Very soon — literally in just two weeks — the memoirs of composer Imants Kalniņš, who celebrated his birthday on May 26, will be published. The book is titled “Symphony of Zvaigžņu Street – Imants Kalniņš.” Its author is Linda Apse, who has previously written three other biographical books published by Vincent Publishing House: “De Profundis – Mārtiņš Rītiņš,” “My Possibilities – Māris Verpakovskis,” and “Postcards of a Grandmaster – Dana Reizniece.”
Asked about the creation, content, and design of the book, Linda explains that writing it took exactly two and a half years. The book includes not only the composer’s recollections but also an extensive photo album and a detailed catalogue of his musical works — something that had never before been available. Compiling the list of compositions turned out to be an unexpected task, as the author discovered that such a catalogue simply did not exist. What to do? Together with the composer, she began piecing together everything he had written since 1960, when he began studying music composition at the Conservatory under Professor Ādolfs Skulte and when his first widely performed works were created. Naturally, this required help from archives, museum materials, and numerous professionals from various artistic fields, to whom Linda expresses deep gratitude.
Speaking about the book’s content, the author describes it as unobtrusive and balanced, philosophical in some ways and cultural-historical in others. In the book, the composer reflects on the events and emotions connected with the creation of his works, highlighting especially vivid episodes while dispelling myths and assumptions. The book was created in a bright and joyful atmosphere — with much laughter, shared reading, and searching together for answers to questions about things that never truly pass away.
Why did Linda want to write specifically about Imants Kalniņš? She answers that it was an inner feeling — a conviction, a calling. She had not known the composer personally beforehand but had deeply loved his music and intuitively felt a strong desire to work with him. And what happiness that he agreed! She describes the time spent together succinctly as “magnificent” — one of the composer’s favorite words — adding that the contribution of the composer’s wife, Agra Kalniņa, to the making of the book was invaluable. “Without her, this book simply would not exist! I understand that very clearly,” says Linda.
Readers may be curious about the title “Symphony of Zvaigžņu Street.” The name comes from the composer’s Seventh Symphony, which tells the story of his life beginning on Zvaigžņu Street in the Grīziņkalns district. The symphony consists of four movements — Home, Garden, Street, and Cathedral — and the book follows this same structure, describing how the little boy Imkiņš, cherished and loved by his grandmother Mātuža and his mother, managed, through the God-given ability to write music, to remain true to himself, strive toward the Cathedral, and create so much wonderful music. Moreover, music capable of awakening love.
“Personally, I consider Imants Kalniņš’s works to be the brightest modern expression of the Latvian spirit in music. This perception has been important, formative, moving, and also patriotic. Once, it helped one fit into the free-spirited hippie world; today, it helps cultivate refinement within oneself. Alongside literature and the other arts, music possesses the power to move, comfort, inspire, and emotionally stir us in countless ways. It allows us to step away from the brutal reality of everyday life and recognize ourselves as spiritual beings belonging to something greater than daily existence. The composer says that his world organizes itself through writing music. I would venture to say that through listening to music, the world reveals itself,” Linda writes in the introduction to the book.
Another touching aspect, Linda says, is that the composer reread the texts several times — word by word — commenting, supplementing, and remaining present throughout the entire process, both literally and figuratively. She remembers with great emotion how she spent hours reading aloud to the composer while he listened with closed eyes, as though her texts themselves were music. She believes the texts truly turned out melodic. Even the design of the book was created according to the composer’s suggestions, always expressed in vivid and witty language. Poet Ludmila Azarova once said that Imants Kalniņš possessed “an impeccable literary ear.” What a beautiful way to put it.
Finally, Linda wishes once again to thank Māris Martinsons, who originally came up with the idea of publishing a series of biographical books, supported it financially, and showed remarkable sensitivity by allowing the book to develop naturally and unhurriedly.
Source: Jauns.lv
(Translated using artificial intellect)
