Jauna biedrība – ģimenēm diasporā, kurās tiek uzturēta latviešu valoda

Inga Sindi | 

Nesen nodibināta diasporas NVO “Latviešu valodas uzturēšana diasporas ģimenēs”. Tās dibinātāji un biedri esam no dažādām valstīm un ar lielu pieredzi diasporas organizācijās un latviešu valodas uzturēšanas darbā. Remigrācijas 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 “Mama saka ābols, papa saka Apfel”, ko šovasar izdos Latviešu Valodas aģentūra; 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 Brisbanes Latviešu nama vadītāja. Šī ir daļa no biedrības biedriem, kas gatavi ieguldīt savu pieredzi un zināšanas, lai informētu un atbalstītu latviešu vecākus diasporā, kā arī skaidrotu ar bērnu daudzvalodību un mantotās valodas apguvi saistītus jautājumus.

Aicinām pievienoties biedrības Facebook grupai “Latviešu valoda diasporas ģimenēs” un / vai sekot tās Instagram kontam lv_diasporasgimenes esošos un topošos latviešu vecākus visā pasaulē, kuri:

  • vēlas un cenšas iemācīt bērniem latviešu valodu citas valodas vidē,
  • interesējas par bērnu daudzvalodību,
  • gribētu uzzināt, kā pārvarēt dažādus sarežģījumus (bērns neatbild latviski; trūkst motivācijas; pašam nav laika mācīt un tuvumā nav latviešu skoliņas) un kur meklēt resursus izmantošanai mājās,
  • labprāt neformāli apmainītos ar citiem vecākiem, kā arī lasītu / uzklausītu bērnu valodas ekspertu ieteikumus.

Veiksim intervijas ar bērnu daudzvalodības pētniekiem, dalīsimies ar citu vecāku pieredzes stāstiem, praktiskiem ieteikumiem ikdienas situācijām un cita veida noderīgu saturu ikvienam, kura bērns aug ar vairākām valodām. Ar laiku sekos arī citas aktivitātes. Izmantojot sociālos tīklus, vēlamies arī izzināt vecāku vajadzības un intereses. Jo mūsu būs vairāk, jo vērtīgāka domu apmaiņa.

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

Dibinātāju un biedru vārdā: Inga Sindi (Vācija, kontakttālrunis +49 15258296078)

Recent album shows Juris Karlsons’ imagination & skill with theatrical music

Egils Kaljo | 

Few composers have contributed as much to the Latvian academic repertoire than Juris Karlsons. Over his many decades of composition, he has enriched almost all genres with his contributions. Particularly notable is his contribution to the field of theater and stage music.

To spotlight this section of Karlsons’ oeuvre, the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra and conductor Guntis Kuzma recorded some of Karlsons’ compositions for and inspired by the stage, and the resulting album, entitled Dzīves un nāves dejas (Dances of Life and Death) was released in 2023.

One of French playwright Pierre Corneille’s best known works is Le Cid, about the legendary Spanish warrior El Cid. Karlsons’ work “El Cid. Dzīves un nāves dejas” was inspired by this play (as well as a production of the play at the Riga Dailes Theater in 1996), and Karlsons encapsulates the story and legend in this work.  The subtitle (meaning ‘Dances of Life and Death’) already indicates the dramatic, perhaps fatalistic nature of the work, and Karlsons’ music expressively presents the story. The interplay between the woodwinds and the brass instruments is vividly performed by Liepāja Symphony Orchestra. As the work moves from moments of levity to moments of deep foreboding, the orchestra builds upon the intensity contained in Karlsons’ work.

Latvian playwright Rūdolfs Blaumanis added many memorable plays to the world of Latvian literature, but perhaps none is as beloved as Skroderdienas Silmačos, a play set in the time of Jāņi (midsummer). It is a work that continues to play to packed houses every summer in Latvia. Inspired by Blaumanis’ work, Karlsons composed the music for “Antonija #Silmači”, a ballet based upon the play.

A tender and bucolic melody opens the first work in the suite, entitled ‘Antonija’, Antonija being the owner of the Silmači farmstead and a young widow. Karlsons’ tender music is tinged with sadness, and the orchestra’s sweeping performance creates a deep and layered portrayal of Antonija. The image of Antonija is then followed by the energetic, even galloping ‘Skroderi nāk’, inspired by the approach of the travelling tailors to Silmači, musically imagining the preparations and apprehensions for some.

Though ostensibly a comedy, Skroderdienas Silmačos still carries a lot of emotional weight and drama, and Karlsons’ music brings forth the many layers of Blaumanis’ play. This can be seen in the vivacious and even turbulent ‘Zāra’, about the Jewish dressmaker of the same name, and her romance with Joske, the son of merchant Ābrams. There is a similar storminess in ‘Bites’ (Bees), which may also be partially inspired by Rimsky-Korsakov’s ‘Flight of the Bumblebee’, a work famous for its frantic depiction of the winged insect, and the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra skillfully and artfully performs this work of technical intricacies.

The album also contains Karlsons’ ‘Jāzepa vīzijas’ (Joseph’s Visions), music inspired by a 1981 production of ‘Jāzeps un viņa brāļi’, a tragedy written by famed Latvian poet Rainis, and itself inspired by the Old Testament story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. Weaving together Middle Eastern motifs with the broad orchestral palette, Karlsons creates an engrossing musical vision, revealing the modern parallels to be found in this ancient story. This work is also the only one to feature vocals, a searing vocal performance by baritone Daumants Kalniņš.

Dzīves un nāves dejas is a memorable document of composer Juris Karlsons’ rich imagination and skill with theatrical music. These works (or, one might call them ‘visions’) bring together many dramatic and even comedic threads, and, when performed by such skillful musicians such as the Liepāja Symphony orchestra and conductor Guntis Kuzma, reveal a lush theatrical world.

For further information, please visit the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra website.

Juris Karlsons – Dzīves un nāves dejas

Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, conductor Guntis Kuzma

LMIC/SKANI 148, 2023

Track listing:

1. El Cid. Dzīves un nāves dejas

Suite from the ballet Antonija #Silmači

2. Antonija

3. Skroderi nāk

4. Zāra

5. Pindacīša un Ābrams

6. Aleksis un Elīna

7. Bites

8. Cik b(l)ēdīgi tie vecāki

9. Antonija un Aleksis

10. Fināls

11. Jāzepa vīzijas

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.

Latvian pianist Dzintra Erliha’s Carnegie Hall debut a memorable musical event

Egils Kaljo | 

In a triumphant return to the United States, Latvian pianist Dzintra Erliha, in her Carnegie Hall debut, gave a solo concert at the Weill Recital Hall on Friday, February 9. In the intimate confines of the Weill Hall, Erliha’s performance was an impressive and memorable musical event.

Exhibiting the confidence of a pianist who has been performing for decades, Erliha’s resplendent and masterful performance included works by both Latvian and international composers.

Erliha has been at the forefront of championing the works of Latvian composer Lūcija Garūta, and, as a result of Erliha’s efforts, Garūta’s compositions have grown in popularity. One could feel the personal connection between the pianist and composer in Erliha’s performances of Garūta’s Etude ‘Leģenda’ and the 3 Preludes, with moments of both tenderness and strength.

Another highlight of the evening was the performance of Pēteris Vasks’ tragic work ‘Landscapes of the Burnt-out Earth’, the composer’s lament for the damage done to nature throughout the years. With its shrill bird calls and harsh atmosphere (though with the occasional moment of hope) , Erliha’s dramatic rendition of this work confirms that Vasks’ stark and immediate warning to the world is just as relevant today as when it was composed more than thirty years ago.

Erliha’s latest recording Serena, features compositions by both Latvian and American women composers, including distinguished Latvian American composers Dace Aperāne and Lolita Ritmanis (both of whom were in attendance that evening). Erliha has had a long and fruitful collaboration with both composers, and the works performed (Aperāne’s ‘New Moon’ and ‘Daina’, Ritmanis’ ‘Hope’ and ‘Beyond the Window’) were emotional and personal, bringing forth the rich beauty in all these pieces.

Legendary Latvian actor Ivars Stonins was the host for the evening and provided many biographical and musical notes on the pianist and the compositions.

The concert concluded with Erliha joined by violinist Una Tone and cellist Sasha Ono, and included the world premiere of Ritmanis’ composition “Vignettes From the Park”, composed specifically for this trio and this concert, and was a vivid and dramatic finale for this remarkable evening of music.

Erliha’s US tour continues with performances in Boston, Stetson University, Cleveland, Los Angeles, as well as a return to New York in September. Erliha is also releasing her next album – entitled Dreamscapes – later in 2024, which will feature piano music of the 21st century.

For more information, please visit Dzintra Erliha’s website.

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.