Musica Baltica

Musica Baltica is the trading name of Sia “Musica Baltica”, a music publisher based in Riga, Latvia also with an office in London, United Kingdom. At the time of writing (2008) Musica Baltica publishes the works of over 60 contemporary composers, mostly in the fields of classical and academic music. Composers represented include Peteris Plakidis, Rihards Dubra, Andris Dzenitis, Arturs Maskats and Eriks Esenvalds. Musica Baltica is the largest music publisher in the Baltic States specializing in such contemporary repertoire. Musica Baltica also publishes volumes of collected works, perhaps the most notable of which is the collected works of Jazeps Vitols, the second volume of this edition is expected to be published in the summer of 2008. Musica Baltica also publishes academic books on musical subjects, mainly in the Latvian language, as well as education material for use in Latvian schools.

Founders

Musica Baltica was founded in 1994 by two music professionals, Lilija Zobens and Solvita Sejane. Lilija Zobens was born in the UK of a Latvian expatriate family. She graduated King's College London with a masters degree in Ethnomusicology. Lilija Zobens was awarded the Order of the Three Stars by the Latvian state in 2008. She runs the office in London. Solvita Sejane was born in Latvia, graduated in music pedagogy at the Jazeps Vitols Music Academy, and later studied historical musicology at King's. She runs the office and studio in Riga.

History

Musical Baltica was formed to provide a commercial outlet for the works of contemporary Baltic composers, especially from Latvia. The first composers to appear in Musica Baltica printed editions were by Ilona Brege 1994, Peteris Plakidis 1995, Rihards Dubra 1995, Pauls Dambis 1998.

The first collection published by Musica Baltica appeared in 1995 and was Volume II (1918-1940) in the series “Anthology of Latvian Chorus Songs” edited by Arnolds Klotins. Volume 1 had been prepared during in Soviet times. The series was however superseded when the editorial team established a dedicated publishing company Sia “Sol” with links to the Latvian Choir “Ave Sol” and produced a new series starting again from the beginning with accompanying recordings.

Musica Baltica diversified very early in its history into the publication of music textbooks for use in junior music schools. This helped fill a gap left in music education materials by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Very successful was a series started in 1994 and written by Ligita Rosenberga and Irene Nelsona, which concentrated on the use of natural speech rhythms in music and contained many activities based on folk songs, and included other elements of Latvian music.

Musica Baltica also initiated a series of early music publications "Musica Rigensis" timed to coincide with the 800th anniversary of the city of Riga. This included the publication of a 6-voice through composed passion (1587 re-published 1995) and various motets (1583 re-published 1996) by Paulus Bucenus Philorodus and a setting of Cantate Domino by Martinus Crusius (1596 republished 1996).

In 1998 Musica Baltica commemorated the 95th birthday of the composer Helmers Pavasars with the first volume of his collected works; unaccompanied songs for mixed choir.

Work on the promotion of contemporary Baltic composers surged forward at the beginning of the 21st century. In 2005 Musica Baltica exhibited at MIDEM, and each year since 2004 at the Frankfurt Musikmesse. In 2005 Musica Baltica formed an alliance with Schott Music International of Mainz, Germany, which made Musica Baltica's entire hire library of orchestral performance material available via Schott.

Riga premises

Musica Baltica originally occupied offices at Brivibas iela 85 rented from the Latvian Music Society, but soon opened a shop and a design studio at the current (2008) premises, Krisjana Barona iela 39-1, LV- 1011 Riga, Latvia.

External links

• Musica Baltica