Though the Soviet occupation of Latvia put a significant damper on free expression and creativity, certain individuals still managed to express themselves creatively and somewhat freely. Two such individuals, coincidentally, were named Imants. They are composer Imants Kalniņš, whose songs at times included elements of hippie counterculture, and poet Imants Ziedonis, whose poetry was both individual and personal. Both are considered cultural icons in Latvia, and the works of both were pivotal and inspirational during the Latvian Reawakening period of the 1980s.

As both Kalniņš and Ziedonis were of a similar mind and thought, it would be logical that the words of Ziedonis and the music of Kalniņš would be a powerful combination. In fact, Kalniņš wrote many songs based upon the texts of Ziedonis, and these songs resonated and continue to resonate in Latvia. In recognition of this, the Latvian Radio Choir, conducted by Sigvards Kļava, along with a number of guest musicians, released a CD of the choir’s performances of the collaborations of the two Imants, entitled Imants un Ziedonis. The CD includes both songs from more serious works, as well as interpretations of popular songs.

One of Ziedonis’ best known works is “Dziesmu svētkos”, which has become one of the most popular men’s choir songs in Latvia (known as “Mūžu mūžos būs dziesma”, music composed by Valters Kaminskis), and it is interesting to listen to another musical take on these words, this time by Imants Kalniņš (this arrangement by Emīls Zilberts). Though still retaining the celebratory, triumphant air that Kaminskis’ version has, Kalniņš version adds a sense of mystery, even secrecy, brought out in the singing of soloist Gundega Krūmiņa.

A dreamy aura is brought to the song “Kā svece deg” (arrangement by Andris Sējāns), provided by both the magical melody of the flute, played by Andis Klučnieks, complemented by the solo performance of singer Jānis Strazdiņš.

One of the leading popular music artists, Renārs Kaupers of Prāta vētra, has been instrumental in the recent popularization of the works of Ziedonis, via the Viegli charity fund. “Es dziedu viss”, which features Kaupers dueting with choir singer Iveta Romancāne, among others songs on the CD, are from Kalniņš’ oratorio Dzejnieks un nāra, a fantastic tale of Creation, where a poet and a mythical mermaid meet on the boundaries of two worlds. “Es dziedu viss”, at once hymnlike and mystical, captures the otherworldly essence of the mythical tale.

The album closes with the tender “Buramdziesma”, originally performed by Latvian singer Olga Rajecka with the group Turaidas Roze, but this time performed a quartet of singers Gundega Krūmiņa, Iveta Romancāne, Renārs Kaupers, and Jānis Strazdiņš. The lyrics by Ziedonis, perhaps meant in an ironic way, talk of someone staying a friend while ‘rocks grow’ and ‘snails run’. The music of Imants Kalniņš brings out both the sincerity and wry humor that is often contained in Ziedonis’ poetry.

Among the songs are also fragments from an interview with Ziedonis conducted by Ingvilda Strautmane, where Ziedonis muses on such topics such as children, the city of Riga, and friends.

The CD booklet includes a brief essay on the collaboration between Ziedonis and Kalniņš written by Latvian musicologist Orests Silabriedis, biographies of the Latvian Radio Choir and conductor Sigvards Kļava, and a biography of singer Renārs Kaupērs.

The combination of poet Imants Ziedonis and composer Imants Kalniņš resulted in many memorable songs. Drawing on each of their unique characteristics, these creative works, most of which were written during Soviet times, still had a sense of self-expression and individuality that was quite unusual in those times. These works, with the performances of the Latvian Radio Choir and its soloists, as well as the instrumental ensemble, all led by conductor Sigvards Kļava, makes Imants un Ziedonis a memorable record of these two idiosyncratic talents.

For more information, please visit the Latvian Radio Choir website at www.radiokoris.lv

 

The Latvian bard Haralds Sīmanis, long known for his unique, distinctive voice and performance style, has always been an artist who forges his own path, regardless of what musical trends may be popular at the time.

For more than 30 years now, starting with what is likely his best known song – “Ezers” – released in the early 1980s, Sīmanis has been composing and performing, and has developed into a singular Latvian artist. In fact, on the cover of Sīmanis’ latest album Par zāli, par sāli un Tevi, Sīmanis is described as a ‘putns ar paradīzes balsi, dziesminieks un Cēsu čigāns’ (a bird with the voice of Paradise, a songwriter and a Gypsy from Cēsis’.

Perhaps a drawback of being so particularly eclectic is that his music may not reach a very broad audience – though his career spans decades, there are very few CDs available with his music. That is why any Sīmanis’ CD release is something to be heralded, such as 2013’s Par zāli, par sāli un Tevi, a record where Sīmanis, continuing his unpredictable ways, performs songs of a sacred nature.

Though Sīmanis is known mainly as a singer and guitarist, on this album he replaces the guitar for the organ of the Rīga Cathedral.

Sīmanis is also joined on this album by a number of well-known Latvian singers, including Ieva Akurātere and Zane Šmite. In fact, the first song, ‘67 Psalms. Dziesma dziedātāju vadonim ar cītarām’, based on the Biblical 67th Psalm, features Sīmanis only playing the organ, while vocals are handled by Akurātere (who sings over a church choir in the background). The combination of the singing of the church choir, which repeats the same verse over the course of the song, with Akurātere’s soaring vocals, provides for an engrossing, almost polyphonous experience.

Sīmanis returns on vocals on ‘Ienāciet manā dārzā’ (lyrics for this song, as well as for almost all the tracks on the CD, are by long-time lyrical collaborator Arvīds Ulme), and Sīmanis’ expressive, intense voice sounds particularly resplendent in the confines of the Rīga Cathedral, and is enhanced by the solemn organ sound.

Sīmanis’ duet with folklore singer Zane Šmite on ‘Te esmu es’ is one of the highlights of the album, as Sīmanis’ vocals alternate with Šmite’s rich alto voice. While listening, one gets the sense that Šmite’s calmer, soothing vocals are meant to provide solace in response to Sīmanis’ somewhat agitated singing.

The album concludes much as it began, with the church choir returning, and Akurātere providing the lead vocals, on the song, simply entitled ‘Lūgšana’ (Prayer), lyrics by Māra Zviedre, which provides a fitting closing to this spiritual recording.

A drawback of the release is the very limited packaging, no lyrics or photographs. However, the inside cover does have some words from Gundars Ceipe about the Vidzemes Brāļu draudze (otherwise known as the ‘hernhūtieši’, in German “Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine” and in English “Moravian Church”).

Par zāli, par sāli un Tevi, Sīmanis’ collection of modern-day hymns, continues Sīmanis’ idiosyncratic ways, at once unexpected, but, at the same time, a logical extension of his songwriting and performing talents. The presence of the organ, especially, gives Sīmanis’ songs a weightier and more ethereal feel, with the ambience of the Rīga Cathedral adding an additional rarefied dimension to the performances. Sīmanis’ spiritual journey, presented over the course of Par zāli, par sāli un Tevi, provides for an enthralling, as well as uplifting, listening experience.

For more information, please visit Haralds Sīmanis’ Facebook page at https://lv-lv.facebook.com/pages/Haralds-S%C4%ABmanis/102735743110597