra, 1997; Concerto, soprano ad libitum, violin, orchestra, 1997; The Rattler (concerto), bassoon, orchestra, 2000; Canzona, cello, string orchestra, 2001; And the Light that Fills the World, trumpet, orchestra, 2003 (version of chamber work); Singing Songs of Sorrow, Songs of Joy (Second Suite on Latvian Folk Songs), string orchestra, 2003
CHAMBER MUSIC: A Penfield Pentameron, violin, viola, cello, 1980; Earth Chants, violin, cello, piano, 1982; Dialogues, violin, viola, 1983; Aria, violin, piano, 1987; Legend, cello, piano, 1989 (also arranged for cello, orchestra, 1991); A Family of Friends, recorder, flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, piano, 1994; Papillons, 2 flutes, piano, 2000; And the Light that Fills the World, trumpet, piano, 2003 (also version for trumpet, orchestra); A Falcon, a Storm or a Great Song (in memoriam David Mardon), string quartet, 2003
CHORAL: Cantarcillo de la Virgen (text by Lope de Vega), soprano, female chorus, guitar, string orchestra, 1970; Mary Magdalene (text by Boris Pasternak), mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, harp (+ piano), organ, 1970; Silent Flowers (text from classical Japanese haiku), soprano, mixed chorus, flute, glockenspiel, cymbal, string orchestra, 1970; Ice and Fire (text by Lope de Vega [translated by W.S. Merwin]), mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, timpani, string orchestra, 1971; Ave, Verum Corpus, mixed chorus, 1972 (also versions for female chorus, piano [+ organ], 1992; male chorus, 1998; mixed chorus, string orchestra, 2000); The Great Sea (text from a traditional Copper Eskimo source [translated by Knud Rasmussen, W.S. Calvert]), mixed chorus, string orchestra, 1972; The Face of my Mountains (text from a traditional Quinche Indian source [translated by John Bierhorst], mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, 1978; I Wonder as I Wander, female chorus, 1979; Mary Had a Baby, baritone, male chorus, 1979; Stabat Mater, mezzo-soprano, double mixed chorus, 1979; A Northwest Trilogy, mixed chorus, 1980; Gloria, soprano, female chorus, 1981; Lo, at the Day's End (text by Alan G. McDougall), divided mixed chorus, 1981; Pau: A Testament (text by Pablo Casals), baritone, mixed chorus, 4 celli, 1981; Along the Flower Trail (text from various Indian, Eskimo poems, edited by John Bierhorst), double mixed chorus, 1982; Donde Vais, Zagala? (text by Lope de Vega), soprano, mixed chorus, string orchestra, 1982 (version of vocal work); Ave Maria, mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, 1983; The Birthplace (text by Robert Frost), mixed chorus, flute, string quartet, 1983; Psalm 23, female chorus, piano, 1984 (also version for female chorus, string orchestra, 1993); Psalm 121, female chorus, piano, 1984 (also version for female chorus, string orchestra, 1984)
CHORAL: Five Latvian Folk Songs, soprano, baritone, double mixed chorus, 1985; Magnificat No. 2, mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, 1985; Pater Noster, mezzo-soprano, baritone, double mixed chorus, 1985; Songs of the Lights (set 1) (texts from traditional Algonquin, Navajo poems [translated by Nellie Barnes, Eda Lou Walton]), female chorus, flute, piano, glockenspiel, 1985 (also version for female chorus, flute, glockenspiel, string orchestra, 1985); Two Psalms (texts from Psalms 130, 150), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1985; I'll Give my Love an Apple (text from a traditional Nova Scotian source, collected by Helen Creighton), female voices, oboe, piano, 1986; Smile, o voluptuous cool-breathed Earth (text by Walt Whitman), mixed chorus, piano, 1986; Come My Light (text by St. Dmitri of Rostov [translated by Kallistos Ware]), double mixed chorus, 1987; Song (And I think over again), divided mixed chorus, 1987; In the night we shall go in (text by Pablo Neruda [translated by D. Walsh]), mixed chorus, cello, piano, 1987 (version of vocal work; also version for mixed chorus, cello, string orchestra, 1992); Songs of the Lights (set 2) (texts from traditional Maya, Pima, unknown, Zuni, Ojibway, Shoshone, Papago poems [translated by Ralph Roys, Frank Russell, Frances Densmore, Natalie Curtis Burlin, H.H. Schoolcraft, Mary Austin]), female chorus, piano, 1987; Lullaby (text by Henrik Ibsen), mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, 1988; Of Home and the Great Wide World (Five Slavic Folksongs), mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, divided mixed chorus, 1988; As Water to the Thirsty (text by Timothy Dudley-Smith), mixed chorus, violin, piano, 1988; I Will Sing unto the Lord (text from Psalm 104), high chorus, mixed chorus, piano, 1988 (also versions for high chorus, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1998; high chorus, mixed chorus, string orchestra, 2000)
CHORAL: Sing Hey! It's Christmas Day! (text by Margaret Fleming), mixed chorus, 1989; Missa brevis, soprano, female chorus, piano, 1989 (also versions for soprano, female chorus, orchestra, 1989; soprano, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1998); Divi Korali (texts by Tereze Brence, Veronika Strelerte), mixed chorus, piano ad libitum, 1989; Prayer of St. Francis, female chorus, piano, 1990; Two Nightsongs (text by Ben Abel), female chorus, piano, 1990; Magnificat No. 1, mezzo-soprano, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1990; How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place (text from Psalm 84), soprano, mixed chorus, piano, 1991; In the Beginning (text from the Book of Genesis), female chorus, piano, 1991; Live the Circle (text by Sara Sanderson), female chorus, piano, 1991; Veni, Sancte Spiritus, mixed chorus, 2 French horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, organ, timpani, 1991; Vestigia (text by Bliss Carman), female chorus, violin, cello, piano, 1991; Ubi Caritas, mixed chorus, 1992; The Chariot Children (text by Cyril Dabydeen), female chorus, piano, 1992; Gloria, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus, piano, 1992 (also version for soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1992); Song of the Birds (text from a traditional Catalan source [translated by James Woodhouse], adapted by the composer), mixed chorus, 1993; Veni, Creator Spiritus, mixed chorus, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, organ, timpani, 1993; Cela (text by Karlis Skalbe), mezzo-soprano, baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1993
CHORAL: I Turn to You, mixed chorus, 1994; Mighty River, Mighty Fire (text by Charles Devanesan), divided mixed chorus, 1994; O Ignis Spiritus (text by Hildegard von Bingen), mixed chorus, 1994; Sing to Us, Cedars (texts by A.J.M. Smith, Pauline Johnson), mixed chorus, flute, piano, 1994; Cantate Domino, female chorus, trumpet, timpani, string orchestra, 1994 (also version for female chorus, trumpet, orchestra, 1995); The Infinite Yes (text by Becky Strube), mixed chorus, 1995; Song of the Stars, mixed chorus, piano, 1995; Surrounded with Great Joy (text from an Inuit poem, edited by John Robert Colombo), mixed chorus, flute, oboe, viola, cello, percussion, piano, 1995; Alleluia, Amen, high chorus, mixed chorus, 1996 (also version for high chorus, mixed chorus, string orchestra, 2000); O Holy One (text by G. Malcolm Sinclair), mixed chorus, 1996; Dies Sanctificatus (texts from Old Byzantine poems, Psalms 117-18), large mixed chorus, piano, 1997 (also version for large mixed chorus, orchestra, 1997); In the Shadow of Evening Rocks (text by Becky Strube), girls' chorus ad libitum, mixed chorus, cello, piano, 1997; Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, soprano, mixed chorus, organ/piano, 1997; Rise Up My Love, My Fair One (text from the Song of Solomon), divided female chorus, viola, piano, 1997; Serenade to Music (text by William Shakespeare), cello, tenor, baritone, bass, male chorus, 1997
CHORAL: Christmas Morn (text by Ruth Sawyer), female chorus, piano, 1998; Lacrimosa, mixed chorus, piano, 1998; Sonnets to Orpheus (text by Rainer Maria Rilke [translated by Stephen Mitchell]), baritone, mixed chorus, piano, 1998 (also version for baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1998); Into an Unknown Land, female chorus, piano, 1999; Osanna and Benedictus, high chorus, female chorus, cambiate voices ad libitum, male chorus ad libitum, piano, 1999; Two Windsongs (texts by William D. Sargent, Robert Louis Stevenson), high female chorus, piano, 1999; Es Dziedasu Tam Kungam (text from Psalm 104), mixed chorus, organ, timpani, string orchestra, 1999; Psalm 100 (2 settings), mixed chorus, piano/organ, 2000; Recordare, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, high chorus, large mixed chorus, orchestra, 2000; Te Deum, soprano, tenor, mixed chorus, 3 trumpets, organ, timpani, string orchestra, 2000; Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, mixed chorus, 2001; Ave Regina Coelorum, mixed chorus, 10 brass, organ, 2001
CHORAL: Symphony of Psalms, soprano, mezzo-soprano, high mixed chorus, orchestra, 2001-02; What Voices in an Unknown Tongue (text by Emily Carr), soprano, mixed chorus, viola, 2002; In Widening Circles (text by Rainer Maria Rilke), large mixed chorus, French horn, 2 trumpets, trombone, tuba, harp, organ, timpani, percussion, 2002; A Shining Peace (texts by Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, Anglican liturgy), mixed chorus, orchestra, 2002; Victimae Paschali Laudes, mixed chorus, 2003; Deux Chansons (texts by Toronto schoolchildren), high chorus, piano, 2003; For the Four Winds (text by Lindsay Kesselman), 6 mixed voices, 2003; Shepherd's Hymn, mixed chorus, organ, 2003
VOCAL: Balada (text by Gabriela Mistral), soprano, flute, violin, cello, piano, 1971; Donde Vais, Zagala? (text by Lope de Vega), soprano, piano, 1971 (also version for soprano, mixed chorus, string orchestra, 1982); English Lessons (text by Boris Pasternak), soprano, 2 flutes, harp (+ piano), string orchestra, 1971; Six Chinese Lyrics (texts by Yun-K'an Tzu, Li Shang-Yin, anonymous [translated by Jerome Seaton, Charles Hartman, Eugene Eoyang, Irving Y. Lo]), alto, flute, oboe, string quartet, 1981; Three Spanish Lyrics, soprano, piano, 1982 (also versions for soprano, orchestra, 1988; soprano, string orchestra, 2000); most this amazing day (Four Lyrics of e.e. cummings), mezzo-soprano, piano, 1984; Saeta Que Voladora (Three Poems of Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer), medium voice, piano, 1984; In the night we shall go in (text by Pablo Neruda [translated by D. Walsh]), medium voice, cello, piano, 1986 (also versions for mixed chorus, cello, piano, 1987; mixed chorus, cello, string orchestra, 1992); Of Mothers and Children (Five Irish Lyrics) (texts by Freda Laughton, Padraic Pearce [translated by T. MacDonagh], Padraic Colum, Edward Walsh, Francis Ledwidge), soprano, piano, 1993; Gaisma (text by Ingrida Viksna), baritone, string orchestra, 2004
PIANO: Three Temperaments, 1997
ORGAN: Prelude and Fugue, 1992
ARRANGEMENTS: Jingle Bells (James Pierpont), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1980; Prayer from Hänsel und Gretel (Engelbert Humperdinck), string orchestra, 1990
DISCOGRAPHY
In the night we shall go in; Psalm 121; Smile, o voluptuous cool-breathed Earth. Jon Washburn/Vancouver Chamber Choir (Canadian Music Centre: CMC 4893)
A Northwest Trilogy. Jon Washburn/Vancouver Chamber Choir (CBC Records: SMCD 5097)
Songs of the Lights; Song (And I think over again); The Great Sea; Come My Light; Ave Maria; Ave, Verum Corpus; Magnificat. Sandra Graham, mezzo-soprano; Jon Washburn/Vancouver Chamber Choir, CBC Radio Orchestra (CBC Records: SMCD 5116)
Missa brevis (orchestral version); Earth Chants, or Along the Flower Trail; Alleluia, Amen; Ubi Caritas; What Voices in an Unknown Tongue. Jon Washburn/Vancouver Chamber Choir (CBC Records: SMCD 5219)
Ave, Verum Corpus. Chad Stride/Cantus Vocum (FMDC: 4609)
Cantate Domino. Stuart Laughton, trumpet; Ruth Watson Henderson, piano; Jean Ashworth Bartle/Toronto Children's Chorus, members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Marquis Classics: ERAD 199)
Ave, Verum Corpus. John Tuttle/Exaltate Chamber Singers (ND: 0191)
(Last updated on April 13, 2004)
