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Choir music cover

Latvians who had fled to the West to escape the re-invading Soviets were only just starting over their lives in the diaspora. The first Latvian song festival in America was a natural outgrowth and continuation of the "Song Days" (Dziesmu Dienas) Latvians held in the Displaced Persons (DP) camps in Europe after WWII, carrying on a tradition which started with the first song festival↗ in Latvia in 1873, during the National Awakening.

The festival was held May 30th, 1953. Twenty-two choirs and 650 singers participated, with an audience of about 5,000. It was the first such festival held outside Latvia—starting a tradition which lasted throughout the Soviet era and which continues today, bringing together those of Latvian heritage, their family and friends from all over the world.

Follow the link to download the complete book here  . The file is formatted for double-sided printing.

The following images are from the Latvian National Library collection. See "Read more" for the link. Site is in Latvian.

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Plakāts — poster
Virsdiriģents B. Skulte sniedz pēdējos norādījumus vagonā saviem dziedātājiem — Artistic director (lead conductor) Bruno Skulte delivers his final instructions in the coach to his singers
Amerikas Latviešu Apvienības priekšsēdis Prof. P.Lejiņš jun. atklāj Dziesmu svētkus — American Latvian Association chairman Prof. Pēteris Lejiņš opens the Song Festival in June
K.Dzirkalis ar runu paceļ un parāda svētku dalībniekiem no Brazilijas atsūtīto 1.Visp.Dziesmu svētku / 1873 g./ virsdiriģenta Indriķa Zīle zizli. Zizli, kā dziesmu svētku kontinuitātes simbolu uz Čikāgu atsūtija I.Zīles pēcnācēji. — [Chairman of the Song Festival] Kārlis Dzirkalis with his speech raises and shows festival participants the First Song Festival's [1873] lead conductor Indriķis Zīle's baton, sent from Brazil. I. Zīle's descendants sent the baton to Chicago as the symbol of song festival continuity.
Ņujorkas Latv. Ev. Lut. Dr. Jaukts Koris, New York, N.Y. — New York Evangelical Lutheran Church Mixed Choir, New York, N.Y.
Jauktais koris dzied, diriģents nav zināms — The mixed choir performing, specific conductor not known
Omahas Latv. Draudzes Koris — Omaha Latvian Church Choir, Omaha, Nebraska
Brusubārdas Koris — Ernests Brusubārda Choir, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Alts Koris — Alts Choir, Boston, Massachusetts
Milvoku D.V. Apv. Vīru Koris — Milwaukee Daugavas Vanagi Society Men's Choir, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Minneapolis un St. Paul Ev-Lut. Dr. Koris — Minneapolis and St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Choir, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Detroitas Latv. Koris — Detroit Latvian Choir, Detroit, Michigan
Linkolnas Latv. Koris — Lincoln Latvian Choir, Lincoln, Nebraska
Dziesmu Vairogs — Shield of Song, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Prof. P.Lejiņš apsveic virsdiriģentu B.Skulti — Professor Pēteris Lejiņš greets artistic director (lead conductor) Bruno Skulte
Goda virsdiriģents prof. A.Ābele un Rīcības kkomitejas priekšsēdis K.Dzirkalis — Honorary lead conductor Professor A. Ābele and Organizing Committee Chairman Kārlis Dzirkalis
Neaprakstīts — uncaptioned
Dalībnieku piespraude — participants' pin
Ādolfs Ābele
Rūdolfs Saule
Rūdolfs Saule
Valdemārs Ozoļiņš
Bruno Skulte

Runājot personiskāk, pieaugot, Pētera baznīcā dievkalpojumu spilgtākais punkts bija Bruno Skultes ērģeļu pavadījumi, priekšnesumi un improvizācijas. Reiz viņš (Skulte) aizmiga klausoties garu spediķu!

 — On a more personal note, growing up, the highlight of services at Peter's Church were Bruno Skulte's organ accompaniments, performances, and improvisations. One time he (Skulte) fell asleep listening to a long sermon!

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Reproduced from the participants' choir music for the First Latvian Song Festival in America. For personal use only, all rights remain with the original rights holder(s). Under Latvian copyright law, choir music may be reproduced without remuneration to the original author if, generally, a work is used for educational and research purposes, and for musical works, if the work is used during official or religious ceremonies to the extent appropriate, as well as in teaching institutions as part of the face-to-face teaching process.
1949The Story of Latvia1951Latvian Artists' Group NYC19531953Festival of Lithuanian Art and Music1958Folk Costume Fold-Outs
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