GENRE IN LATVIAN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC (THE LAST THIRD OF THE 20TH CENTURY – EARLY 21ST CENTURY)

Abstract

Processes in the music of the previous century and the early 21st century were unusually intensive and manifold in all aspects, also in the sphere of the musical genre. On the whole, the situation in the music of this period is characterized by two principal trends. The first of them reflects the tendency to continue developing and improving classical musical genres formed in previous centuries. In turn, the latter trend highlights the tendency to abandon typical models of musical genre, searching for new and unconventional variants of genre. As a result of these processes, a group of musical compositions – manifold and impressive in terms of quantity – is being established. We cannot find such common and well-known labels as symphony, sonata, prelude and other such labels in the titles of these compositions. Instead of these usual labels of musical genres, non-traditional and previously seldom used titles can increasingly be found.

Thus, the whole genre panorama of the previous century and early 21st century appears uncommonly diverse and multi-shaped, and it provokes the necessity to focus on exploration and analysis of these processes. This is due to the fact that the genre is one of the phenomena helping listeners to grasp and perceive the composer’s main idea and message represented in the musical work. Such kinds of genres are, e.g. as mentioned before sonata, symphony or nocturne and number of other traditional labels. It is important to note that such capacious notions, which uncover already on the level of the title very significant information about the genre in the perception of the listeners, have been established only as a result of the lengthy existence and historical development of the particular musical genre.