The Fredösphere

Get to know Imant Raminsh:  a Latvian-born Canadian composer, Raminsh's music is greatly admired among choral musicians.  You want to call his idiom conservative?  Sticks and stones may break his bones, but:

He is unconcerned that his music is viewed as harmonically and rhythmically conservative: 'I have a limited time to compose... and I'm more comfortable saying the things I have to say in a language I already know. I don't have to be original for the sake of being original. That's my very sincere approach.'

And let's be honest, people, the prevalence of amateurs among choral musicians puts a lid on the technical difficulty of choral works, unless their creators don't much care if they get performed.  Some other day I'll rant at length on that subject; today I will simply observe its truth as a practical matter.  In fact, many church choirs would find Raminsh's music too hard, too weird, too icky.  Don't get me started.

Want to know more about Imant Raminsh?  I found links to some amazon.com sound excerpts, more sound files at Hear the Choirs Sing (don't miss the tantalizingly brief bit of Quia Respexit), a list of works, a recording review or two, and another bio.