Jāzeps Medinš: Symphony No 2, 3

Jāzeps Mediņš

Born Feb. 1, 1877, in Kaunas; died June 12, 1947, in Riga.

Latvian composer and conductor; Honored Art Worker of the Latvian SSR (1945).

Symphony No 2 in A Major, 'In the Spring'

I. Moderato - Moderato con moto 0:00
II. Andante tranquillo 14:37
III. Intermezzo: Moderato con moto 23:10
IV. Andante sostenuto - Allegro risoluto 30:45

Latvian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Leonids Vigners, conductor

Symphony No 3 in E flat Major

I. Allegro moderato
II. Moderato 13:30
III. Lento sostenuto 19:45
IV. Allegro moderato ma risoluto 27:22

Latvian Radio Symphony Orchestra
Leonids Vigners, conductor



In 1896, Medins graduated from the Riga Music Institute, where he studied violin, cello, and piano; he then became a teacher and director of the institute. He was a member of orchestras in Riga and was later a conductor in the Riga Latvian Theater (1906-11) and the opera house in Baku (1916-22). From 1922 to 1925 he was concertmaster and conductor of the Latvian Opera (Riga). From 1945 to 1947 he taught piano at the Latvian Conservatory, becoming a professor in 1946.

As a composer, Mediņš was an adherent of the late romantic trend; he composed two operas (including The Priestess, staged 1927 at the Latvian Opera), three symphonies (1922, 1937, and 1941), the symphonic poem The Latvian Land (1935), a symphonic suite, choral works, and concerti for violin and orchestra (1911).