Latvian Song and Dance Festival

The Latvian Song Festival ( Latvian Vispārējie latviešu dziesmu un Deju Svetki - General Latvian Song and Dance Festival ) is a generally every five years, recurring cultural event in Latvia and part of Latvian identity. It fits into the tradition of song festivals of the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. On these mass singing events are the stories and myths, but also brought national consciousness in songs expressed.

The 25th Song Festival, with about 40 000 participants was held from 30 June to 7 July 2013.

Formation

The peoples of the Baltic countries were centuries politically and culturally dominated by foreign powers. In the course of the awakening national consciousness in the 19th century was a return to one's own culture and language; the traditional legends, fairy tales and songs played an important role. In 1869 the first Estonian song festival in the Baltics took place (Estonian Tartu) in Dorpat.

History

From 8 to 11 July ( Julian: June 26th to 29th ) 1873 was held in Latvia for the first time the great national song festival. It was attended by 45 choirs participated. Top conductors were Jānis Bētiņš and Indriķis Zīle.

The Latvian Song Festival took place both in the Russian Empire ( until 1917 ) as well as in independent Latvia ( 1918-1940 and since 1991) and in the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic ( 1945-1991 ); Interruptions, it was only during the two world wars. By 2008, so Latvian Song Festival 24 General were held. Since 1948, also dance groups participated in the event.

For XXIII. Song Festival 2003 came from all over Latvia, as well as from abroad 319 choirs, 538 dance and folk groups, 57 brass bands, groups Koklespielern, three symphony orchestra and a chamber orchestra. Similar dimensions had the XXIV Song Festival 2008. The Last Song Festival took place from 30 June to 7 July 2013.

In addition to the general Liederfest also Latgale Song Festival took place. In addition, since 1960 a dance and song celebration of youth ( Latvijas Skolu jaunatnes dziesmu un Deju Svetki ) is organized.

Course

Years before the main event, the repertoire will be prepared and tested. Through many competitions, the choirs have to qualify for the Song Festival; The main objective is to participate in the final event on the outdoor stage in the Riga district Mežaparks with around 30,000 choristers.

The focus of the events lies with the choirs and dance groups, but it also take chapels for brass bands, folklore groups, musicians, visual artists, amateur theater, etc. part. On the last day of the festival in the morning songs Normally there will be a parade with all the participants.

National Anthem and Song Festival

Dievs Sveti, Latviju ( German: God bless, Latvia) was written as an anthem of the Latvians Karlis Baumanis in 1870 and composed. The song was first sung during the first singer festival in June 1873 in Riga. The term " Latvija " (Latvia ) used by Baumanis was new and was used to identify all the areas inhabited by Latvians. On the part of the Russian rulers the word " Latvija " was interpreted and forbidden as demand for national independence. It had to be replaced by the more general term " Baltija " ( Baltic ). On November 18, 1918 ( Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia) was Dievs, Latviju Sveti actually the Latvian national anthem.

Others

• Since 1 July 2005, the protection, development and the dissemination of the Song Festival tradition to future generations in a separate Act ( Dziesmu un Deju svētku likums ) is committed.
• 2003, the Baltic song festivals have been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.