From a new experience to an album for a big band in three years

A big band composition competition has resulted in Latvia taking the Grand Prix!

On November 30th, 2023, at the Spīķeri Concert Hall, as well as on Latvijas Radio «Klasika» in concert «Latvijas Radio Big Band and Aija Vītoliņa. Nordic Jazz», the composer to whom the international jury awarded the first place was determined — this time it was local pianist and composer Anna Vibe-Gorkuša with the composition «Prologue.»In second place was Mikkel Dahl Amundsen with the composition «Going», and the jury decided to award the third place to Peter Robertstad (Norway), who participated in the competition with the composition «Equilibrum.»The three finalists were selected after the semifinal concert on October 27 at the Ziedoņa Hall of the National Library of Latvia, where ten compositions by young composers from Latvia, Lithuania, and Norway specially composed for big band and female vocals were performed. Unlike the concert at Spīķeri, where the competition pieces were performed by the Latvian Radio Big Band, the visitors of the Ziedoņa Hall experienced something special — they enjoyed a performance by the conductor Dāvis Jurka-led big band, where young professionals from Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Music Academy (JVLMA), Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Trondheim Academy of Music, Royal College of Music in Stockholm, and Vilnius University of Applied Sciences Faculty of Rhythmic Music came together. In this concert, carefully selected pieces were performed, which were chosen by the international jury in the first round of the competition. The list of semifinalists included the following compositions: Mikkel Dahl Amundsen (Norway) «Going», Anna Vibe-Gorkuša (Latvia) «Prologue», Peter Robertstad (Norway) «Equilibrium», Denis Dārznieks (Latvia) «Beginning», Kristers Lauriņš (Latvia) «Waiting For», Eskild Sveås Okkenhaug (Norway) «Heavy at Heart», Patrīcija Anna Doniņa (Latvia) «Latvian Spirit», Apolinaras Dubauskas (Lithuania) «Vilnius», Jurgis Lipskis (Latvia) «I’m Leaving», and Lāsma Švemberga (Latvia) «A Night in Snow». The Big Band Composition Competition for Baltic and Nordic young composers, jointly organized by JVLMA and Latvijas Radio Big Band, took place for the fourth time, and this competition’s winner experienced three of them! We talked to Anna about how it was — composing for a big band and competing for the victory for three consecutive years.

Well, what a great adventure it was for you to participate in the big band competition!

This was actually the third time I participated. I participated in the very first competition, then skipped a year, and then this year I especially wanted to participate because it was my last chance due to the age limit. It was up to 30 (including), and I couldn’t exceed that age by the time we submitted the compositions. It worked out well because it was shortly before my birthday! By the time the semifinals and finals took place, I was already «old».

Okay, then there was the semifinal, where the combined JVLMA/RDKS big band played, and the final, where the Latvijas Radio big band played.

Yes, and in the semifinal, foreign musicians were also called upon — musicians from Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, and Norway joined the big bands.

What were your impressions of the final?

Well, absolutely fantastic! I was so happy to hear how my composition sounded and the compositions of other participants as well. I think the Radio Big Band did everything to highlight the strengths of each piece, and everything sounded very professional and beautiful. Then, as the cherry on top, there was Buiķis’ [Andris] program, which also influenced the overall mood, being at Spīķeri that evening.

But you only got to listen to your composition being performed by other musicians. Didn’t you want to step on stage and join them?

I wouldn’t refuse! But it was also nice to have the opportunity to listen from the sidelines, of course. It’s a different kind of experience.

But you don’t write big band music daily, right?

Well, recently I have been writing! We have a plan with the Ventspils Big Band: we will record an album in the summer and have a concert afterward, probably in September, so I started writing. I began writing the first composition for the Ventspils Big Band and then realized there was a competition, and then literally in two nights, everything else to meet the deadline. It all worked out by chance. It turned out quite successfully! So, throughout this year, I also wrote the rest of the compositions for the big band. The scores have already been sent, and the big band will start rehearsing soon!

Good! Congratulations! Now, after participating in the competition several times, a whole three times, how have your feelings about it changed? Do you have any observations about the competition itself?

Definitely, the fact that the Nordic countries joined is an improvement; also, the number of participants is quite large, and what was cool this year — there was a Zoom session with all the jury members and the opportunity to listen to their comments, which was very valuable. Now, while I am working on a recording, I am using those comments. The location where the semifinal performance takes place definitely is a good change; this year, it was at the Ziedoņa Hall in the National Library, and there were many audience members. The soloists changed each time; this time, it was Aija Vītoliņa.

Did you enjoy composing for vocals?

Interesting. It was probably like homework for everyone — to research the soloist. I, for example, wrote an improvised solo part, although I wasn’t sure if Aija really did those things. Last year, there wasn’t a vocalist; there was a trumpeter, Dominykas Vyšniauskas; it was a different format altogether. In reality, I might even have enjoyed writing purely instrumental compositions more. A big band with vocals always sounds good; it’s classic, but you have to think whether you will add any words as required there. But I’m not a lyricist; it was just scat singing. It creates stress, whether that scat singing will fit into the overall context; it’s like a concert, not just a competition. But it was also cool — one participant had lyrics, and it sounded, in my opinion, at a different level.

And that participant didn’t get the first prize!

I would grant the victory to him!

But what do you think? Why were the results like that this time?

I also thought about making the composition memorable. I chose a quite simple, even slightly pop melody and harmonies, although it was a bit more complex rhythmically. It proved to be a working element in competitions, where the jury doesn’t hear the composition many times, but it remains in memory. The piece that had lyrics resonated more with me emotionally. I feel the composer also worked more with the big band; there was an expanded composition material specifically for the big band. It was very well done. The third piece was also cool. I would place them differently. I really liked the one that took third place; it touched me the most.

What did you feel when the results were announced?

I was shocked! I couldn’t believe it, really! I didn’t expect it and didn’t want to create any expectations beforehand. I really didn’t expect it. I was convinced that the representative from Norway would win, so I was shocked, very happy, and delighted. I felt happy at that moment, especially considering that it was my last participation. It ended so beautifully.

But is it even possible not to have any expectations?

Of course, inwardly, one always wants to win, but I was also ready to accept any result. Participation is very valuable because I wrote my first big band composition exactly because of this competition. I would never have attempted something like this if it weren’t for this competition.