Sviests 6 now released in folk compilation series

Sviests 6 now released in folk compilation series

The latest release in the Sviests series, entitled Sviests 6 (Lauska CD057), has been released. A bi-yearly event, the Sviests series is a collection of recent recordings inspired by Latvian folk songs and music.

As with previous releases, there is a great diversity of material, from traditional interpretations of folk songs, to modern performances inspired by Latvian folklore. The album features tracks by both veteran artists as well as newcomers to the Latvian ethno-music scene. From the folk metal of Symbolic, to the French and bluegrass inspired music of Black Diamonds, to the jazz improvisation of Amorālā psihoze, Sviests 6 shows the broad range of music influenced by Latvian folk songs.

The CD booklet includes notes on each song in both Latvian and English.

For further information, please visit the Lauska website.

 

Track listing:

  1. Kad saulīte meita bija – Raxtu Raxti un Auļi
  2. Atsaronat, skauģa bērni! – Dārdi
  3. Alus – Rasata
  4. Tumša nakte – Māsas Dimantas & Cēsu medību kolektīva cepurīšu orķestris
  5. Sakāmvārdi – Amorālā psihoze
  6. Sajāja brammaņi – Prievīšu Andris un draugi
  7. Kad pārnāksi bālēliņ’? – Black Diamonds
  8. Kalnu dziesma – Jēkabs Zariņš
  9. Novij man, Māmuliņ’ – Milleru-Balandīnu ģimene
  10. Rūtoj’ bite, Rūtoj’ saule – Austrumkalns
  11. Kas skanēja, kas dimdēja – Šmite, Kārkle, Cinkuss un koris Gaudeamus
  12. Spīguļo, Saulīt! – Symbolic
  13. Narečeņka – Balle pie rātnā zirdziņa
  14. Skaista, skaista tei meitiņa – Rikši
  15. Ar laiviņu ielaidosi – Zaļa zāle
  16. Mazais Vilciņš – Jauno Jāņu orķestris
  17. Lēni, lēni – Zari
  18. Bali inspirācija (Tīģera remikss) – DJ Monsta

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.

Kremerata Baltica’s latest CD continues theme of seasons

Kremerata Baltica’s latest CD continues theme of seasons

Latvian born violinist Gidon Kremer, along with his Baltic chamber orchestra Kremerata Baltica, have released a new CD entitled New Seasons on the Deutsche Grammophon label.

The CD collects recordings of works by Philip Glass, Arvo Pärt, Giya Kancheli, and Shigeru Umebayashi. According to Kremer, the goal of the collection is ‘to show that emotional music can be felt by and resonate with literally everyone’.

The album’s feature work is American composer Philip Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2 ‘The American Four Seasons’, which was composed in 2009 as a companion to Antonio Vivaldi’s ‘The Four Seasons’. However, Glass has not labeled which season is associated with which movement, and has left it up to the listener to decide.

The album continues the theme of the seasons, following up on previously released albums Vivaldi and Piazzolla: Eight Seasons (2000) and Russian Seasons (2003).

The album notes contain an essay on the compositions and their selection by Kremer in English, German and French.

For further information, please visit Gidon Kremer’s website, the Kremerata Baltica website, as well as the Deutsche Grammophon Gidon Kremer page.

Track listing:

  1. Violin Concerto No. 2 – The American Four Seasons – Prologue – Philip Glass
  2. Movement I
  3. Song No. 1
  4. Movement II
  5. Song No. 2
  6. Movement III
  7. Song No. 3
  8. Movement IV
  9. Estonian Lullaby – Arvo Pärt
  10. Ex Contrario – Giya Kancheli
  11. Yumeji’s Theme – Shigeru Umebayashi

 

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.

Coin Released Commemorating 150 Years of Firefighting in Latvia

Coin Released Commemorating 150 Years of Firefighting in Latvia

The Bank of Latvia has released the first commemorative coin for 2015, and the theme is the 150th anniversary of firefighting in Latvia.

According to the Bank of Latvia website, the first firefighters’ brigade in Latvia was formed in 1845 in Daugavpils (then known as Dinaburg, a city in the Vitebsk governorate). The first brigade in Riga was formed in 1864, and the first fire they battled was on May 17, 1865 in Old Riga.

The graphic design of the coin was created by Henrihs Vorkals, and the plaster model was designed by Ligita Franckeviča. The silver proof quality coin, with a mintage of 10,000, was minted by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt in the Netherlands, and has a face value of 5 euro.

The coin is available for purchase at the Bank of Latvia and at numismatic shops in Latvia.

In 2015, the Bank of Latvia is also planning the following commemorative coins with the following themes:

  • The 500th Anniversary of the Riga Castle
  • Emīls Dārziņš’ creative work
  • The 150th anniversary of Latvian poets Rainis and Aspazija
  • Fairy Tale Coin I
  • 500th anniversary of the ancient Latvian vērdiņš coin

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.