On the anniversary, a musical gift for listeners – eDruva.lv

With concerts “Laiks. We. Music” in Riga Cross Church and Cēsi St. St. John’s church, the “Pie Gaujas” choir of Dzerbenes – Taurenes and the “Mergupe” mixed choir of the Mālpils Culture Center sang their jubilees.

“Pie Gaujas” has been sung for 40 years this year, and “Mergupei” has already been sung for 150 years. Both choirs are led by conductor Solveiga Vītoliņa. By uniting the singers, she created a musically sound collective, which was able to stage Rihards Dubra’s “Miss Simplex VIII Pastorale” and Jānis Lūsēns’ song cycle “Like a gently stinging rose bush”. The choir was complemented by an instrumental group of professional musicians.

Before the “Pie Gaujas” concert, the choristers admitted that concerts in churches are emotionally enriching. “Music is uplifting, inspiring for the soul. “Concerts on Sunday have another value – we learn to put aside Sunday, because it always seems that there are unfinished business, but by singing we get peace, which is so lacking in everyday life,” said Sanita Brewer. Conductor S. Vītoliņa revealed that songs that the singers like are played at the concert, and they can be sung at other events as well.

The concert in Cēsis touched the audience. “You can see that the choristers love to sing. The vocals and musical accompaniment are wonderful. Solveig is a masterful conductor, her handwriting can be heard in the choirs. The chosen repertoire is wonderful,” Guna Rācene shared her thoughts after the concert. Margarita Selga said that her ten-year-old son, after hearing the first choir song, exclaimed: “How it sounds! How beautiful!” “Wonderful concert, spring clear,” said Margarita.

Anitra and Ivars Raushi praised the choice of repertoire. “I like Lucena, Dubra’s music. The concert was soulful and permeated with warm peace,” said Anitra, but Ivars added that the concert can simply be said to be musical. “By combining the choirs, a sound team has been created that can stage a serious repertoire and delight the audience,” admitted
I. Rausis.

After the concert, the choirs were greeted by friends, supporters, as well as the Sigulda District Culture Board. “Pie Gaujas” anniversary concerts have been performed in Tauren, Riga and Cēsis. As the choristers say, the choir is not just a Song Festival. After attending a sing-along concert in Līgatne, new songs are learned.

“This season is interesting for choirs, because everyone can sing what they want and show themselves. That’s why it’s important to see and hear what others are singing. There are so many beautiful choir songs, one can only wonder and be happy,” shares S. Brewer’s thoughts, but Erika Malder adds that it is not easy to free up time for daily work and the choir. “Before driving to the concert, I weeded lilies, transformed my Song Festival garden, because while I was singing in Mežapark last summer, it was growing on its own. It is not easy to control a wild person,” Ē.Māldere admitted with a laugh and added that a person is given the ability to choose what is more important at any given moment. Ginta Babre, head of the Taurene House of Culture, emphasized to “Druva”: “”Pie Gauja” is the most sonorous choir. For 40 years now.”