Lūcija Garūta (1902-1977)
Apple Tree
Latvian Radio Choir/Sigvards Kļava
rec. 2022/23, St. John’s Church, Riga, Latvia
Skani LMIC153 [70]
Lūcija Garūta worked during the central third of the 20th century, and after World War II in a land forcibly colonised by the Soviets. Her musical style had to undergo an equally forced change to accommodate the dictates of Socialist Realism in music. From what I can discover, things in Latvia were not as dreadful as in Russia, where composers such as Prokofiev and Shostakovitch had to bend the knee to political correctness of a chilling and killing kind. Lūcija Garūta did bend the knee, however. In embracing Latvian folk music, her post-war music became simpler and more diatonic.
I have made the mistake of listening to the programme all at once. There are tweny-one tracks, the longest by far at just under 7 minutes, the shortest at 1¾ minutes. Their relative similarity prevents the appreciation of their individual qualities. It would have been far better to choose individual songs and concentrate on them.
The works are not far off mid-19th-century melodic style; many could be Elgar’s choral songs. There is an occasional slight harmonic side-step and maybe some contrapuntal parts, but nothing that would raise an eyebrow. The Soviet Cultural Commissar in Latvia would have approved. All songs attractive if not striking. To my ears, the best is Dziesminas gaitas on track 11, in which Därta Paldiņa’s lovely contralto soars above the choir.
The choir, as usual these days, is absolutely outstanding. Technically accomplished and beauteous of tone, they are a pleasure to hear. The disc is a high-quality production, with copious biographical notes and full song texts in Latvian and English. The recording is natural and spacious; I cannot imagine it being improved upon.
Jim Westhead
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Contents
1. Ābele—Apple Tree 3:37
2. Gäju putnu rudens dziesma—Autumn Song of the Migrating Birds 3:42
3. Pavasara lietü—In the Spring Rain 3:17
4. Sirmai mämulioai—Toa Dear Elderly Mother
5. Mérens véjir,nö—A Moderate Breeze 2:47
6. Näc, jaunä audze—Come, Young Generation 2:33
7. Aizgäjuöie—The Departed 2:45
8. Mums rnüiam briviem, latvji, büt—May We, Latvians, Forever Be Free 3:19
9. Véléjums bérnam —A Wish fora Child 2:04
10. Miera balss—The Voice of Peace 3:24
11. Dziesmioas gaitas—The Little Song’s Path 6:51
12. Jaunatnes balsis—The Voices of Youth 3:56
13. Dziesma – cilvéka dziesma—The Song – Humanity’s Song 3:55
14. Dziesmu diena—Day of Song 2:39
15. Tava skaou pils—Your Castle of Sound 3:22
16. Liela, plaéa müsu druva—Our Field so Vast and Wide 1:43
17. Dziesma saulei lidzi iet—The Song Walks Alongside the Sun 3:04
18. Ligo 3:46
19. Ai, manä zemité—Oh, in My Land 1:47
20. Baltaitioa jüru pejåa—A White Sheep Swims in the Sea 3:40
21. Rib tiltirpis—The Bridge Rumbles 2.28
