Mārtiņš Brauns

• Name — Mārtiņš Brauns • Born — 17 September 1951 • Birthplace — Riga, Latvian SSR, Soviet Union • Died — 24 November 2021 • Place of death — Riga, Latvia • Occupation — Composer musician • Instrument — Synthesizer Piano Vocal Guitar Harmonica • Years Active — 1968–2021

• Illustration — Saule, Pērkons, Daugava being performed at the 2018 Latvian Song and Dance Festival Brauns studied at the Emīls Dārziņš Music School from 1958 to 1970, studying piano and choir, before moving on to study conducting and music theory after his voice started changing. He then studied at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music between 1970 and 1976. From 1975 to 1986, he led the rock band Sīpoli. From 1986 and until his death, Brauns was a member of the Latvian Filmmakers Union and has composed music for various films. In addition to film scores, Brauns wrote and composed multiple pieces for various theatre plays. His most famous piece, written in the late 1980s for the Valmiera Drama Theatre, titled Saule, Pērkons, Daugava, of which the lyrics are based on the poem Daugava by Latvian poet Rainis; this song has been performed regularly at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival since 1990, and is even considered the unofficial anthem of the festival. In 2014, an adapted version of the song with lyrics by Catalan poet Miquel Martí i Pol became the official anthem of the Catalan independence movement.

Brauns was recovering from a heart attack at a hospital when he contracted COVID-19. He died on 24 November 2021, at the age of 70.

Mārtiņš Brauns is recorded with the occupation musician. Recorded as a citizen of Soviet Union. Recorded with the occupation composer.