Div’ dūjiņas gaisā skrēja
Lativia Folk Song
Country:
Lativia
Region:
Baltic
Composer: Laura Jēkabsone
Language:
Lativian
Genre:
Folk
Voicing:
Mixed Choir
Difficulty: Difficult
Duration:
~ 6 minutes
About the Piece
Div’ dūjiņas gaisā skrēja (Two Doves Flew) is a contemporary arrangement of a traditional Latvian folk song. Dedicated to the “Daughters of the Forest” Latvian women who were involved in the partisan movements, who stood up against occupation and Soviet rule after World War II. Living in inhuman circumstances for many years, in a state of constant fear, hiding and sacrificing themselves in the name of freedom. The text contrasts between the imagery of two doves flying to two brothers headed to war.
Lesson Plan Outline
Before Rehearsal
- Introduce the “Daughters of the Forest”
- Listen without looking at the score
- What emotion are we feeling?
During Rehearsal
- Focus on pure vowels
- Discuss how dynamics can communicate emotion
Reflections
- Why might a composer use the image of birds or doves when writing about freedom?
- How can a choir honor the experiences behind the piece without pretending to have experiences them ourselves?
Extension Activities
- Elementary: Give students words the represent the piece and have them draw images that they think of (ex.)
- Middle School: Create a ven diagram of emotions we feel in contrasting moments of the piece. Is there any overlap?
- High School: Group research project of another movement that used song as a method of resistance
Teaching Resources
Recording- Div’ dūjiņas gaisā skrēja, dir. Ban Toh
Available Arrangements –
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SOURCES
- Sources: hgsotohanff\\
- dfnafojsasfjpf