His music is characterised by a lyrically expressive and deepened meditative mood. Frequently a turn to the manifestation of humorous theatrical, even grotesque images can be observed, accordingly artistically modelling his temporal life in all of its many forms. One of the most important guiding lines in Pēteris Butāns’s creative output is an intensive search for spiritual renewal, involved with both Latvian folklore and its reflected symbolic lessons of life. There is also a gained ethical and philosophical world view and artistic experience made actual through a long history with the Christian Church. Pēteris Butāns has specifically accented these two aesthetics and stylistic orientations in his developed symphonic compositions.
Pēteris Butāns was born on August 22nd, 1942 in Daugavpils. He has gained diplomas in two music specialties. In 1960, after finishing the Daugavpils College of Music, he enrolled in the Latvian State Conservatory’s Choir Conductor program, where, under the tutelage of Imants Kokars, he completed his studies in 1965. Many years later, he enrolled in the Latvian Academy of Music’s Composition program, and he graduated in 1990 (studying with Pēteris Plakidis). From 1965 to 1980, Pēteris Butāns lived in Daugavpils. His field of work in this period was very wide – the musician was the assistant to the music chairman of the Daugavpils Institute of Education, a teacher of theory at the Daugavpils College of Music, and the conductor of the Central Daugavpils Cultural House Wind Orchestra. Working with the wind orchestra, he quickly developed an interest in creative work, which manifested itself as arrangements of many styles and genres for the wind orchestra. In that way, he gradually developed many different compositional skills. He became aware of his need to seriously pursue compositional studies, which lasted until he was accepted in the LMA composition program. From 1981 until 1983, Pēteris Butāns was the conductor of the 3rd Riga Boarding School Wind Orchestra, and from 1984 until 1986, he directed the Tukums Wind Orchestra and worked as a teacher in the Kandava Music School. As of 1986, he lives in Tukums and works in the Tukums School of Music. In 1993 Pēteris Butāns became a member of the Latvian Composers’ Union. He has received the Latvian Great Music Award 2004.
