Riga - European Capital of Culture 2014 candidate

music inspirationlandscapeEurope is diverse. Dozens of countries,hundreds of languages and accents.Are we so different? Not if we examineour roots. Song, one of the most ancientforms of human self-expression, leadsus to the same sources. For example,the drone bass has been preservedin the Balkans, the Baltics, Georgiaand the Pyrenees. This unique formof singing shows that we, Europeans,have a common past, but the processof this first international choir festivaland the response from its participantsassure us that there will also be a commonfuture for new cooperation, at thebase of which are the open minds ofpeople from different nationalities, anopen smile and the wish to get to knowone another.“Music Inspiration Landscape” seeks uncultivatedterritories, friends not yet metand songs not yet sung. The principalactivities of the international choir musicfestival and competition “Music InspirationLanscape” will be an international choircompetition, joint singing, master classes,concerts, a day devoted to Latvia’s regionsand “European Song Day” – an open-airconcert with a united choir, orchestra,soloists and ethnic singers taking part.The festival week – with the choirs of differentcountries singing songs of the summersolstice, which are very different from eachother but at the same time similar in theiressence – will reflect the unity of Europe’smember states and strengthen further internationalcooperation through the processof cultural exchange.“Music Inspiration Landscape” invites usto experience the festive joy of the summersolstice, as well as the ritual of extendingthe period of light into the night throughburning bonfires.The “European Song Days” event isplanned at the largest open-air concertvenue in the Latvian capital of Riga – theMežaparks open-air stage, which is enclosedby a pine-tree forest from all sides.Beacons will be lit and bonfires will burn.Līgo songs will be sung. Meditative silencewill alternate with ancient songs. With theaid of a satellite video, participants of theinspiration landscape will be able to followthe movement of the sun around the earth,until this celestial body returns to us oncemore at sunrise, when it gently brushes thetips of the pine trees and the eyes of theLīgo revellers.The language spoken by Latvians belongsto the Indo-European family tree and togetherwith the Lithuanian language, itforms the Baltic language group. These arethe only surviving Baltic languages, bothconsiderably ancient. In common with, forexample, the Celts, nowadays the numberof the Balts can only be counted as a fewmillion people, which is what makes theopportunity of encountering such lesserknownlanguages and the traditions of livingcollective memories so special.What: “European Song Day”, Internationalchoir festival and competition .Where: Countries of the Baltic Sea region,EU member states that agree to participatein the preparation of festival concertsand the development of master classes.The main location will be Riga.Regions of Latvia, with focus on Vidzemeregion. The festival’s closing concertwill take place in Piebalga, where all thechoirs from the member states will singtogether.When: 20 th to 25 th June, 2014.20 th June–Goodday: Festival opening andEuropean Dance Evening.21 st June – Inspiration day: Mclasses andcreative workshops.22 nd June – championship day: Choircompetition and choir review.23 rd June – solstice celebration: concertsin Latvia’s regions and joint concert.24 th June – Līgo farawells.Concept authors: Agita Ikauniece, UģisBrikmanis, Orests Silabriedis, Diāna Čivle,Zanda Ķergalve.Organisers: Concert Organisation Ave Sol;Riga City Council, Department of Culture.It is planned to establish cooperation withEuropean Union funds for financing, aswell as the Riga City Council, the LatvianMinistry of Culture and Latvian Ministry ofForeign Affairs.Cooperation partners: Professional choirsfrom the EU member states and traditionalart choirs, as well as institutions devotedto the preservation of their countries’national cultural heritage and to thepromotion of amateur group activities. Incooperation with partner organisations,basic principles will be established, bywhich the master class programmes andthe criteria and rules of the amateur choircompetition will be developed.94 95