Dzintars Latvian Women's Choir

Dzintars is the Latvian word for amber, the translucent fossilized pine pitch highly prized in Latvia. Commonly worn in necklaces, bracelets and rings, as a symbol of national identity it signifies beauty, openness, and freedom. The Dzintars choir, the leading female chorale of the region, was founded in 1947 and has evolved into an internationally acclaimed professional chorus. Their awards include Hungary's 1968 Gold Diploma in the Bartok Competition, and the Netherlands' Grand Prix in 1977. The present company includes 76 skilled professional singers, under the direction of Imants Cepitis and Ausma Derkevica.

During their 1989 U.S. tour, the Dzintars stopped at the state-of-the-art sound studios of George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch in northern California to record this album with producers Mickey Hart and Jerry Garcia. Drawing upon a rich cross-section of their native Latvian repertoire, both traditional and "avant-garde," this is a pristine showcase of their remarkably pure voices and impeccable harmonies. Included are arrangements of such traditional folk songs as "Blow, Wind, Blow" (the Latvian freedom anthem), new interpretations of folkloric materials such as "The Forest Shook from Dancing," and several new songs by young Latvian composers ("Song of the Wind," Autumn Landscape," The Tomtit's Message"). Also included are three Yiddish folks songs ("Sleep, My Child," "Di Raike," and "Oi Hanuke") and "So Silent is the Ukrainian Night," a modern Russian composition.

Discography

Songs of Amber

Blow, Wind, Blow Breaking Flax The Sun Moves Quickly Sleep My Child Song Of The Wind So Silent Is The Ukranian Night The Forest Shook From Dancing Where Have You Been, Brother? Orphan Girl In White Di Raike Christmas Masquerade (Mummery Song) Oi Hanuke Autumn Landscape The Tomtit's Message

The small country of Latvia on the Baltic Sea had been independent for 23 years in 1941 when it was forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union. Today the Baltic states (Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania) have begun their struggle for independence.This struggle is often reflected and reinforced in folk song. Collections of Latvian folk music and song were made in the mid-to-late 19th century, and today the collection of the Latvian Academy of Sciences comprises 1 1/2 million texts and 30,000 melodies. Many choirs perform this material, some sticking to the traditional ways and others compose new settings of traditional texts. Dzintars, the Latvian word for amber, is Latvia's leading female choir, and they have won many competition awards: some favorites: the folk songs "Blow, Wind, Blow," "The Sun Moves Quickly," and "The Forest Shook From Dancing," Selga Mentse's "Where Have You Been, Brother" and "Orphan Girl In White," Peteris Vask's "Christmas Masquerade" and the Yiddish folk song, "Oi Hanuke." Marvelous, spirited music, sung with tremendous feeling by this 67-strong, brightly-costumed chorus! Some light accompaniment.

Listen to Di Raike in Real Audio.

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