Latvian, Georgian collaboration results in remarkable world music album

Egils Kaljo

August 28, 2010

One of the most intriguing recent collaborations in Latvian music is that of composer Valts Pūce and the Georgian ensemble The Shin. Joining together on the recording entitled Es arī, their talents have produced a unique album, combining elements of Latvian and Georgian folk songs, as well as jazz and other world music elements.

Compact discs

Laiksnes ‘putrā’ attēlota lauku sadzīve

Publicēts 2010.08.19

Folkloras kopa Laiksne nesen laidusi klajā jaunu ierakstu ar intriģējošu nosaukumu - Putra. Dziesmas nav par putru vien. Tur tēmas ir dažādas, bet vienojošais ir ēšana, sadzīve, darbs un pēc tam izpriecas, kas ir lauku dzīves svarīgas sastāvdaļas.

Film

Absurdist film overloads on strangeness

August 02, 2010

Emir Kusturica is a world-renowned Serb filmmaker who makes great surreal and absurdist films. Time of the Gypsies and Arizona Dream come to mind. Medības tries to traverse the same terrain, but unfortunately Andis Mizišs, the director of the film, is no Kusturica.

Compact discs

Studio recording of Kalniņš symphony restores original fourth movement

July 25, 2010

Perhaps the most well known of Latvian symphonic works, and certainly one of the most popular, is “Symphony No. 4” by composer Imants Kalniņš. It is a composition that has been nicknamed by some as the “Rock” symphony, as it combines classical motifs with elements of rock to form a groundbreaking work.

DVDs

DVD highlights unusual Latvian skills and crafts

June 11, 2010

Latvians have some unique skills that have been handed down from one generation to the next. These are worth highlighting and feeling proud of, as revealed in the DVD 8 brīnumlietas, ko latvieši joprojām dara (8 Amazing Things That Latvians Still Do), which can serve as an indirect ambassador of these crafts and skills to the rest of the world.

DVDs

DVD does not reveal why all the fuss about choir wars

May 10, 2010

With choir music and choir performance being so popular in Latvia, not to mention a part of the national heritage, it was inevitable that a reality series based around choir singing would appear. The show “Koru kari” (Choir Wars), produced by television channel TV3, was quite a sensation in Latvia. Seven choirs—each from a different city in Latvia, each led by a popular singer, and each given a unique color to identify themselves—competed for victory.

Compact discs

Folk song golden oldies compilation a winner

April 19, 2010

The “oldies but goodies” of Latvian folk songs on one compact disc has for a long time been an elusive compilation to track down. We’re talking the basic songs and rotaļas, the staple of all Latvian gatherings the world over, such as “Nu ardievu, Vidzemīte,” “Div’ dūjiņas gaisā skrēja,” ” Kas dārzā,” “Skaisti dziedi, lakstīgala,” “Līgo laiva uz ūdeņa,” “Rīga dimd” and many others that have been sung for decades. And, more importantly, without all the bells and whistles of fancy musical arrangements and modern interpretations—just the good old songs that are always in the repertoire when the chance to get together and sing arises.

Books

Story of Minstere documented in detailed book

March 14, 2010

About a decade after Minsteres latviešu ģimnazija (MLĢ) closed its doors, Alberts Spoģis has complied a history of the alma mater of exiled Latvians from around the globe. Minsteres latviešu ģimnāzija izdzīvoja, published in October 2009, tells the story of a one-of-a-kind institution and the only full-time Latvian-language secondary school outside of Latvia.

Books

Second book in series examines innovative design in Latvia

March 05, 2010

What do the Day-Care Centre for the Homeless and Underprivileged on Rīga’s Katoļu iela, the artists’ quarter at Andrejsala, the Majori Primary School Sports Ground and the Pārventa Library have in common? They are all featured in Process, a recently released book on contemporary architecture as examples of innovative design that can be found in Latvia today.

Compact discs

Countertenor, electronica artist take on Latvian folk songs

February 28, 2010

The folk song, though it may have a simple melody and lyrics, has been a source of inspiration not just for listeners, but for musicians as well. Most every Latvian composer has written a folk song arrangement for choir, orchestra, solo instrument or for some sort of ensemble. Although the songs may be hundreds of years old, these arrangements more often than not sound fresh and compelling.

Film

Režisors Streičs pārsteidz ar veltījumu Blaumanim

Publicēts 2010.02.10

Rūdolfa mantojums ir jaunākais Latvijas pilnmetrāžas kino ražojums plašākai publikai. Atzīšos, ka es uz to aizgāju lielākoties aiz pienākuma sajūtas, ka vietējā prece jāatbalsta (un jo draudzene aicināja), nevis aiz īstas sajūsmas par filmas ideju vai sižetu. Bet laikam jau nu biju arī ziņkārīga…

Books

Just another travel guide? For Rīga, fortunately not!

February 03, 2010

Are all travel guides the same? Is this really just “another travel guide”? Fortunately not! Around Christmas a breath of fresh air could be felt wafting through the streets of RĪga. Although Rīga was in the depths of a financial crisis, this has not been a hindrance to many creative souls in the capital. New shops, cafes, cafeterias have sprung up. The new travel guide, Another Travel Guide Rīga is proof of this itself. The guide is presented in an unusual format—proving that not all travel guides are of the same ilk.

Compact discs

Compilation of audio and visual recordings documents Siberian Latvian culture

January 04, 2010

Latvians are scattered throughout the world for various reasons. One of the most remote parts is Siberia. The first Latvians ended up in Siberia in the middle of the 19th century as deportees, later many emigrated to the region hoping to start a new life with the promise of cheap or even free land. In the 1940s and 1950s the biggest influx was those who were deported to the far east by the Soviets. Consequently, Latvians can be found in villages and towns all over Siberia.

Compact discs

Ambitious choir project celebrates the sun

January 03, 2010

Besides leading the prestigious professional choir Latvija, the visionary Māris Sirmais also directs Kamēr…, generally considered to be the best amateur youth choir in Latvia. The choir’s accomplishments are stunning and include victories in several international competitions.

20 years is long time to wait for Alis P, but worth it

November 20, 2009

Twenty years after Latvian-Swedish band Alis P released its first album, the sole remaining member has returned with Uz priekšu. The group was founded in 1979 by Gundars Rullis (vocals and bass), Māris Rozenbahs (drums) and Pēteris Šmitmanis (guitar), and released its first album, Alis iet pastaigāt, in 1988.

Compact discs

Band’s rebirth results in great rock album

October 07, 2009

The rebirth of the band Otra puse has been one of the most welcome events in Latvian popular music in recent years. Originally founded in 1992 by former members of Jumprava, the group recorded a number of great songs in the early 1990s, only to go very quiet for the next decade or so. After reintroducing itself with the retrospective album Pēc lietus in 2007, the group set about working on an album of all new songs, releasing Nakts vai rīts earlier this year.