The Latvian Youth Choir Kamēr…, led by artistic director Māris Sirmais, has released their latest compact disc, O Salutaris, containing works by Latvian composer Ēriks Ešenvalds.

The CD collects a number of recordings, some previously released, some new.

Ešenvalds, who in recent years has become one of the best known and popular Latvian composers, in October became a fellow commoner in creative arts at Trinity College, Cambridge, in England. He will hold that position for two years.

Ešenvalds and Kamēr… have a long history together, as the choir has premiered a number of his works, and Ešenvalds for many years has sung in the Latvian State Choir Latvija, also conducted by Sirmais.

His popular compositions include an arrangement of the traditional spiritual “Amazing Grace,” “A Drop in the Ocean” (dedicated to Mother Teresa), “Aizej, lietiņ!” (based on Latvian folk songs), as well as “Tāls ceļš” and “Mazā bilžu rāmītī” (his arrangement of the song by Prāta vētra lead singer Renārs Kaupers, with lyrics by famed Latvian poet Imants Ziedonis). All of these songs are included on O Salutaris.

The CD also contains fragments from Ešenvalds’ “Ziemassvētku leġenda,” a Christmas themed performance that features popular Latvian performers such as Kaupers and ethnomusicologist Valdis Muktupāvels.

Kamēr… has plucked laurels worldwide, performing everywhere from the United States to China, with one of their greatest achievements in recent years being the World Sun Songs project.

For further information on Kamēr…, visit www.kamer.lv. For more on composer Ešenvalds, visit www.eriksesenvalds.com.