The project of "Dabā" involves recording spring and summer songs in the environment where they were traditionally sung, namely, outdoors in nature. Thus the hills, forests, marshes and lakes of Latvia have become their recording studio and the wind, birds, insects and other nature sounds unwitting participants in their performances. These recordings give the listener a fuller insight into the tradition of Latvian vocal music, which developed through the integration of the singer, natural acoustics and various sounds created by nature.
Dabā (In Nature) compiles the experience of Saucējas, the traditional singing ensemble of the Latvian Academy of Culture, in its unique project titled “Traditional Singing in Nature’s Acoustic Environment”. The recordings of folk songs presented here reveal the singing process as interaction between the singer and various naturally resonant landscapes in Latvia. The ensemble’s work over four years is included in two audio CDs with a total of 60 songs from all regions of Latvia. The book contains information about the experience gained during the project as well as a study by Saucējas director Iveta Tāle on singing traditions outdoors in nature as reflected in folk song texts.
