Andrejs Jurjāns

1856–1922
Conductor, composer, folklore collector, music critic

Andrejs Jurjāns or Jurjāna Andrejs is a notable Latvian conductor, folklorist and composer, and initiator of the Latvian cantata, symphonic music, suite and concert genres.

Born 30 September 1856 at the Meņģeli homestead in Ērgļi Parish. Studied at the Ērgļi and Vecpiebalga congregation school and obtained his secondary education at Rīga’s Katrina School (1873-1874). Studied organ, composition and French horn at the St Petersburg Conservatory (1875-1882). Composed his first pieces during his studies, which were published in the collection Daiņa (1877).

After graduating from the Conservatory, worked at the Imperial Russian Music Society’s Kharkiv School of Music, later in the Conservatory (1882-1916). Founded the Kharkiv Latvian Assistance Society (1899) and choir, organised church services at which he played organ, and worked as a music critic in Kharkiv’s Russian newspaper. At the same time, stayed in touch with Latvian musicians – he founded the Jurjāns Brothers’ French-horn Quartet, embarked on folklore gathering expeditions in Vidzeme and Kurzeme, and worked on the Rīga Latvian Society’s Music Committee. In 1920, he was appointed the first Honorary Professor of Latvia’s Conservatory.