Power of the word, Songs of power (Feb 18, 2013)

This was a lecture about Dainas - Latvian folk songs – our precious unmaterial cultural heritage. There are more then 268 000 songs collected and saved by our nation. Although we call them all “songs” only part of them are sing-able, most are 4 line verses, like poetry with specific rhythm. We sing folk songs to express ourselves, to keep songs for future, to be together. Songs help keep the spirit, draw strength, to find the hope.

There are some examples in Latvian with translation in English:

Dziedot dzimu, dziedot augu,     Singing I was born, singing I grew up,

Dziedot mūžu nodzīvoju.              Singing I lived through my life,

Ar dziesmām guldīts kļūšu            With songs I shall be lain

Baltā smilšu kalniņā.                        In a mount of white sand.

Jo man sūri, jo man grūti,             The bitterer, the harder my life,

Jo es koši padziedāju,                    The more richly do I sing

Jo es koši padziedāju,                    The more richly do I sing

Asariņas slaucīdama.                      Drying my tears.

You can hear a Latvian folk song here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4IcuClbZVs