Female a cappella vocal ensemble Latvian Voices has released its third album, Tā kā taka.

Composed of seven young Latvian singers—Laura Jēkabsone, Karīan Kaminska, Nora Vītiņa, Andra Blumberga, Elīna Šmukste, Laura Leontjeva and Zane Stafecka—Latvian Voices perform a wide variety of Latvian songs which they have themselves arranged.

Tracks on the album include folk songs such as “Ej, saulīte, drīz pie Dieva!” and “Zvejnieks mani aicināja”; original works such as “Lietus” and “Tā kā taka”; and “Pasaciņa,” an arrangement of a song with lyrics by Aspazija and music by Zigmārs Liepiņš. The song “Kuto” also features Spanish beatbox artist Lytos.

The full track listing includes:

1. Ar dziesmiņu ciemos eju
2. Rūtoj’ saule
3. Es gulu, gulu
4. Mēnestiņis nakti brauca
5. Ej, Saulīte, drīz pie Dieva
6. Lietus
7. Saulīt vēlu vakarā
8. Tā kā taka
9. Raugies tu
10. Dindaru dandaru
11. Zvejnieks mani aicināja
12. Kuito
13. Pasaciņa

The compact disc, released on the German MusicArtEmotions label, contains detailed descriptions of each song, as well as each group member, in Latvian, English and German.

This is ensemble’s third album, after Waving World Wide (focused more on sacred and international repertoire) and Seventh Heaven (a collection of Christmas songs), both released in 2010.

The ensemble will officially present Tā kā taka with a performance at the Spīķeri Concert Hall in Rīga on March 15, where Lytos and kokles performer Laima Jansone will also appear. Latvian Voices also plans a brief tour in May of Denmark and Switzerland.

For more on Latvian Voices, visit www.latvianvoices.lv.

A new Latvian jazz compilation, entitled Jazz in Latvia 2012, has been released by Mūsdienu mūzikas centrs (Contemporary Music Centre), which also organizes the yearly Rīgas ritmi jazz festival.

Featuring a number of well-known Latvian jazz musicians, the compilation collects nine performances ranging from jazz standards such as Thelonious Monk’s “Rhythm-a-ning” performed by 3Stick, to “Valse Melanholique” performed by the Māris Briežkalns Quintet. The latter, an arrangement of Latvian classical composer Emils Dārziņš‘s “Melanholiskais valsis,” was recorded at the world renowned Blue Note Jazz Club in New York.

Tracks on the album include:

1. “Valse Melanholique” performed by Māris Briežkalns Quintet, featuring Chris Potter and Brian Lynch
2. “Dancer” performed by North by Northeast
3. “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” performed by the Evilena Protektore Group
4. “Life Changes” performed by Silvesteri Orkesteri
5. “Room” performed by DPTrio
6. “Before” performed by Add Libitum
7. “Lyshuskvaedi” performed by Mirage Octet
8. “Rhythm-a-ning” performed by 3Stick
9. “Summer and Winter” performed by City Jazz Big Band

This year, the Rīgas ritmi festival will take place from July 3-7 and will feature some of the ensembles performing on the album.

For further information about MMS, visit www.mmc.lv. For details about the Rīgas ritmi festival, visit www.rigasritmi.lv.

In continuing with a series of unusual commemorative coins celebrating non-metal elements and concepts, the Bank of Latvia has issued the Coin of Stone (Akmens monēta), which has a granite center.

The central bank has already released three versions of the Coin of Time (I, II and III, all of which were partially minted with niobium metal), the Coin of Digits, the Coin of Water and the Coin of Amber (which had a small piece of amber in the middle).

Although dated 2011, the silver and granite 1 lat coin (with a silver content of 13.6 grams), was issued last month. The coin was designed by Laimonis Šēnbergs, the modeling was done by Jānis Strupulis and the coin was minted by Rahapaja Oy in Finland. The coin is of proof quality and has a mintage of 7,000.

The Coin of Stone is the first commemorative release by the Bank of Latvia in 2012. Other coins to be issued this year will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Rīga Technical University; the 100th anniversary of the Rīga Zoo; the 90th anniversary of Latvian currency; Latvian Olympic athletes; the creative work of author Rūdolfs Blaumanis and sculptor Kārlis Zāle (designer of the Freedom Monument and Cemetery of the Brethren or Brāļu kapi); and Latvian cultural traditions.

Coins may be purchased at the Bank of Latvia, as well as numismatic shops in Latvia.