At the time of emergence of our national self-identity, we began to come together in groups for the purpose of singing. As with other Baltic Sea nations, the beginnings of choir music date back to the mid-19th century. The difference between Latvia and other Baltic countries is that our choir movement has become a factor in consolidating the nation. It is a historically unique phenomenon. For Latvia, choir singing has always been an important unifying element.

We started participating in choirs because singing together serves both as a weapon and a shield. Living in a German and Russian cultural environment, singing together in the Latvian language was a means to express our identity: songs became our coded messages..

The first Song Festival (also known as Song Celebration) took place in 1864; sacral music and Latvian folk songs were sung. Organized by the Riga Latvian Society, the First All-Latvian Song Festival took place in 1873 with. forty-five choirs participated at that event. Since then, little has changed in the format of those festivals – a parade of choirs through Riga, singing in dialogue (one group starts a song, others finish), and the so-called “song-wars”.

Latvians consider it an honour to sing in a choir. The foundation is laid at school, since music is on our curriculums from the first year. Not everybody enjoys the compulsory participation in the school choir, but the experience ofvery first “song-wars” and the feeling of unity tends to sway the skeptics.

It is even chic to sing in a choir! There was a period when the Song Festivals were highly politicized. A couple of songs were sung to placate the ruling party, but our festival was really about Gaismas pils (The Castle of Light) and Lauztās priedes (The Broken Pines) — the songs that expressed our faith in ourselves. For us, the Song Festival has always empowered our sense of unity, belief in our strength and yearning for freedom. It is not surprising that every village and larger enterprise had a choir of their own.

We have great respect for our conductors. It is because they strengthen us in singing so that we can face anything. Our choirs Ave Sol, Dzintars, Dziedonis, Gaudeamus, Balsis and others have won the highest awards at international competitions. The Choir of the Latvian Radio, conducted by Sigvards Kļava and Kaspars Putniņš, participates at world level concerts and festivals as a matter of routine, and the choir Kamēr..., led by conductor Māris Sirmais received the prestigious European Grand Prix in 2004.

In addition to the national ones, song and dance festivals for school-age children and university students are held. The boys’ choirs come together at the festival Rīga dimd, local reunions of men’s and women’s choirs and Baltic and Nordic Song Festivals also take place regularly.