Mārtiņš Brauns
Brauns in 2015
Background information
Born(1951-09-17)17 September 1951[1]
Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union
Died24 November 2021(2021-11-24) (aged 70)
Riga, Latvia
Occupation(s)Composer
musician
Instrument(s)Synthesizer
Piano
Vocal
Guitar
Harmonica[1]
Years active1968–2021[1]

Mārtiņš Brauns (17 September 1951 – 24 November 2021) was a Latvian composer and musician. He composed multiple pieces, most notable of which is Saule, Pērkons, Daugava, a choir song regularly performed at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival.

Career

Saule, Pērkons, Daugava being performed at the 2018 Latvian Song and Dance Festival

Brauns studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School from 1958 to 1970, studying piano and choir, before moving on to study conducting and music theory after his voice started changing.[1] He then studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music between 1970 and 1976.[2]

From 1975 to 1986, he led the rock band Sīpoli.[1] From 1986 and until his death, Brauns was a member of the Latvian Filmmakers Union and has composed music for various films.[3]

In addition to film scores, Brauns wrote and composed multiple pieces for various theatre plays. His most famous piece, written in the late 1980's for the Valmiera Drama Theatre, titled Saule, Pērkons, Daugava, of which the lyrics are based on the poem Daugava by Latvian poet Rainis; this song has been performed regularly at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival since 1990, and is even considered the unofficial anthem of the festival.[4] In 2014, an adapted version of the song with lyrics by Catalan poet Miquel Martí i Pol became the official anthem of the Catalan independence movement.[5][6]

Death

Brauns was recovering from a heart attack at a hospital when he contracted COVID-19. He died on 24 November 2021, at the age of 70.[7][8]

Awards

In 2001, Brauns received an award from the Ministry of Culture of Latvia for his "bright creative contribution to the enrichment of Latvian culture" in his work with his album Sapnis par Rīgu.[1][9] The album also won a Grawemeyer Award in a world music competition for works composed between 2001 and 2004.[1]

On 3 May 2018, Brauns was made Officer of the Order of the Three Stars, the highest civilian order in Latvia.[10]

In 2019, Brauns received the Golden Microphone Lifetime Contribution Award for his work to enhance Latvian culture.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Mārtiņš Brauns" (in Latvian). Central Library of Latgale. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mārtiņš Brauns". Latvian Music Information Centre. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. ↑ "Mārtiņš Brauns" (in Latvian). Latvian Filmmakers Union. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. ↑ ""Saule, Pērkons, Daugava" – Dziesmu un deju svētku neoficiālā himna" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. ↑ "Skaņdarbs "Saule. Pērkons. Daugava" kļuvis par Katalonijas neatkarības himnu" (in Latvian). jauns.lv. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. ↑ "Vienas dziesmas stāsts komponista jubilejā – 'Saule. Pērkons. Daugava': Dziesmas ceļš uz Kataloniju" (in Latvian). Delfi.lv. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  7. ↑ "Famed Latvian Composer Dies of Covid". Slipped Disc. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  8. ↑ "Miris leģendārais komponists Mārtiņš Brauns" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
  9. ↑ "Komponists Mārtiņš Brauns muzicēs Siguldas koncertzālē". sigulda.lv (in Latvian). 9 November 2012. Archived from the original on 25 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  10. ↑ Paula, Rūta (4 May 2018). ""Klasika" sveic Triju Zvaigžņu ordeņa ieguvējus!" (in Latvian). Latvijas Radio 3. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  11. ↑ ""Zelta mikrofona" balvu par mūža ieguldījumu saņems Mārtiņš Brauns" (in Latvian). Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
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