Jermaks, Romualds (1931)
Biography Works
Foto 1
Romualds Jermaks was born on June
10th, 1931, in Šķaune. His primary school years were spent in
Latgale, but secondary school was completed in Sloka. From his
father – organist Boļeslavs Jermaks – he received an interest in
music that brought him to the Jāzeps Mediņš College of Music
(1954–1957) and further on to the Latvian State Conservatory. While
studying in the class of Jānis Ivanovs, he finished his first
symphonic score, gained noticed for his chamber works, and received
a diploma with honours (1962). After graduation, he gained
practical experience in the fieldof music theory while working as a
teacher in the Rēzekne (1962–1963) and Cēsis (1963–1964) Colleges
of Music, and as a sound engineer in the studios of Latvian
Television (1964–1971).
As of 1971, R. Jermaks’ work was involved with the
Conservatory (Latvian Academy of Music). In 1976, he was elected as
a senior lecturer in the composition department, and in 1988 as an
associate professor. When, after the reestablishment of Latvia’s
independence, newly revived church congregations had a great need
for educated organists, R. Jermaks also became a teacher at the
Daugavpils College of Music (1992–1997), where, putting to use his
education in organ playing gained with Nikolajs Vanadziņš, along
with experience gained practically through life, he renews the
organ class. In the area of organ art, R. Jermaks’ experience is
especially rich, participating in the creation of the 25 record
series Latvijas vēsturiskās ērģeles (Historical
Organs of Latvia), proficiency in organ construction and
repair, assisting with the activities of the Organ Centre of Latvia
(as of 1989) and many church concerts. He organised a yearly
festival in the Tukums region Apšuciems (as of 1983), where his own
summer house has been outfitted with a concert hall with self built
organ, which has been especially fruitful in composing for organ.
Organists of the United States have noted the significance of this
dedication – the composer was elected as an honorary member of the
American Latvian Organist Guild (1995).
R. Jermaks has composed approximately 900 works. The genre
amplitude of the creative output is broad, the range of images is
also broad – from grand vocal instrumental work frescoes to songs
for a social setting, from intellectually sophisticated sound
watercolours to humorous genre scenes. Still, there are many main
lines that are woven through the entire body of creative work by
the composer. The most important is the desire to dive down into
the multiform depths of an ocean of sacred sensation. This is
expressed by the true, deep spirituality of the masses, the
fascination of the eternity of the universe, the miraculous world
of the poetry of Rabindranath Tagore, the poetry of Latvian folk
songs, the ruminative voice of the kokle – these are all contained
in the works of R. Jermaks. The second line – the sense of the
events of Latvian history, which are dramatically summarized and
concentrated in his oratorio works. The third is instrumental
performance and the intensive spirit of performance. It is a bed
where vivid colours express vitality and the joy of
playing.
R. Jermaks has been awarded the title of Latvian SSR
Distinguished Artist (1989). The composer’s work has also been
awarded with the Jānis Ivanovs award (1988), his creative
assistance in the organisation of the visit of
Pope John Paul II to Latvia was
acknowledged with an honorary diploma from the Aglona Basilica
(1993). For his contribution to Latvian culture, he has been
recognized with many composition competition awards, honorary
writings, and he received the Republic of Latvia Culture Ministry
Award of Gratitude for his lifetime of investment in Latvian music
(2001).
