Uploaded April 2025 | Updated September 2026, 4 days ago
00:05 I. Molto tranquillo
11:31 II. Allegro
17:19 III. Andante tenebroso
30:20 IV. Allegro moderato
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Guntis Kuzma
Jānis Ivanovs (1906-1983) was one of Latvia's most influential composers. For more on Ivanovs, see my score video of his fourth symphony "Atlantīda": youtube.com/watch?v=VfciueeCWtk
Ivanovs' colorful and often martial eighteenth symphony of 1977, the slow third movement of which I find particularly striking, illustrated the composer's challenges in balancing his leading role in Latvian musical life with Soviet diktats. For a holistic evaluation of the atmosphere in which this symphony came to life, I will refer to the words of the Latvian composer Imants Zemzaris, who wrote the liner notes for this recent recording (released by the Latvian Music Information Center's CD label SKANI):
"It is 1977. The Soviet nation is preparing for the 60th anniversary of the Great October socialist revolution. As was expected at times of celebration, cultural workers with the most titles and awards should be the first to bring forth their creative works. Ivanovs’ dedication is Symphony No. 18 (1977). The composer still avoids expressing his musical intentions in words. However, this time, when interviewed about the premiere, he says: I remember the horrible Great Patriotic War. Did many of the young men who went to the front in 1941 live?
For those of us born in the Soviet era, we have some immunity to similar stock phrases like these. Still – if the speaker was a witness to two world wars, had lost relatives and friends, experienced his alma mater being turned into an infirmary filled with wounded bodies – his words still do carry some weight..."
00:05 I. Molto tranquillo
11:31 II. Allegro
17:19 III. Andante tenebroso
30:20 IV. Allegro moderato
Latvian National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Guntis Kuzma
Jānis Ivanovs (1906-1983) was one of Latvia's most influential composers. For more on Ivanovs, see my score video of his fourth symphony "Atlantīda": youtube.com/watch?v=VfciueeCWtk
Ivanovs' colorful and often martial eighteenth symphony of 1977, the slow third movement of which I find particularly striking, illustrated the composer's challenges in balancing his leading role in Latvian musical life with Soviet diktats. For a holistic evaluation of the atmosphere in which this symphony came to life, I will refer to the words of the Latvian composer Imants Zemzaris, who wrote the liner notes for this recent recording (released by the Latvian Music Information Center's CD label SKANI):
"It is 1977. The Soviet nation is preparing for the 60th anniversary of the Great October socialist revolution. As was expected at times of celebration, cultural workers with the most titles and awards should be the first to bring forth their creative works. Ivanovs’ dedication is Symphony No. 18 (1977). The composer still avoids expressing his musical intentions in words. However, this time, when interviewed about the premiere, he says: I remember the horrible Great Patriotic War. Did many of the young men who went to the front in 1941 live?
For those of us born in the Soviet era, we have some immunity to similar stock phrases like these. Still – if the speaker was a witness to two world wars, had lost relatives and friends, experienced his alma mater being turned into an infirmary filled with wounded bodies – his words still do carry some weight..."
