Armands Strazds

Infobox musical artist
Name = Armands Strazds


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Riga, Latvia
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Occupation = Composer, Producer, Software developer
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URL = [http://www.strazds.com www.strazds.com]
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Armands Strazds (born March 10, 1970 in Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian composer, producer and software developer.

He studied composition with Gederts Ramans at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and with Friedhelm Doehl at the Musikhochschule Lübeck, where he also studied computer music with Dirk Reith. [Pupa, Guntars (2004)] His PhD studies with Atis Kapenieks at Riga Technical University were on new learning technologies. He and Kapenieks have published several papers in the area. [e.g. A. Strazds, A. Kapenieks, (2007) [http://www.doaj.org/doaj?func=abstract&id=212565 "A new automated method of e-learner's satisfaction measurement"] , "International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning", Vol. 2, No. 2; B. Zuga, I. Slaidins, A. Kapenieks and A. Strazds (2006) [http://www.ijcis.info/International%20Journal%20of%20Computing%20and%20Information%20Sciences_files/Vol4N2_IMCL/pp58-62.pdf "M-learning and Mobile Knowledge Management: Similarities and Differences"] , "International Journal of Computing & Information Sciences", Vol. 4, No. 2.]

Armands Strazds is the developer of the algorithmic composition systems, Digital Winds (1995) [Gourley, David et al. (2002) p. 58.] and Hymnica (2003). In 2005, two of his compositions for theatre drama, "Pulss" ("Pulse") and "Es mīlēju viņu" ("I loved him") were broadcast on Latvian national radio. [ [http://teatris.latvijasradio.lv/raid_arhivs.htm Radio Theatre Repertory Archives] , Latvijas Radio. Accessed 20 September 2008]

Strazds (together with Modris Tenisons) is the creator of the Zime Project [ [http://www.zime.de The Zime Project] Official site. Accessed 20 September 2008 ] which was the central exhibit of the Latvia Pavillion at EXPO 2000. [ [http://www.expo2000.de/dp/kuv/bio/19.html Profile] , www.expo2000.de (in German). Accessed 20 September 2008] Zimes, from the Latvian word for "sign", are coloured graphic patterns generated by the computer encryption of texts, pictures, or sounds. During the course of Expo 2000, 300,000 visitors to the Latvia Pavillion generated their personal zimes, including the (then) President of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. [National Pavillions [http://98.eu/expo_2000_en.html#Nations 98.eu:Expo 2000] . Accessed 20 September 2008.] [ [http://www.zime.de/id_07_pictures.cfm?un=0.25951582 Photographs] of President Vīķe-Freiberga generating her personal zime. Zime Project Official site. Accessed 20 September 2008.]

elected compositions

*"The Prophet / Angels Forever in Flight" (opera for soprano, tenor, mixed choir and orchestra, 2002, ~90’).
*"Laudamus" (symphony, 1994, ~12’).
*"Elysium" (an oratorio for five sopranos, two vibraphones, viola and ten violins, 1993, ~30’)
*"Prayer" (an oratorio for three sopranos, three tenors, three choirs, tubular bells, tam-tam, bass drum and cymbals, 1992, ~20’)
*"Requiem" (soprano, tenor, bass, double mixed choir and string orchestra, 1991, ~30’)
*"Gitanjali" (an oratorio for soprano, tenor, mixed choir, string orchestra and percussions, 1990, ~50’, CD CR 01 011 94)
*"Vēstules tālajai zvaigznei / Letters to the Distant Star" (a rock oratorio for soprano, tenor, mixed choir, piano, flute, cello and percussions, 1989, ~50’)
*"Studies of Space / Studia spatii" (two marimbas, dedicated to the Wooden Art Duo, 1994, ~8’)
*"Studies of Rhythms and Color / Studia numeri et coloris" (wind quintet, 1994, ~5’)
*"Structure 4" (string quartet, based on G.M.Koenig’s Projekt 1, 1994, ~3’)
*"Vedanta" (cello, dedicated to Zheng Liu, 1994, ~11’)
*"Hexagram" (a palindrome for chamber orchestra, 1992, ~5’)
*"Stikla pērlīšu spēle / Glassperlenspiel" (piano and voice, 1989, ~5’)
*"The Bride" (music for tape, two digital celli, dedicated to the Leipzig Tanztrio, 1994, ~6’)
*"Hymnica" (computer and synthesizer, 2003)
*"Simple Machines" (IBM computers, 1994)
*"The Wave" (sine tones tape, 1993, 12’)
*"Klangbilder nach Brahms" (film music, produced at the Crea studio, 1997, 40’).
*"Spirit of the Cities / Geist der Staedte" (film music, 2006, 25’)

Notes and references

*Gourley, David et al. (2002), [http://books.google.com/books?id=iq10UfwhosoC&pg=PA558&lpg=PA558&dq=%22digital+winds%22+strazds&source=web&ots=FoJwb-fhGW&sig=MJK-reccMQLllFC7vr1eIWb6IVM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result "HTTP: The Definitive Guide"] O'Reilly. ISBN 1565925092
*Pupa, Guntars (2004) [http://www.lmic.lv/core.php?pageId=747&id=327&profile=1 Biography: Armands Strazds] , "Latvian Music Information Centre". Accessed 20 September 2008.

External links

* [http://sites.google.com/a/strazds.com/home/ Armands Strazds - official web site]
* [http://www.m-saule.lv/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=410 Zelta grāmatas rakstītājs] , Interview with Armands Strazds (in Latvian) in the music journal, "Mūzikas Saule", April/May 2006.
* [http://mod.la.lv/main1.php?dat=2008-08-29&id=200808280815557&type=mv Lielvārdes jostas civilizācija] , illustrated article (in Latvian) devoted to Strazds and the Zime Project in "Latvijas Avīze", August 29, 2008.
*Armand Strazds, [http://www.zime.lv/book/index.php "Golden Book of Hymnica"] (1990)