Arvīds Purvs
1926-2023
Conductor, composer, violinist, music critic, publicist
Born on March 22, 1926, in Mengele Parish. In his childhood, studied violin and sang in the children’s choir of the Youth Red Cross of Latvia led by Jānis Milzarājis.
During his exile in Germany, he played in the Orchestra of Verners Taube and in the Latvian Orchestra led by Bruno Skulte. When in England (1948-1956), he was assistant conductor of the Zuika choir, a symphony-orchestra violinist and directed the Leicester mixed choir.
It is remarkable that the musician has never studied conducting or composition, but has accumulated experience through practice, making remarkable progress in both spheres. In 1956, he migrated to Canada and led Toronto’s St Andrejs Evangelic Lutheran Church choir, the Latvian Baptist Congregation choir and the Toronto Female choir Zīle, which has performed some 100 concerts in Canada, also guesting at festivals/days of song in Gotland, Munster and Latvia (1992). his choral compositions – cantatas, original songs and folk-song arrangements – have gained appreciation among singers and composer Tālivaldis Ķeniņš paid tribute in the following words: “The composer’s writing not only shows skill but also personality.” (Auguste, Ilga. Composer, conductor, music critic Arvīds Purvs turns 90 . Lsm.lv 22 March 2016)
Has been an active publicist in Latvian exile periodicals, as well as in preserving and promoting Latvian folk music, compiling the Dievam pieder zeme (The Land Belongs to God) and Zelta rasa (Golden Dew) song collections, and compiled and published an anthology of the choral songs of Jānis Cīrulis. His book Pa skanošu vasaru (On a Sonorous Summer), which comprehensively and colourfully reflects the diverse events of the exile Latvian music scene, is considered significant.
The energy that Purvis has invested in public life is worthy of admiration – since 1967 he has been continuously on the board of the Toronto Latvian Concert Union, from 1977 – has been chairman of the board of Canada’s Latvian Song Festival Society and head of music for eight Canadian Song Festivals. “The name Arvīds Purvis is synonymous with the entire exile Latvian Song Festival movement, both in Europe and across the ocean. He has been and is one of its safest and most powerful pillars alongside Alberts Jērums, Jānis Norvilis, Roberts Zuika, Jānis Cīrulis and others. Conductor of choirs and symphony orchestras, long-term leader of three choirs, head of the wonderful Toronto Latvian Concert Union, composer with the inclination to work with monumental vocal-instrumental forms. Known as the ‘structural timber’ of Latvian music, also ‘the joyous one’”. (Zemzaris, Imants, The Right Book at the Right time. Jaunagaita.net, June 2001)
A chief conductor at the XXth All-Latvian Song Festival, as well as the IVth West Coast Song Festival, the 1st Youth Song Festival in Montreal, at European Latvian Song Festivals in Cologne, London and Leeds, and a chief conductor at countless days of song and regional song festivals.
Awarded the Daugavas Vanagi Gold medal, the Cultural Foundation of the World Federation of Free Latvians Award (1977), received the Silver Medal of Honour, Three Stars Order (1997) and the Honorary Diploma of the Cultural Foundation of the World Federation of Free Latvians (2001).
