LATVIA — Thursday, March 2, at At 19.00 in Ventspils, the concert hall “Latvija” will host a concert of the National Armed Forces Orchestra, dedicated to the 104th anniversary of the First War Orchestra of the Latvian Army. All three Latvian military orchestras will take part in the concert – the National Armed Forces Headquarters Orchestra, the Naval Orchestra and the National Guard Orchestra. The artistic director of the concert is Major Andis Karelis, the chief conductor of the National Armed Forces.
The concert will be opened by the Headquarters Orchestra of the National Armed Forces under the leadership of the conductor Captain-Lieutenant Guntas Kumačev. The program includes academic pieces for brass band and soloists, including works by Eric Whitacre, Scott McAllister and Marina Widmonte. Senior sergeant Guntars Gedroits, corporal Richards Lapiņš (clarinet), senior national guard Luize Krasta and senior national guard Gita Puikevica-Puikevska (vocals) will perform solo.
The compositions included in the Naval Band program were composed by composers Goff Richards, Gilbert Tinner, Otto M. Schwarz, John Williams and Mark Koos. The conductor is Captain Aleksandrs Kreishmanis, the soloist is Roberts Zonīs (clarinet).
At the end of the concert, the National Guard Orchestra under the direction of Major Anda Karelis will perform, playing John Williams’ original music for brass band dedicated to the theme of freedom, as well as Benny Andersson’s music from the musical “Chess” and Richard Rodgers’ compositions from the musical ” Sound of Music”.
“The period of Latvia’s first independence has been musically rich even in the field of military music since the founding of the Latvian state, so this part of history must be remembered and honored. With this concert, we want to show that culture and music are still a huge strength and pride of our country and nation. Modern Latvian army musicians, preserving traditions, have changed, creating ever new, colorful and modern concert programs. This will be a great opportunity for the listeners to enjoy the orchestra’s contrasts and diverse sound possibilities,” says Major Andis Karelis.
The Headquarters Orchestra of the National Armed Forces was founded on February 2, 1992 and is one of the most recognizable units of the Latvian Army. In society, the orchestra is most often associated with nationally important holidays and events. Several functions are combined in the operation of the orchestra – ceremonies, parades, parade program demonstrations, orchestra and chamber ensemble concerts. During its existence, the orchestra has participated in many international and world-famous military music festivals. The orchestra’s performance has been widely recognized by listeners in many foreign countries and also in its native Latvia. Captain Lieutenant Guntis Kumačevs is the head of the National Armed Forces Staff Orchestra.
The Naval Orchestra was founded on June 6, 1995. Its main functions include the musical presentation of military ceremonies, professional concert activities and participation in international festivals of military and professional brass bands.
In 2009, the Navy Band was converted to a jazz band, renaming it the National Armed Forces Big Band. This big band has prepared several diverse concert programs, which have been performed together with outstanding big band conductors of Latvia’s allied countries and NATO member states from Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Lithuania, Finland, USA and Canada.
Since 2019, the National Armed Forces Big Band has experienced its return to the Navy, to be fully known as the Navy Orchestra again, as well as regaining a more orchestral sound. Last year, the Naval Orchestra visited Washington, USA, in honor of the centenary of diplomatic cooperation between Latvia and the USA. The conductor of the orchestra is captain-lieutenant Uldis Locenieks.
The National Guard Orchestra was founded on November 1, 2011. It is a separate unit of the National Guard, which includes brass band, big band, choir “Stars”, various chamber ensembles and folk dance ensemble “Bramani”. The task and mission of the National Guard Orchestra is the musical design of National Guard and National Armed Forces ceremonies, popularizing the National Guard in society, as well as taking care of the spiritual and cultural well-being of the Latvian people by providing listeners with artistically high-quality, creatively challenging and inspiring concerts. During the years of its existence, the National Guard Orchestra has also participated in festivals and public events of various cities. The National Guard Orchestra has also performed in Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Ukraine, the USA and Canada, cooperates with popular performing artists in Latvia, as well as with the 126th Army Band of the Michigan Guard, the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Band of the Spanish Operational Combat Support Forces. The leader of the National Guard Orchestra is the Chief Conductor of the National Armed Forces, Major Andis Karelis.
The first military orchestra of the Latvian army was founded on February 6, 1919, when the commander of the newly formed forces, Ludvigs Bolšteins, issued order no. 11, in which volunteers 11. r
Otai was asked to create a team of musicians. According to this order, the first military band of the Latvian Army was established in Liepāja. Its leader was First Lieutenant Paul Strunge.
Continuing the tradition of the National Armed Forces Bands, admission to the concert is free. The concert is organized in cooperation with the municipality of Ventspils and SIA “Kurzemes Philharmonic”.
