Poruks Jēkabs (1895 - 1963), musician, composer

Born on July 23, 1895 in Druviena, Lieltrušļi.
Studied at Druviena and Palsmane parish schools, Jaunpiebalga parish school, Miller and Riga city real school.
From 1914 he studied engineering for three years in St. Petersburg, later philosophy.
In 1917 he graduated from the Peterhof Officers' School and served in Nikolaev (1917-1918).

He received his first musical education from J. Kalniņš in Druviena. In 1923, he graduated from the composition class of Professor J.Vītols at the Latvian Conservatory, where he worked as a teacher for some time.

Jēkabs Poruk has an excellent place in music writing, starting with concise and ingenious reviews (he started working as a music critic in 1927), ending with more extensive articles and essays on various musicians.

From 1929 he was a playwright at the Latvian National Opera, from 1936 - its director.

He spent his years in exile in Germany, moved to America in 1949, and settled in Kalamazoo. Worked in a factory.
Along with his many responsibilities, he has very little time for composing, but in those years the composer has accumulated about 30 solo songs, about 50 choirs, finishes for voice and piano, and other works.

He has written musical reviews. He has written a memoir book "Visiting" - well-known portraits of Latvian and foreign musicians.

Died August 19, 1963 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA.

The list of information sources can be found here .