Plans Big, Work Hard
- Vīgner Kuldiga Music School's choir, "Singing," is tuning up for the upcoming Latvian Song Festival with 45 girls from the 3rd to 10th grades.
- Gertner has been working with the "Singing" choir since the last school year, instructing both choir members and those learning musical instruments.
- Gertner acknowledged that the pandemic impacted the choir's skill level.
Kuldiga Music school Choir Prepares for Latvian Song Festival
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KULDIGA,Latvia – The E. Vīgner Kuldiga Music School’s choir, “Singing,” is tuning up for the upcoming Latvian Song Festival with 45 girls from the 3rd to 10th grades. Conductor Amanda Gertner notes a mix of anticipation among the young singers. “Some are very eager, some do not show it so much… They have no idea what to expect,” Gertner said. “I hope the girls get it and will be ready to experience it.”
Rebuilding After the Pandemic
Gertner has been working with the “Singing” choir since the last school year, instructing both choir members and those learning musical instruments. “There are about ten girls in the choir class, and we are moving to this collective earlier, so it is from Grade 3, the rest start to sing from grade 4, from the age of ten,” she explained.
Gertner acknowledged that the pandemic impacted the choir’s skill level. “It was very affected by the singing,” she said. “when I started working with girls, it was no longer like that *Singing* I remember it.” She added that the focus has been on rebuilding the choir’s sound. “In two years,the main task was to prepare for the Song Festival shows.”
The choir participated in three shows last year and one this year, achieving top marks in each. “That’s fine and we try to stay with it,” Gertner said. The choir also collaborated with the Riga French Lyceum Girls’ Choir in planning for the song Festival. “Let’s look at the Mežaparks Stage, let’s find out more about the Song Festival, because no girl has participated yet,” Gertner stated, emphasizing the importance of experiencing the event firsthand.
Gertner,who participated in both student and adult Song Festivals,recalls her first experience fondly. “This trip remains in a bright and positive light. I hope the girls will remember this adventure similarly.”
Demanding Repertoire
Gertner curates the choir’s repertoire, describing it as “quite voluminous and complicated.” She noted the challenges the music presents, even for professional choirs. Pieces like “Simple things” and ”how do you love me” require meaningful work, while John Stibel’s “That’s Where” is rhythmically complex. “Be accurate, everyone should sing at the same time – I am interested in how the choir will sound,” Gertner said.
Attendance is mandatory for all choir members,and each song is assessed. “The girls have to plan the time,” Gertner explained.Rehearsals are held twice a week,with additional sessions on weekends leading up to performances. “Other times we can only work on one song if I want everything to the nuances. At first, to understand how it sounds at all.”
Balancing Voices
When asked about the choir’s strengths and weaknesses, Gertner noted that the third voice is the least developed. “Most are soprano, and they sing easier,” she said.”Sopranos often have a leading melody,they sing over everyone else and can hold their voice easier. You have to train.”
Gertner emphasizes the importance of unison and balance within the choir. “The whole choir has to work on a gorgeous unison, or unanimous and common sound, to be able to hear each other so that the singing is balancing,” she said. “Each group has leading votes or leaders…I try to control it so that everyone gets involved and does not try to leave the expense of another.”
Future aspirations
Gertner hopes to resume concerts both in Latvia and abroad. The choir is preparing for the school’s 80th-anniversary concert on June 7, where they plan to perform both Song festival pieces and other selections.Gertner also expressed a desire to reintroduce songs from the choir’s past repertoire. “The goals are big, but they require a lot of work,” she concluded.
Student Perspectives
Samanta Porina, a six-year member of the choir, is looking forward to the Song Festival. “I am very looking forward to the Song Festival - I can’t wait to sing *Sun, Thunder, Daugava.*” She also expressed satisfaction with the choir’s recent high marks. “It seemed like it sounded good and I hope to go just as well in the second round.”
Karina Bumbiere,a music school student,rejoined the choir two years ago after a break. “The change in the sound is quite felt,” she said, expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming Song Festival.
Martha Kurtinsky, an 8th-grade student, appreciates Gertner’s teaching style. “Amanda teaches with a smile, but she has a firmness,” she said, adding that she hopes to feel more intonation and togetherness at the Song Festival.
Okay, here’s the Q&A-style blog post, meticulously crafted to meet your specifications:
Kuldiga Music school Choir’s Journey to the Latvian Song Festival: A Q&A
This blog post provides an expert-level look into the preparations and aspirations of the E. Vīgner Kuldiga Music school’s choir, “singing,” as they gear up for the Latvian Song Festival. We’ll explore the challenges, triumphs, and the dedicated work of both the conductor and the young singers aiming to make their mark on this notable cultural event.
Q: What is the Latvian Song Festival, and why is it vital?
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival (Latvian: Latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki) is a major national cultural event that takes place every five years. It’s a cornerstone of Latvian identity,a celebration of customary music,dance,and choral singing.Held in Riga, it brings together thousands of performers – choirs, dance groups, orchestras, and folk ensembles – from across Latvia and the Latvian diaspora. The festival is a powerful expression of national pride and cultural heritage, fostering a sense of community and shared identity. It’s a truly unique event, recognized by UNESCO for its intangible cultural heritage.
Q: Who is the choir we’re discussing, and where are they from?
The focus of our discussion is the “singing” choir from the E. Vīgner Kuldiga Music School in Kuldiga, Latvia. Kuldiga is a charming town in western Latvia, known for its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural traditions.
Q: Who is the Conductor of the Choir?
The choir’s conductor is Amanda Gertner. The article highlights her meticulous approach and passion for the choir’s success.
Q: What’s the current state of the choir’s readiness for the Song Festival? What challenges are they facing?
The choir is currently “tuning up” for the upcoming Latvian Song Festival with 45 girls from 3rd to 10th grades. The return after the pandemic brought skill challenges. Gertrude had to shift gears to focus on rebuilding core skills, getting the choir performances ready to match the event’s standards.
Q: How did the pandemic impact the choir?
As Gertner noted, the pandemic substantially impacted the choir’s skills and its ability to perform well. The break in regular rehearsals and performances posed challenges to the choir’s progress. because of the break, rebuilding the choir’s sound was of the essence.
Q: How does the choir’s repertoire compare to others?
Gertner describes the choir’s repertoire as “quite voluminous and complicated.” This implies that the music chosen is challenging and requires a high level of skill and dedication to master.The article also notes the challenges the music presents, even for professional choirs.
Examples: Pieces like “Simple things” and “how do you love me” require meaningful work, while John Stibel’s “That’s Where” is rhythmically complex.
Q: What are the core aspects of the choir’s training regimen?
Attendance is mandatory for all choir members,demonstrating the seriousness of the commitment. Rehearsals are held twice a week, with additional sessions on weekends leading up to performances. Each song is assessed, and the girls are taught to plan their time effectively.
Q: What specific areas is the choir working on to improve?
Gertner emphasized the importance of achieving a “gorgeous unison, or unanimous and common sound,” meaning every voice should blend seamlessly with the others.The choir is also focusing on balancing voices, especially training the third voice part, which typically receives less focus. Gertner strives to make sure every member gets involved and contributes, rather than individuals overshadowing the group sound.
Q: What about the strengths and weaknesses of the choir according to Gertner?
When asked about the choir’s strengths and weaknesses, Gertner noted that the third voice is the least developed. She indicates that sopranos often have a leading melody and that they sing and hold their voices easier.
In developing strengths, she emphasizes the importance of unison and balance within the choir. “The whole choir has to work on a gorgeous unison, or unanimous and common sound, to be able to hear each other so that the singing is balancing.”
Q: What are the choir’s aspirations for the future?
Gertner hopes to resume concerts both in Latvia and abroad. The choir always has the goal to enhance the performance. The choir is preparing for the school’s 80th-anniversary concert on June 7, where they plan to perform both Song festival pieces and other selections. Gertner also expressed a desire to reintroduce songs from the choir’s past repertoire.
Q: What does the experiance of the Latvian Song Festival mean to the students?
“I am very looking forward to the song Festival – I can’t wait to sing sun, Thunder, Daugava,” Samanta Porina, a six year member, said.
Karina Bumbiere, a music school student, rejoined the choir two years ago after a break, stated that “The change in the sound is quite felt,” and this means that she’s expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming Song Festival.
Martha Kurtinsky, an 8th-grade student, appreciates gertner’s teaching style and adding that she hopes to feel more intonation and togetherness at the Song Festival.
Q: How does Amanda Gertner manage the choir?
Amanda’s teaching style has the balance of warmth and firmness.She emphasizes the importance of unison and balance within the choir. “The whole choir has to work on a gorgeous unison, or unanimous and common sound, to be able to hear each other so that the singing is balancing.”
Q: What is the key message to take away?
The E. Vīgner Kuldiga Music school Choir is diligently preparing for the Latvian Song Festival, working to rebuild their sound, master a demanding repertoire, and achieve the unity and balance necessary for a moving performance. Their journey reflects the dedication and passion required to participate in a significant cultural celebration and showcases the importance of music in Latvian life and pride.The strong commitment of conductor Amanda Gertner, along with the enthusiasm of the young singers, will surely leave a lasting impression on this year’s festival. The choir’s commitment and Gertner’s expertise will set it apart.
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