The vocal group „Schola Cantorum Riga” was founded in 1995 as a unique ensemble focused on authentic interpretation of ancient music, especially Gregorian chants. It has developed into a group with a varied and wide repertory. One of its main professional goals is to perform music at a high artistic and professional level, which is reflected in great many concerts in Latvia and abroad, as well as in regular recordings.
Nowadays „Schola Cantorum Riga” mainly performs medieval music, but also turns to interpretation of compositions of contemporary Latvian composers.
The singers of the group are professional musicians or music students who all have one thing in common – their passion for ancient music and desire to perform it following the latest trends in the field of authentic interpretation of ancient music. There is a special interest in performing the Gregorian chants and other medieval music. The group performs a Gregorian choral building it on interpretation references of Neumatic Notations, as well as the latest research in the field of semiology. The programs are mostly performed by male singers. For specific projects the membership of the group is enlarged and female singers are invited to join in to perform compositions for a mixed group of singers.
Schola Cantorum Riga holds regular concerts and has a busy concert schedule. The group is frequently invited to perform at concerts in Latvia and abroad.
One of the most important concert venues for the group is Riga Cathedral where they regularly hold concerts, as well perform during services. Riga Cathedral has been the place where numerous concert programs have been performed including first performance of many compositions of ancient music, as well as of contemporary composers. Riga Cathedral with its exceptional acoustics has been the place where all the albums of the group so far produced have been recorded. All these albums have been highly appreciated by both Latvian and foreign music reviewers.
The group has had an exceptionally successful cooperation with the well-known Latvian composer Rihards Dubra (*1964), who has composed plenty of compositions to be first performed by the group „Schola Cantorum Riga”.
The group regularly takes part in the festivals and concerts of ancient music in Latvia and abroad. They have held numerous concerts of sacred music in cities and towns, as well as in small rural churches (Liepaja, Venstpils, Jelgava, Balvi, Tukumā, Sāti, Gārsene, Skrunda, Cēsis etc). Not infrequently, parallel to concerts the group leader Guntars Prānis gives talks on ancient music or makes a commentary on the repertory performed at the concert.
During their concert tours abroad the group has also enjoyed high recognition of audiences in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium (at The International Gregorian Festival of Watou), Poland (at the International Festival of Sacred Music Gaude Mater in Częstochowa in 2005, 2006 and at Sacred Music festival in Plock), and Estonia etc.
An Insight into History:
The group „Schola Cantorum Riga” originated and grew from the tradition of the Gregorian Music Week in Latvia. For years now about 100 young people have been coming together in a small village of Araisi and through prayers, singing practice and talks they have experienced the deep spirituality and aesthetic beauty of Gregorian chants. Here in 1994 several music students met and, under the leadership of the Art Director of the Gregorian Music Week Guntars Pranis, decided to establish a vocal group with an aim to develop a repertory of Gregorian chants and other sacred choir music and perform it regularly at a high professional level. | 