Māris Lasmanis

"My credo is to write melodies that are rich in content, but leave room for the imagination of the listener. To generalize: like any free person, the music writer has the right to express themselves, whatever way that might be."

Māris Lasmanis

The composer and pianist Māris Lasmanis was born on January 15th, 1961 in Riga. He graduated the Piano Department at the Jāzeps Mediņš School of Music (1969– 1976, teacher Māra Lorence), the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music Piano Department (1976–1980, teacher Skaidrīte Valbe), the Latvian State Conservatory Piano Department (1980–1985, the class of Igors Kalniņš) and the Composition Department (1985–1990, the class of Romualds Kalsons). In 2004, he began his master’s study in the Teaching and Psychology Department at the University of Latvia.

He was the Latvian State Conservatory/Latvian Academy of Music accompanist and teacher of improvisation (1983–1991), the 1st vice-chairman of the Latvian Music Society (1991–1993), the director of SIA LAREK (advertising agency, music publisher Ekspresstudija) (as of 1992), the accompanist and teacher at the Riga 100th Secondary School (as of 2003). He was the musical director of the popular music ensemble Intermeco at the fishermen’s collective farm 9. maijs (1985–1988), pianist and composer for the popular music ensemble Mantojums at the collective farm Viesturi (1988–1989). He is a member of the Latvian Composers’ Union (2002), the chairman of its Auditing Commission (since 2004, reelected in 2009) and Council (2004-2007). He was victorious in the Riga Dome Cathedral organised competition for best original music Ave Maria for boy’s soprano voice (2003). Author concerts at the Latvian Philharmonic (1991) and in Valmiera (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004). His music has been performed in Estonia, Germany, Sweden, the United States, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Published collections: Dziesmas bērniem (Songs for Children). – Riga: RaKa, 1999, 72 pages Dziesmu māja (The Home of the Songs). Songs for children – Riga: RaKa, 2005, 147 pages Jaunas dziesmas (New Songs). - Riga: RaKa, 2007, 108 pages Valdas Moras Ziemassvētki (Christmas of Valda Mora). – Riga: RaKa, 2007, 108 pages, CD of the accompaniment Budēļu Ziemassvētki (Mummers’ Christmas). – Riga: RaKa, 2008 Latviešu dzejnieku Ziemassvētki (Christmas of Latvian poets). – Riga: RaKa, 2008 Dziesmas par zvēriņiem (Songs about Animals). - Rīga: RaKa, 2013 Raibas dziesmas (Colourful Songs). - Rīga: RaKa, 2013

Arvīds Bomiks, Mārīte Dombrovska Photo - Andrejs Bogomja © LMIC