Latvia - A Legacy of Singing

I often get asked what Latvia is most famous for, the implication that being a country roughly the size of West Virginia (<25,000 square miles), it can’t be well known for much. And the sad truth is that in recent years Latvia has appeared negatively in the news accompanying human trafficking stories, has been advertised as a stag party destination for “boozy British tourists”, and most recently was mentioned yesterday the world over with the burning of the Castle of Rīga, Rīgas Pils. Although a majority of people I meet today at least know that Latvia is a country (in contrast to 15 years ago when more often than not I would be met with a blank stare, or with a “where’s that?”), I often find myself explaining the geographical location, climate, or answering the question of what the country I consider my homeland (despite being born in Chicago) is best known for.

What Latvia should be best known for is its rich cultural tradition. The Latvian folk song, or daina, is a form of oral literary art, and has long been considered a distinguishing feature of the Latvian identity. Dating back over 1,000 years, there have been more than 1.2 million different dainas identified, and something close to 30,000 melodies; no other peoples in the world can lay claim to such an extensive oral history preserved in song. In addition, these folk songs are still sung today, and you will rarely find a celebration or gathering without singing, especially at the Jāņi celebrations taking place this weekend.

Source: Diena.lv

"To the Latvian the dainas are more than a literary tradition. They are the very embodiment of his cultural heritage, left by forefathers whom history had denied other, more tangible forms of expression. These songs thus form the very core of the Latvian identity and singing becomes one of the identifying qualities of a Latvian." (Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, former President of the Republic of Latvia, Journal of Baltic Studies, 1975.)

What Latvia should be famous for, is the incredible wealth of customs and traditions, starting with singing and folk dancing, but including everything from the national foods such as kliņģeris, pīrāgi, Jāņu siers, skābie kāposti, šprotes, etc. to the woven goods, the woodcarvings, the amber jewelry and the literature. Starting with a beautiful language that is one of the oldest of the Indo-European languages, to the stunning physical beauty of the beaches, forests, rivers and old cities in the country itself; Latvia’s riches lie in its people, natural beauty and its culture.

Sources: here, here, here and here

Tālavas taurētājs, Rūdolfs Blaumanis

Uz Tālavas biezajiem siliem Nakts pelēkus palagus klāj; Pār klusiem koku galiem Jodi un murgi jāj.

Dus Miervaldis savā pilī, Guļ viņa ļaužu pulks, Guļ vaidelaiši un sargi, Un zīmju gudrais tulks.

Tik augstākās egles galā Taurētājs nomodā, Tas spiego pēc ienaidnieka Tuvu un tālumā.

Te it kā pa sapņiem tam liekas, Ka  slepeni soļi čab, Ka šķēpi pašķindētu, Ka zirgu pakavi klab.

Un troksnis ap egli ceļas, Un bultas augšup skrien, Un asu cirvju zobi Egles stumbrā lien.

“Šurp tauri! Kāp zemē! Ciet klusu! Tu glābsi sev dzīvību; Mēs algosim tevi ar zeltu, Ar godu, ar brīvību!”

“Mans zelts ir mana tauta, Mans gods ir viņas gods! Kas postīdams viņu šausta, Uz pekli lai rauj to jods!”

Un taurētājs pūš ar spēku, Ka koku galotnes trīc, - Un lejā atskan lāsti, Un bultas spindz un sīc.

Mirdz lāpu sarkanā uguns, Sāk cirtiens uz cirtiena līt; Dreb, šūpojas staltā egle, Un brakš, un gāžas, un krīt.

Un taurētāja krūti Šķēpi un cirvji šķeļ, Bet taures skaņas pilī No miega Miervaldi ceļ.

Un viņš un viņa pulki Uz cīņu kājas aun, Un šķēpnešiem pretī drāžas, Dzen stiegnājā tos un kaun…

Bet uzvaras gaviļu svētkos Meitenes vaiņagus pin, Un varoni sirmā māte  Sniegbaltos autos tin.

Uz sārta vietu tam taisa No ozolu pazariem Un līgava puķēm to kaisa, Un dzintara gabaliem.

Un kamēr svaidītās liesmas Pie dieviem jaunekli nes, Dzied vīri tam slavas dziesmas, Raud žēli meitenes.

Source: here

What Latvia should be making headlines with, is the XXV Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un XV Deju svētki (Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival) that will be taking place in a few weeks in Rīga (June 30 – July 7). Held every five years, the first festival was in 1873. The festival is a key component of the Latvian cultural identity, and the festivals since 1991 have seen about 30,000 members including the choirs, folk dancers, brass bands, traditional music ensembles, harpists and vocal ensembles. The folk dancing lieluzvedums is expected to showcase 15,000 dancers, and the culmination of the weeklong festival is the closing concert in open-air venue Mežaparks, featuring a combined choir of over 15,000 singers. I’ve attended smaller Latvian song and dance festivals in the US and Canada (even danced and sung in more than a few!), but I hope you’ll join me on my journey to Latvia to experience the 25^th Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival, my first in Rīga. For a nation with a population of 2.058 million that languished for years under Soviet occupation, the song and dance festival is a celebration of freedom, of culture, of life, and I can’t wait to join in.

Manai dzimtenei, Raimonds Pauls, Jānis Peters

Es redzu – nāk vīri pelēkos vadmalas svārkos. Ir 1873.gads. Dimd Rīga un pirmie dziedāšanas svētki ir sākušies ...

Man stāstīja Daugaviņ’, Kā liktenis vīdamās, Dziesma savus svētkus svin, Ar bāliņu celdamās.

Tā dziedāja bāleliņš, Pret likteni stāvēdams Viņa dziesmā gadu simts Kā mūžiņis krāsojās.

Vēl nāks Piektais gads, asins lietus līs, Un visaugstākās priedes nolauzīs.

Iesim strēlniekos, dziesma vētru sēs. Mūžam gaismas pils kalnā gavilēs.

Lai balstiņis vīdamās Pār novadu aizvijās. Dziesma savus svētkus svin, Ar bāliņu celdamās.

Tā dziedāja bāleliņš,Ar Daugavu nemirstīgs Viņa dziesmā gadu simts Kā mūžiņis krāsojās.

Cauri sirdīm mums lauztās priedes augs Jaunā gaitā mūs jauni rīti sauks.

Tālāk mūžībā, dziedot iesim mēs. Mūžam gaismas pils kalnā gavilēs.