London latvian choir

The themes of dainas are centered around popular folk legends, native mythological stories, or traditional lifestyles. Ancient deities, births, weddings, and funerals take center stage in these songs. Dainas have only a few stanzas, which are typically short in length with unrhyming lyrics. These songs are accompanied by the music of traditional instruments, particularly kokles. Kokles are stringed instruments that are laid flat and plucked on a table or lap. Folk dancing in Latvia has evolved from the dancing styles of the Baltic people, who immigrated to this region around BCE.

Like the dainas, these dances are representative of traditional daily life and celebratory events. Many of the dances are performed in groups of multiple couples usually 4 and involve switching partners.

It has often been compared to square dancing. Literature in this country is rooted in its folk songs and music. Its literary tradition is said to have begun in , when the poetry book Songs by Juris Alunans was published. Nearly 30 years later, Lacplesis was published; today, this work is considered the national epic of Latvia.

During the early 20th century, literary themes were influenced by a wide range of political movements, including socialism and Marxism. Latvian works were primarily written here and later published in Stockholm, New York City, and London. Works of art created from the s until now can be seen at the National Museum of Art, located in Riga. It houses over 52, pieces, providing a look at the the evolution of artwork over the last years.

Lutheranism is the most popular denomination But during the first weekend of June, its trails are lined with hundreds of fine artisans from all over Latvia, and packed with shoppers searching for beautiful handcrafted items. Cars were already backed up, parked along the nearby bridge, and Iveta managed to snag one of the last parking places in a wooded lot very close to the festival grounds. Bear in mind that the Ethnographic Museum is no small site at about acres in area.

Because there are so many vendors, the market grounds were divided according to category: food is in one area, woven items in another, books still another, furniture is grouped together, you get the idea, though there was often some intermingling. The wares for sale were all very-high quality no goofy gimmicks or cheap items I have often seen in shows in the USA. Common crafts in Latvia include weaving, beadwork, linen items of all sorts, metal jewelry with all sorts of traditional folk symbols, wooden furniture and instruments, many kinds of leather products, and ceramics which tend to more commonly come from the Latgale region because of the abundance of clay.

Another thing that intrigued me was the availability of supplies. Wool and linen are the two most common fibers in this country, and an abundance of wool yarn and wool or linen fabric was for sale. There was no shortage of food, either. I was able to sample very fine cheeses, gooseberry wine, and even lilac syrup which is supposed to have health benefits which you are supposed to eat by the spoonful! Other foods for sale included piparkukas gingerbread cookies , honey which you can buy in small jars or by the liter , and smoked meats.

Of course, at any outdoor show, entertainment seems to be universal. Not surprisingly, there were traditional dance shows occurring throughout the entire festival, many including very small children they start dancing very early in this country! Choirs that specialize in music of other cultures or time periods, even something as Western-canon as Bach motets or Anglican church music, seem to be few and far between.

There are a few exceptions. There is an excellent female gospel choir that performs at my church every few months. Jazz in recent years has become quite popular. No advertisements for the latest Broadway tour. And it does seem a bit odd, that 25 years after the divide between east and west has fallen, that musicals have not made some kind of appearance here.

She studied musical theatre at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and is now employed at the Riga Doms Choir School, where she is starting a musical theatre program. This may not sound like a novel concept to an American. But in Latvia, this is kind of a big deal.

First, I must say I was really impressed by the concert. A short performance, only about 50 minutes in length, consisted only of her, a pianist with great chops and stage presence, and a young rising tenor from the national opera. Their sense of ensemble was completely intuitive, their musical interpretation of the pieces was magnificent in spite of turn-on-a-dime tempo and meter changes that Bernstein often writes.

But what really caught my attention was their realization of Bernstein, and it was gutsier than anything any American would think to do. The performance was a semi-staged art-song performance, with props and small costume changes, and entrances and exits.

I think Bernstein is one of those American composing legends that we tend to put on a pedestal. But he was also innovative and intensely creative. But let me illustrate a cultural problem by asking this question: what movie musical did you grow up with?

If you answered this question with any musical, then maybe you can see the cultural issue. You understand the musical tradition because it has been present in your life.

Have you ever thought:. And, by the way, have you ever seen an English Panto, or Noh theatre from Japan? Both are also very stylized. Of course, a three-person show with simple props and no scenery is much cheaper to produce. But the visual style of the American musical and the language barrier were easily surmounted in her performance, which was essentially an art song recital with a few additions.

What interests me more is whether or not the American musical catches on in Latvia. We shall see. About two weeks ago, I had one of those recollections: my great-grandmother died when I was six, and I understood at that time that something bad had happened, but only with the simple empathy and limited life experience of a small child.

As a late-twenty-something, I experienced that sensation all over again at a public service for Gido Kokars.

Gido and Imants Kokars were twin brothers and two of the finest choral conductors in Latvia. They were born in August of , and through their passion for people and music, plus their immense musical abilities, became living legends in choral music in their own lifetimes, and a sort of beacon through which the culture of Latvia shone through the endurance of the Soviet Occupation.

Practically the entire country celebrated both of their 90 th birthdays in Imants passed away that October at the age of Gido just passed away last month on March 9 th.

I am only aware of a handful of Latvian books about their lives and contributions, which I am painstakingly beginning to read with my limited knowledge of Latvian. This is not a little frustrating. On March 16 th , along with many Latvian singers and conductors, I went to pay my respects to this living legend. But sometimes scholarship is putting the books and interviews aside, and turning up the gain on empathy in the hopes of understanding. A Latvian-American friend, Iveta, emailed me and suggested I go.

And bearing two roses an even number of flowers is a symbol of mourning in Latvia , I went with Iveta and her son. We arrived just before the doors opened at for you Europeans. Outside, many large banners with famous, nostalgic images of the two brothers were on display. There were also traditional evergreen trees around the courtyard, with the top branch broken to symbolize that the tree will no longer grow correctly.

Already, even before the service had officially begun, around sixty people were gathered outside. Dignitaries were allowed in first, and among them was the prime minister of Latvia.

As I slowly processed in, choirs present in the hall replaced the sounds of recordings of Gido conducting at the song festivals. The choir from the music academy was there and sang a few selections, including the anthem Gaismas Pils.

Many large wreathes of red and white flowers were behind the casket. I speak of a choral conductor. Given how Latvia celebrates its choir tradition, this honor comes as no surprise. But as an American artist, struggling for artistic and financial footing, and constantly battling for the value of the arts in society, this ceremony comes as quite a shock.

Added to that shock is my scholar-without-info frustration. She participates in recitals, concerts, in collaboration with the Mihail Jora Philharmonic Orchestra — Bacau. She is a member and soloist of Ateneu choir — Bacau, Romania and a member and soloist of Andrum choir — Kristianstad, Sweden. Two years later, after playing with the National Youth Orchestra, he decided to give up all thoughts of a future in maths, and instead began a career which now encompasses Musician, Conductor, Teacher, Concert Promoter and Artistic Director.

After studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Bob worked as a musician and teacher, returning to Guildhall to teach in the Junior Department from its inception and becoming Head of Wind and Percussion in — a position he still holds today. As a performer he plays regularly with the London Mozart Players and has worked with every major professional orchestra in London.

In the early s Bob founded the Brandenburg Sinfonia, the first of a group of orchestras under his artistic direction, which now also includes the Brandenburg Brass and Brandenburg Baroque Soloists. Playing regularly both in this country and abroad, one residency, at St Martin-in-the-Fields gave him the idea for a Choral Festival based around some of the most beautiful churches in London.

Starting in with six concerts at St Martins, the Brandenburg Choral Festival is now the largest and most significant Choral Festival in the country. This year the Festival boasted more than 70 choirs in 67 concerts, covering the standard masterpieces of the choral repertoire along with jazz, barbershop and gospel, also making it one of the most varied and inclusive Choral Festivals! This was the second participation of the choir at Lucerne festival. After this concert Rodion Shchedrin said, that the choir is the best in the world.

In September - debut of the hoir Latvija in concert hall Finlandia. In the year the 10th International Festival of Sacred Music organised by the choir Latvija was widely celebrated.