Biedrības jaunais raidieraksts “Vārti” būs palīgs diasporas ģimenēm – atklāšana 12. augustā Rīgā

Daina Grosa | 

12. augustā plkst. 17.00 Berga bazārā, LaPa muzeja telpās notiks biedrības “Latviešu valoda diasporas ģimenēs” atklāšanas pasākums. Augusta beigās dažādās straumēšanas platformās sāks skanēt biedrības veidots raidieraksts “Vārti”, kas tapis ar Latviešu valodas aģentūras un Amerikas Latviešu apvienības finansiālu atbalstu. Raidierakstā līdzās citu vecāku pieredzes stāstiem būs dzirdamas intervijas ar Latvijas un ārvalstu speciālistiem par bērnu daudzvalodību, un tajā gan tiks sniegti ieteikumi ikdienas situācijām valodas uzturēšanai, gan skaidroti dažādi ar vairāku valodu apguvi saistīti jautājumi.

Biedrības mērķis ir atbalstīt diasporas ģimenes latviešu valodas uzturēšanā. Latviešu diasporas lielums 2023.gadā bija vismaz 420 000 cilvēku. Taču pētījumi liecina, ka tikai ap 15% no tiem aktīvi iesaistīti organizētā diasporas darbībā. Arī valodas uzturēšana lielākoties notiek mājās, un ģimenes loma valodas iemācīšanā un saglabāšanā ir visbūtiskākā.

Tāpēc biedrības aktivitātes būs vērstas uz dažāda formāta satura izstrādi, kas var noderēt un ir viegli pieejams ikvienai ģimenei. Uzsākot darbību, biedrība izveidoja Instagram kontu un Facebook lapu un grupu, kur regulāri tiek ievietota zinātniski pamatota informācija vecākiem par bērnu daudzvalodību un mantotās valodas apguvi.

Biedrības dibinātāji un biedri ir no dažādām valstīm un ar ilggadīgu pieredzi diasporas organizācijās un latviešu valodas uzturēšanas darbā. Migrācijas pētniece Daina Grosa uzaugusi Austrālijā un aktīvi darbojusies Austrālijas latviešu sabiedrībā, kā arī strādājusi PBLA Izglītības padomē; Inga Sindi, pēc izglītības teātra un literatūras zinātniece, ar ģimeni dzīvojusi dažādās valstīs, tai skaitā Apvienotajos Arābu Emirātos, kur vadīja nodarbības latviešu bērniem un sarakstīja grāmatu “Mamma saka ābols, papa saka Apfel”, ko šogad izdeva Latviešu valodas aģentūra; Signe Rirdance aktīvi darbojas Stokholmas latviešu skolā un nesen veikusi pētījumu par mantoto valodu latviešu diasporā Zviedrijā; Ieva Pūpola izveidoja un 12 gadus vadīja latviešu skolu Austrijā; Liene Karhumaki aktīvi piedalās Latviešu Kopienas Emirātos darbā un koordinē latviešu valodas skoliņu AAE bērniem; Inga Česle ir dzimusi Austrālijā un vada Brisbanes Latviešu namu; Amanda Zaeska ir Amerikā dzimusi tulkotāja un rediģētāja.

Biedrības atklāšanas pasākumā būs iespēja arī iegādāties Ingas Sindi nesen publicēto grāmatu “Mamma saka ābols, papa saka Apfel”, kurā diasporas vecāki var atrast praktiskus padomus par to, kā radīt motivāciju un pozitīvu gaisotni latviešu valodas izmantošanai ikdienā.

Daina Grosa un Inga Sindi
Biedrības “Latviešu valoda diasporas ģimenēs” dibinātājas un valdes locekles

Biedrības e-pasta adrese saziņai: lv.diasporasgimenes@gmail.com

Daina Gross is editor of Latvians Online. An Australian-Latvian she is also a migration researcher at the University of Latvia, PhD from the University of Sussex, formerly a member of the board of the World Federation of Free Latvians, author and translator/ editor/ proofreader from Latvian into English of an eclectic mix of publications of different genres.

Dzintra Erliha’s latest album features 21st century piano music

Egils Kaljo | 

Latvian pianist Dzintra Erliha continues to explore and champion the works of women composers of the 21st century. Beginning with 2023’s album Serena, Erliha has expanded upon that collection with a second album – 2024’s Dreamscape, released by the Prima Classic label. The album, once again, displays the breadth and depth of 21st century piano music. Erliha notes that the works on the album were chosen because “they resonate with my inner world.”

Composer and pianist Starr Parodi, known for her contributions to film and television music, provides “The Heart of Frida (Corazon Hermoso)”, inspired by painter Frida Kahlo. Kahlo’s husband, Mexican painter Diego Rivera, described her as “lovable as a beautiful smile, and as profound and cruel as the bitterness of life”, and the contrasting aspects of Kahlo are revealed in Erliha’s performance, with both light and dark moods.

The undulating, meditative “Marina”, by Spanish composer María Eugenia León, is a work dedicated to the composer’s mother. As her mother loved the sea, the music evokes waves, and Erliha’s light touch fills the work with tenderness and love.

Erliha also frequently collaborates with composers, and, in turn, she has received many dedications, many of which are included on Dreamscapes. Turkish composer Esin Aydingoz provides one such dedication – “Gentle Willpower”, a work with a subtle political message, about a desire for leaders that will endeavor to use ‘soft’ power, and Erliha imbues the work with hope and yearning. Other works by Aydingoz are featured on the album, including “The Land of Passion”, a work about her native Turkey and the passionate people there, and “Funeral For Your Memories”, about a painful breakup. Erliha provides an emotionally resonant interpretation of the work, full of melancholy and sadness.

Many of the works on Dreamscape are somber and filled with sorrow and perhaps none as much as Leanna Primiani’s “Loss for Solo Piano”, a work also dedicated to Erliha. The piece was inspired by the death of Primiani’s mother. The work interweaves both positive memories as well as the sadness of knowing the end is approaching. Erliha balances both these aspects in her performance, both the celebration of life, as well as grief and loss, resulting in a poignant and heartbreaking interpretation.

Though brief, Suad Bushnaq’s “Prelude” is a sweeping and majestic work. Ukrainian composer Ganna Sorbat’s “Memories of Valse”, has a sentimental atmosphere. Even in these comparatively short works, Erliha provides memorable and moving performances.

Erliha is joined by violinist Tatjana Ostrovska and cellist Ivars Bezprozvanovs on a few of the recordings, including Lolita Ritmanis’ “Vignettes from the Park”, a work dedicated to Erliha, that paints a picture of a walk in a park. The trio vividly recreate different scenes from this walk, from a boisterous conversation by a fountain to a spirited, almost whimsical, depiction of a boy with a dog and a kite. The trio also perform Ritmanis’ “Dreamscape”, a dreamy, wistful work, and the interplay between the instruments creates a fragile and delicate atmosphere.

Dzintra Erliha’s musical journey through the expansive and diverse world of piano music by women composers remains an engrossing and enlightening adventure. Revealing the many facets and layers of these compositions, Erliha’s talents in creating immersive and nuanced performances are on full display on Dreamscapes.

For further information, please visit Dzintra Erliha’s website, as well as the Prima Classic website.

Dreamscape

Dzintra Erliha

Prima Classic, PRIMA024, 2024

Track listing:

  1. Starr Parodi “The Heart of Frida (Corazon Hermoso)”
  2. María Eugenia León “Marina”
  3. Suad Bushnaq “Prelude”
  4. Esin Aydingoz “Gentle Willpower” (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2023, premiere)
  5. Esin Aydingoz “The Land of Passion”
  6. Ganna Sorbat “Memories of Valse”
  7. Esin Aydingoz “Funeral For Your Memories”
  8. Leanna Primiani “Loss for Solo Piano” (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2023; premiere)
  9. Starr Parodi “Piano Improvisation of Albinon’s Adagio in G Minor”
  10. Esin Aydingoz “Flamma”
  11. Sabine Kezbere “Lilleaker” (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2021; premiere)
  12. Esin Aydingoz “Years Gone By” for violin, cello, piano
  13. Lolita Ritmanis “Dreamscape” for violin, cello, piano

Lolita Ritmanis “Vignettes From the Park” for violin, cello, piano (dedicated to Dzintra Erliha, 2023; premiere)

  1. Moderato: Conversations by the Fountain
  2. Andante: Moonlight Love
  3. Allegro: The Kite, the Boy, the Dog

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

Ģērmanis’ classic “Latviešu tautas piedzīvojumi” now rereleased

Egils Kaljo | 

One of the most authoritative and respected histories of the Latvian people – Latviešu tautas piedzīvojumi – by distinguished Latvian historian Uldis Ģērmanis – has been rereleased.

The book covers the history of the Latvian people from the very beginnings – the Ice Age in the Latvian territory to the end of World War II and Latvian exile. Though Latvian history is often a somber and disquieting topic, what with the centuries of oppression by foreign powers, Ģērmanis reveals the remarkable story of the Latvian people.

Originally written in the 1950s, the book has seen a number of rereleases in the nearly seventy years since original publication, as the book remains one of the most engaging and eminently readable Latvian histories. Ģērmanis, who passed away in 1997, presents Latvian history as a series of brief, yet engrossing, stories, all the while conveying the remarkable survival, against all odds, of the Latvian people throughout the millennia, as well as their triumph of building their own nation after centuries of domination and suffering. The book also contains illustrations by Gvīdo Brūveris.

The English language version – The Latvian Saga (English translation by Kārlis Streips, edited by Ojārs Kalniņš) – has also been rereleased.

The book’s rerelease was made possible with the support of the Latvian 50 Year Occupation Museum Fund Support Group (OMFA) in the United States.

Uldis Ģērmanis

Latviešu tautas piedzīvojumi

Laika grāmata, 2024

For further information, please visit the Laika grāmata website and the OMFA Facebook page

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.