1. Latvian Music Dace Prauliņš d.praulins@lbss.gla.ac.uk

2. Tautas dziesmas – folk songs  Over 1 million folk songs have been collected – one of the largest collections in the world – these have been passed down orally from generation to generation  Suitu sievas – first sang as a group in 1924 – come from Suitu zeme in Kurzeme: http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=dBsEO5zFYuE http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=dBsEO5zFYuE  Vilki (“Wolves”) – men’s group who sing mainly soldiers’ songs: http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=ja_JKnWg- gQ&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=ja_JKnWg- gQ&feature=related

3. Traditional instruments : dūdas, ğīga, kokles, trīsdeksnis

4.  Kokles (psaltery): http://exposureroom.com/members/Avata r/51dd76f1ce714bbb89e37d3739ad6eff/ http://exposureroom.com/members/Avata r/51dd76f1ce714bbb89e37d3739ad6eff/  Concert version of kokles: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAebY 5fVKtI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAebY 5fVKtI  Dūdas (Latvian bagpipes): http://vimeo.com/1046939 http://vimeo.com/1046939  “Adopted” instruments: http://video.nate.com/clip/view?video_seq =16363144 http://video.nate.com/clip/view?video_seq =16363144

5. Tautas dejas – folk dances  And with music and singing comes dancing....  http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PONgRHjMMeI&f eature=related http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=PONgRHjMMeI&f eature=related  From the 2008 Song and Dance Festival: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=yGNnfL6Nd-A http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=yGNnfL6Nd-A  Latvian Riverdance (!): http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=If7doNiezw0 http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=If7doNiezw0  Flash mob dance in Riga 2009: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VcvmSBCJwKE http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=VcvmSBCJwKE

6. Ilği – folk band  Celebrated 25 th anniversary in 2006, started as traditional folk song group – could not be mentioned in media in soviet times  1980s + 1990s - set folk songs to more modern arrangements  2006 – Ne uz vienu dienu no. 2 European world music recording  http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=smDXLZjEsZs http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=smDXLZjEsZs  http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wHxETuZmJe8 http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wHxETuZmJe8  http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=O32ZjGfcy4A http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=O32ZjGfcy4A

7. Dziesmu svētki – Song festival  "Dziesma ir mūsu tautas kopēja elpa, tā ir mūsu tautas kopīgais sirdspuksts, tā ir mūsu sirdsapziņa. Dziesmā mēs esam bagāti, dziesmā mēs esam skaisti, dziesmā mēs esam vienoti un savā vienotībā stipri. Mēs dziedam, lai paši sev nepazustu, mēs dziedam, lai mēs viens otram vairs nepazustu, mēs dziedam, lai nepazustu pasaules vējos." Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, Latvian president (1999-2007)  Song is our nation’s common breath, it is our nation’s common heart beat, it is our conscience. In song we are rich, in song we are beautiful, in song we are united and in our unity we are strong. We sing so that we don’t lose ourselves, we sing so that we no longer lose each other, we sing so that we don’t get lost in the winds of Earth.

8. Song and dance festival  First song festival held in 1873 – 1003 singers + 30 musicians; dance element added in 1948  In 2008 – about 15 000 dancers and 13 000 singers  Now every 5 years – next 2013  From 2008 festival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1RpQ6MYJv U&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1RpQ6MYJv U&feature=related  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRqickLKXF8 &feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRqickLKXF8 &feature=related

9. Sacred music  Dom Church organ in Riga regarded as one of world’s best organs: Iveta Apkalne, Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DA_43koLMVI&fe ature=related http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DA_43koLMVI&fe ature=related  Riga Dom boys’ choir very popular - Uģis Prauliņš – Odi et Amo: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=MXSHMA8TjyA http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=MXSHMA8TjyA

10. Opera  Inese Galante has sung in opera houses around the whole world – Bellini’s Casta Diva: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tDFKspp98sg http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tDFKspp98sg  Elīna Garanča now a rising star in the opera world – Carmen: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BXasdJB57sM http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BXasdJB57sM

11. Ballet - Mikhail Baryshnikov (1948 - )  Born in Riga and started training there  Moved to Leningrad when 15, danced with the Kirov  1974 – defected to Canada while on tour, later moved to New York to dance in the New York City Ballet  Retired from stage in 2002  From the movie “White Nights”: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=haBZCrBHMm4 http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=haBZCrBHMm4

12. Ballet – Māris Liepa (1936 – 1989)  Born in Riga and started training there – also national swimming champion  1953 – transferred to Moscow to complete training after which he went back to Riga  1965 – returned to Moscow and eventually became principal dancer of Bolshoi  Kachaturian’s Spartacus: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jNSvwipXd3g http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jNSvwipXd3g

13. Ballet – Andris Liepa (1962 - ) and Ilze Liepa (1963 - )  Andris – dancer with the Bolshoi  In 1988 first Soviet to dance officially with foreign company – NY City Ballet  1989 – returned to Russia to dance with Kirov  Coppelia Variation: http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=LDB1tCT5gfU http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=LDB1tCT5gfU  Ilze – dancer with the Bolshoi  Meeting: http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=Vq4NoseSsHI&feature= related http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=Vq4NoseSsHI&feature= related

14. Classical music – Pēteris Vasks (1946 - ) - composer  Best-known composer outside Latvia - music taken on by a German company in 1990  Combines traditional styles and contemporary techniques  Vēstījums (1982) – Message – battle between good and evil – spiritual message to Latvians to be optimistic  Méditation: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tQBLCeg5UtM http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=tQBLCeg5UtM

15. Classical music – Mariss Jansons (1943 - ) - conductor  Born in Riga, moved with family to Leningrad in 1956, trained at conservatory  Studied abroad, became Karajan’s assistant in 1971  1979 – took over Oslo Philharmonic, also conducted many other world orchestras, currently with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam  4th movement, Beethoven’s 7th symphony: http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=OPAU4RHXjMM http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=OPAU4RHXjMM

16. Classical music – Andris Nelsons (1978 - ) - conductor  Started career as trumpeter with Latvian National Opera orchestra and became principal conductor from 2003  From 2008/9 appointed as principal conductor of City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (3-part film) http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=3f2OjRTv4aY http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=94b7b9NzfgQ&fe ature=related http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=h2b4x- iTejI&feature=related

17. Classical music – Gidon Kremer and Kremerata Baltica  Gidon Kremer (1947-) – born in Riga – has won many prizes and played in concerts around world  Chaconne from Bach Solo Violin partita 2 in D minor: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=jA2r6sxzaVw  Founded Kremerata Baltica in 1996 – young musicians from the Baltic States – tour for 5-6 months a year  Piazolla – Fuga y misterio: http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Ykq3yUCuM1M http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Ykq3yUCuM1M

18. Classical music – Misha Maisky (1948 - ) - cellist  Born in Riga  1966 – won Tchaikovsky competition and started at Moscow conservatory  1972 – emigrated to Israel because of harassment from Soviet authorities  Saint-Saens - Carnival of the Animals – The Swan - http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Mvh4zEKG2zs http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Mvh4zEKG2zs

19. The singing revolution  Uldis Stabulnieks – Tik un tā – written in early 1980s – first song which dared to praise Latvia: http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=bge1D_ixKk4 http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=bge1D_ixKk4  Ieva Akurātere – Manai tautai (“To my nation”) – first sung at a concert in 1988 when most of audience were in tears as song talks about bringing nation together – turning point for national awakening – recorded 1989 http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=BnjZVVgqqEU http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=BnjZVVgqqEU

20. Eurovision 2002 and 2003  Marie N (Marija Naumova) won Eurovision for Latvia in 2002 http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=08FJfXXIqSs http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=08FJfXXIqSs  2003 Eurovision held in Riga – Latvia very keen to promote the concept of The Land that Sings http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ARsIyASpJHQ http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ARsIyASpJHQ

21. Brainstorm – Prāta Vētra  Most successful Latvian group – toured with REM in 2005, well-known across Eastern Europe  Formed in 1989  http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=- zpUaNCIv5M&feature =player_embedded http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=- zpUaNCIv5M&feature =player_embedded  http://www.brainstor m.lv/en/video/all/ http://www.brainstor m.lv/en/video/all/

22. Baložu Pilni Pagalmi  Formed in 1994 by M ā ris Š verns – Indie/Rock – name means Courtyards Full of Pigeons  Mans lielais rakstāmgalds (“My big desk”) from CD Skaties! (“Look!”) (1995): http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Ca5svYpYChg http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Ca5svYpYChg  http://www.tornis.lv/bpp/l at/audio.html http://www.tornis.lv/bpp/l at/audio.html

23. References - illustrations 1  Ilģi: http://ilgi.lv/en_biografija.phphttp://ilgi.lv/en_biografija.php  Instruments: http://www.etnostils.lv/lv/galerija/tradmuzika/pasi/pasi.phphttp://www.etnostils.lv/lv/galerija/tradmuzika/pasi/pasi.php  Suitu sievas: http://folklora.lv/kopas/suitu.sievas/http://folklora.lv/kopas/suitu.sievas/  Folk dance: http://www.rigasummit.lv/en/id/cats/nid/976/http://www.rigasummit.lv/en/id/cats/nid/976/  Dom Church organ: http://www.music.lv/organ/organs/Riga_Dom.htmlhttp://www.music.lv/organ/organs/Riga_Dom.html  Māris Liepa: http://www.for-ballet-lovers-only.com/Maris10.htmlhttp://www.for-ballet-lovers-only.com/Maris10.html  Andris Liepa: http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/12/16/108.html http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2005/12/16/108.html  Baryshnikov: http://www.kultura.lv/lv/persons/29/#imghttp://www.kultura.lv/lv/persons/29/#img  Vasks: http://www.music.lv/Composers/Vasks/photos.htmhttp://www.music.lv/Composers/Vasks/photos.htm  Jansons: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/3556237/Classical- CDs-Stravinsky-Mussorgsky-and-more....html http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/3556237/Classical- CDs-Stravinsky-Mussorgsky-and-more....html  Marie N: http://www.diena.lv/lat/izklaide/muzika/marija-naumova-sak- latvijas-koncertturnejuhttp://www.diena.lv/lat/izklaide/muzika/marija-naumova-sak- latvijas-koncertturneju  Baložu Pilni Pagalmi: http://www.hc.lv/muzika/zinas/space-dog-gada- jubilejas-konkurss-8214/http://www.hc.lv/muzika/zinas/space-dog-gada- jubilejas-konkurss-8214/

24. References – illustrations 2  Kremerata Baltica: http://www.latvijaskoncerti.lv/index.php?1&25&view=news- month&y=2007&m=02&print=yes http://www.latvijaskoncerti.lv/index.php?1&25&view=news- month&y=2007&m=02&print=yes  Maisky: http://www.bfz.hu/vendegmuveszek/egy_vendegmuvesz_en.php?id=463 http://www.bfz.hu/vendegmuveszek/egy_vendegmuvesz_en.php?id=463  Boys’ choir: http://foto.delfi.lv/album/18475/?view=bloghttp://foto.delfi.lv/album/18475/?view=blog  Galante: http://www.music.lv/sigulda/Festival_5/default.htmhttp://www.music.lv/sigulda/Festival_5/default.htm  Garanča: http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/enlargement_process/past_enl argements/eu10/pictures/latvia_en.htm http://ec.europa.eu/enlargement/archives/enlargement_process/past_enl argements/eu10/pictures/latvia_en.htm  Ilze Liepa: http://www.liepa.ru/eng/family/ilze_01.shtmlhttp://www.liepa.ru/eng/family/ilze_01.shtml  Song festival: http://www.riga-life.com/riga/festivals; http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Latvian_song_festival_by_Dainis_ Matisons,_2008.jpghttp://www.riga-life.com/riga/festivals http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Latvian_song_festival_by_Dainis_ Matisons,_2008.jpg  Kremer: http://www.shenzhenconcerthall.com/Catalog_154.aspxhttp://www.shenzhenconcerthall.com/Catalog_154.aspx  Stabulnieks: http://www.lks.org.lv/pagesLV/about-4-sub3.html http://www.lks.org.lv/pagesLV/about-4-sub3.html  Akuratere: http://www.micrec.lv/artists/latvian/?offset=72 http://www.micrec.lv/artists/latvian/?offset=72  Brainstorm: http://www.journal.lv/index.php?s=%D1%81%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%88 %D0%BD%D0%BE