Importance in Community Life

In Northern Latgale, where the majority of the population is Catholic, alongside the music practiced in church rituals, there are also singing traditions unrelated to church activities and practiced even without priests. One of these traditions is psaļmu (saļmu) dzīduošona, which are prayers for the deceased that have been orally transmitted for at least one and a half centuries.

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Activities

Approximately one and a half to two hours of prayer, performed mainly at home. The singing is from the church's prayer books, where only the text is published. The melody and the way of singing are inherited from generation to generation, and that is, of course, singing “no galvas” (from memory).
The most experienced singers often also perform the text from memory, despite its large volume, but the songbooks are still kept in front of them because tradition requires it.
The beginning of the research of this unique phenomenon in Latvian ethnomusicology can be considered the recording of psalm singing in Northern Latgale, which was made by Anda Beitane in 1995 in Upite, Skilbeni parish to include it in an anthology of Latvian traditional music.
This was followed by a systematic work of documentation and research, which was started immediately after and is still being continued by Martins Boiko. He uses the Latin name "Officium Defunctorum" for the designation of this tradition, describes it as prayers usually held by the clergy in Latin, and admits that it is surprising to find it in the traditional repertoire of the people of Eastern Latvia in their native language since the end of the 18th century as partially orally inherited, a folklorized phenomenon, similarly to a folk song – without any external organization (Boiko 2012: 14).
Singing psalms for the dead has a very important place in the repertoire of the traditional music of Northern Latgale. As Boyko writes, “Tas ir kaut kas, kas pieder pie mājas dzīves. Tāpat kā nāve pati” (It is something that belongs to domestic life. Like death itself) (Boiko 2012: 14). Presumably, this is why this tradition is still alive in many places today. It can have multiple contexts. One of them is the time before the funeral, while the deceased is still at home – in an adjacent room or outbuilding. At this time, usually in the evenings, psalms are sung.
Another context is the so-called “anniversary”, the day a year has passed since the relative's death and the “memorial prayer” that is held every year for everyone that has passed in the family. Once a year, Saļmas can also be heard at the church – on All Souls' Day – November 2, and at the graveyard during the Cemetery Festival. (Boiko 2012: 15-16).

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Beliefs, Rituals, Unwritten Rules

At home, psalm-singing usually takes place in the living room at a table covered with a white linen tablecloth. The table has lit candles and a crucifix, often, next to them there are also symbols of home blessing – rye bread and salt.
The singing is initiated and led by the main singer or front singer, who the other singers join. In several cases, there are two groups of singers and two front singers.
On such occasions, the two groups sing alternately. The number of singers tends to vary, but most often, one group of singers consists of five or six singers. The way the psalms are sung can be described as very powerful. Singers have repeatedly admitted that it requires a lot of strength.

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Inheritance and transmission

The melody and the way of singing are inherited from generation to generation, and, therefore, that means singing from memory. The most experienced singers often also perform the text from memory, despite its large volume, but the songbooks are still kept in front of them as tradition requires.

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History

Martins Boiko connects the introduction and consolidation of the psalm-singing tradition in Latgale with the activities of the Jesuits. He dates the beginning of its spread to the publication of the prayer book "Nabożeństwo ku czci y chwale Boga w Trójcy Swiętey Jedynego" [Prayer Book to the Glory of the Triune God] in 1771. It is a book compiled by Jesuits in which prayers, songs, and religious instructions are published in the Latgalian language (Boiko 2012: 16).
Ontons Slisans – a prominent cultural worker of Northern Latgale and an activist of traditional culture, who in 1971, in cooperation with Mikelis Jermacans – Father Jekabs of the Capuchins – made the first arrangements for singing psalms in Northern Latgale – writes about psalm singing in Upite as follows: “Šobrīd visstabilākā no garīgo dziesmu dziedāšanas tradīcijām ir saļmu dziedāšana sētā, arī kapsētās. Kaut arī padomju gados, 20. gadsimta otrajā pusē, saļmu dziedāšanas tradīcija sāka apsīkt, tā tomēr ir izturējusi laika pārbaudi un šobrīd ir būtiska nepieciešamība gandrīz katras ģimenes aizgājēju pieminēšanas un godināšanas sakrālajās tradīcijās (… ) Vēl 20. gadsimta vidū katrā lielajā ciemā darbojās saļmu dziedātāju kopas, bet mazajos ciemos tās tika veidotas, kopā sanākot saļmu teicējām no vairākiem ciemiem. (…) Kad vairums sievu no saļmu dziedātāju kopām aizgāja mūžībā, saļmu dziedāšanas tradīcijas saglabāšanu pārņēma Upītes etnogrāfiskā ansambļa sievas, piesaistot dziedāšanas reizēs vēl dzīvās bijušo kopu saļmu dziedātājas” (Currently, the most stable of the traditions of singing spiritual songs is the singing of psalms at the homestead, also at cemeteries. Although during the Soviet years, in the second half of the 20th century, the tradition of psalm singing began to decline, it has withstood the test of time and is currently a vital necessity in the sacred traditions of commemorating and honouring the departed in almost every family (...) As late as the middle of the 20th century, every large village had groups of psalm singers, but in small villages they were formed by gathering psalm-tellers from several villages. (…) When most of the wives from the groups of psalm singers passed away, the preservation of the psalm singing tradition was taken over by the wives of the ethnographic ensemble of Upite, inviting the still living psalm singers of the former groups to singing sessions" (Slisans 2012: 48).

Nowadays, psalm-singing is also practiced in Northern Latgale public houses, libraries, museums, and other spaces designated for this purpose by local governments.
Even at the beginning of the 21st century, psalm-singing is essential to the spiritual life of Latgale Catholics, forming the fragile connection between the living and the departed.

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Masters

Despite the rapid pace of time, excellent groups of singers exist and function in Northern Latgale, which can sing the complex and physically demanding psalms.

1. Anna Griestina, Balvi municipality, Berzpils parish,
2. Aija Ikstena, Balvi municipality, Bērzpils parish,
3. Anna Bitaine, Balvi municipality, Berzpils parish,
4. Marcijana Livzeniece, Balvi municipality, Berzpils parish,
5. Genovefa Locmele, Balvi municipality, Briezuciems parish,
6. Genovefa Zelc a, Balvi municipality, Briezuciems parish,
7. Leontina Sakina, Balvi municipality, Briezuciems parish,
8. Antonija Jermacane, Balvi municipality, Vectilza parish,
9. Solveta Logina, Baltinava municipality, Baltinava,
10. Silvija Strupka, Balvi municipality, Berzkalne parish,
11. Regina Kulsa, Balvi municipality, Balvi parish,
12. Zita Zujane, Balvi municipality, Balvi parish,
13. Maija Laicane, Balvi municipality, Balvi parish,
14. Janina Lapsa, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
15. Natalija Circene, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
16. Natalija Sakina, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
17. Anna Sakina, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
18. Stefanija Sakina, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
19. Anna Tutina, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
20. Jadviga Kovalevska, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
21. Marija Griestina, Rugaji municipality, Rugaji parish,
22. Antonina Gravere, Rugaji municipality, Rugaji parish,
23. Helena Krauca, Rugaji municipality, Lazdukalns parish,
24. Irena Grigane, Rugaji municipality, Rugaji parish,
25. Stefanija Masa, Rugaji municipality, Lazdukalns parish,
26. Marta Bogdane, Rugaji municipality, Lazdukalns parish,
27. Emilija Bondare, Rugaji municipality, Rugaji parish,
28. Zane Pulca, Rugaji municipality, Rugaji parish,
29. Anna Sile, Balvi municipality, Tilza parish,
30. Julija Zelca, Balvi municipality, Tilza parish,
31. Marija Buksa, Balvi municipality, Kubuli parish,
32. Maruta Ozola, Balvi municipality, Kubuli parish,
33. Tekla Kozlovska, Balvi municipality, Kubuli parish,
34. Anna Eisaka, Balvi municipality, Balvi,
35. Iveta Logina, Balvi municipality, Briezuciems parish,
36. Anastasia Slisane, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
37. Marija Supe, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
38. Valentina Keisa, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
39. Irmina Slisane, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
40. Livija Supe, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
41. Anna Keisa, Vilaka municipality, Skilbeni parish,
42. Zenta Grizibovska, Balvi municipality, Kubuli parish,
43. Anita Zaremba, Vilaka municipality, Susaji parish,
44. Marina Logina, Vilaka municipality, Vilaka,
45. Valentina Dortane, Vilaka municipality, Vilaka,
46. Inita Sprukule, Vilaka municipality, Vilaka,
47. Anna Strupka, Vilaka municipality, Susaji parish,
48. Aldis Puspurs, Vilaka municipality, Susaji parish,
49. Anna Sumska, Vilaka municipality, Kuprava parish,
50. Elizabeta Logina, Vilaka municipality, Vecumi parish,
51. Jevgenija Racane, Vilaka municipality, Vecumi parish,
52. Leontina Cigure, Vilaka municipality, Medneva parish,
53. Silvija Babane, Vilaka municipality, Medneva parish,
54. Marijanna Kokorevica, Vilaka municipality, Medneva parish,
55. Helena Locane, Vilaka municipality, Medneva parish,
56. Lucija Keisa, Baltinava municipality,
57. Helena Slisane, Baltinava municipality,
58. Aija Keisa, Baltinava municipality,
59. Anita Kasa, Baltinava municipality,
60. Marija Circene, Baltinava municipality,
61. Anele Vizule, Baltinava municipality,
62. Anna Mezale, Baltinava municipality,
63. Lucija Kasa, Baltinava municipality,
64. Anna Daukste, Baltinava municipality,
65. Felicita Avisane, Baltinava municipality,
66. Lucija Logina, Baltinava municipality.

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Institutions and Organizations

There is no particular institution or body associated with psalm singing. It is a deeply personal, intimate experience and prayer. It still exists without any external organization. Taking into account the decrease in population, including psalm-singing masters and knowers, and realizing the great importance of tradition in the way of life of a Latgalian, since the beginning of the 21st century, psalms are increasingly invited to be sung in publicly accessible places: in public houses, libraries, museums, in rooms specifically set aside for this purpose in specific municipalities, parish houses, and churches.

For example, psalms are sung in the Berzpils Meeting House, the Rugaji People's House, the Baltinava Culture House, the Naudaskalns People's House, the Lazduleja People's House, the Kubulu Cultural House, the Medneva People's House, the Versukalns Museum in the Susaji parish, the Briezuciems parish People's House, the Balvi Parish Museum, the rooms designated for spiritual singing in Borisova, and elsewhere.

Psalm singing takes place at the church with increased frequency in the Skilbeni parish. It takes place every Sunday in the month of November, and also the singing of psalms for specific funerals, as well as memorial songs a year after someone has passed away and other times, get moved to the church with increased frequency. It is heated during winter and convenient for everyone.

It would be difficult for psalm-singing to exist in an institutionalised manner due to its specifics.
However, being aware of the uniqueness of this tradition, the public and cultural workers of Northern Latgale not only observe it but also try to create suitable conditions and environments for it to take place.

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Strengthening the Tradition

Although a virus took over the world, much was done. In particular:
• Ruta Cibule organized and presented a lecture in Vectilza parish "Īpašā Ziemeļlatgale" (Special Northern Latgale), the lecture “Nemateriālais kultūras mantojums: Ziemeļlatgales pieredze” (Intangible Cultural Heritage: Northern Latgale Experience) in Kuldiga and Balvi;
• Anda Beitane and Ruta Cibule texts in the book “Nemateriālais kultūras mantojums Latvijā – Nacionālais saraksts” (Intangible Cultural Heritage in Latvia – the National List), on the psalm-singing traditions in the Balvi, Baltinava, Rugaji and Vilaka parishes (12-18 p), published by the Latvia National Culture Centre, 2019;
• "Nemateriālais kultūras mantojums: Ziemeļlatgales pieredze" (Intangible Cultural Heritage: Northern Latgale Experience) in Kuldiga and Balvi.
• Four articles were published in collaboration with the Northern Latgale newspaper “Vaduguns”, one article was published on the e-magazine LaKuGa, two articles in the informative edition “Viļakas novadā”, and one article in “Latvijas avīze” (see information on articles in Annex 1).
• In 2018, the National Centre for Culture director Signe Pujate received the Latgalian annual culture award “Boņuks” for the promotion of Latgalian culture in Latvia and the world – “Latgaliskūs vierteibu īkļaušona Nacionālajā Namaterialuos kulturys montuojuma sarokstā”;
• Thanks to the long-standing interest of ethnomusicologists in the traditional values of Northern Latgale, Anda Beitane's ambitious publication, intended for the European audience, “Notes from Latvia” Multipart Music in the Field, is represented in the Northern Latgale intangible cultural heritage.
• Psalm singing in the public environment – People's House (Mednevo, Baltinava, Kubulos, Borisova, Lazduleja, Krisjani), libraries, museums, and other locations available to the public, such as the Rekova Church, Vilaka Public Organisations Centre, etc.

More and more people are being introduced to singing psalms. Value is carried at global level, recognised and valued. There is an involvement of young singers – a change of generations. COVID-19 influenced the dynamics of the tradition, the danger of gatherings created fear for people to come together, thus impacting, transforming psalm execution sites, such as: • The wives of the river did not gather at home, as would be tradition, but have started singing psalms at the Church of Rekova; • In the conversation of a bubble wife, for a specific time when you sing the psalms in each of your own homes; • Psalm records are increasingly used before funerals; • Psalm singing also occasionally takes place in graves that were not previously seen.

• The local Balvi municipality government is willing to participate in supporting documentation and research. This is reflected in the transport provision for local crossings, accommodation, and catering, and preparation of the information base necessary for carrying out research. Positive communication and support are provided by local governments when necessary.
• Despite the fact that there are different restrictions on assembly, people consider it necessary to sing psalms. There are people who have never sung them, but when a relative dies, they always involve and know their local singers. And these value carriers always support and never refuse.

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Continuity/Development

Over the next 5 years:
1. The Balvi Municipality Museum, the Balvi Cultural Administration, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center "Upīte" will continue and support research cooperation with the researchers of the Latvian Academy of Music, as well as start a new cooperation with the Latvian Folklore Repository of the Institute of Literature, Folklore, and Art of the University of Latvia.
2. Methodist Kate Slisane of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center "Upīte" of the Balvi region and Ruta Cibule, director of the Balvi Central Library, will investigate how the conditions of Covid-19 affected the dynamics of traditional events. Specifically:
2.1. Verify how many of the bearers of tradition have gone down the path of eternity, how many continue to be active;
2.2. Find out and summarize how often and in what formats inheritance activities took place in conditions of limited communication opportunities.
3. The methodist Kate Slisane from the Balvi Intangible Cultural Heritage Centre “Upīte” and the director of the Balvi Central Library, Ruta Cibule, will perform elementary audits, identifying the already known value carriers, as well as study whether there is a formation of a new generation;
4. The Balvi Municipality Museum, the Balvi Cultural Administration, the Upīte Youth Folklore Group, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center "Upīte" will continue recording psalms directly from the scene and will hand them over to the archives of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center "Upīte" for processing.
5. The municipalities, in cooperation with the cultural administration of the Balvi municipality, and the heads of the municipal cultural institutions, will emphasize the annual singing of psalms for the deceased, and will also continue to support the singing of psalms in the public environment – public houses, libraries, museums and other places accessible to the public.

6. The Balvi Municipality Museum will create a mechanism to protect all local versions because each local version is its own unique value.
7. During these years, we have concluded that psalms are sung differently in each village of Northern Latgale, with their own local peculiarities, so our task is not to make one local version superior to all others but to try to preserve the richness of each local version, which is why the Balvi Municipality Museum, the Balvi Municipality Cultural Administration, the "Upīte" Youth Folklore Group and the Intangible Cultural Heritage Center "Upīte" will continue to make recordings of psalm songs, not staged, but directly from the scene, because it will highlight the diversity of psalms with more precision.
8. Not perform imposing or demanding actions, but observe the processes and support the requests of singing groups from local governments to solve transport or infrastructure issues.

The purpose of these measures: to save so as not to lose. Promote to attract new people. Research and document so as not to go into the shallow ground. Not to interfere but to be there so as not to distort or degrade.

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Threats to the Tradition

Possible threats to psalms:
1. Dramatic decline in population in rural areas, including Northern Latgale.
2. Taking into account the new dynamics of psalm-singing, which is also, to some extent, related to the decrease in the population, there is a possible danger of leveling off local forms and versions in favor of a single variant of psalm singing.

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Publications

Boiko, Martins. (2001). „Psalmu dziedāšanas tradīcija Latgalē.” Krāj. Acta Latgalica. Zinōtniski roksti, dokumenti, apceres. 11. sēj. Daugavpiļs: Latgolas pētnīceibas instituta izdevnīceiba: 348-377.

Boiko, Martins. (2002). Tikšanās ar mirušajiem sapņos: tipizēti un netipizēti stāstījumi un to funkcionālie un kultūrvēsturiskie konteksti.” Krāj. Agita Lūse (red.) Cilvēks. Dzīve. Stāstījums. Rīga: Latvijas Antropologu biedrība, Latvijas Universitātes Literatūras, folkloras un mākslas institūts: 115-125.

Boiko, Martins. (2004). „Nāve, rudens, sapņi un mirušo ofīcijs Latgalē.” Mūzikas Saule, Nr. 5(25): 24-27.

Boiko, Martins. (2005). „Mirušo ofīcijs: Tradīcijas dinamika 20. gadsimtā.” Krāj. Letonica. Humanitāro zinātņu žurnāls: literatūra, folklora, māksla, Nr. 13. Rīga: LU Literatūras, folkloras un mākslas institūts: 79-93.

Boiko, Martins. (2005). „Latgales tradicionālās mūzikas vēsturiskie un stilistiskie slāņi. Katoliskā tradicionālā mūzika.” Kultūras Forums, 2005. gada 27. maijs – 3. jūnijs, Nr. 20(160): 4.

Boiko, Martins. (2006). „Latgales tradicionālā mūzika un identitāte.” Krāj. Letonica. Humanitāro zinātņu žurnāls: literatūra, folklora, māksla, Nr. 14. Rīga: LU Literatūras, folkloras un mākslas institūts: 50-57.

Boiko, Martins. (2009). (co-autores Gita Lancere and Anda Beitane). Latviešu tradicionālās mūzikas antoloģija. Anthology of Latvian Traditional Music. LU Literatūras, folkloras un mākslas institūts.

Boiko, Martins. (2010). „Maija dziedājumi pie krusta un mirušo ofīcijs Latgalē un Augšzemē.” Mājaslapā Kultura.lv (nodrošina Latvijas Kultūras ministrija) (Adr. http://www.kulturaskanons.lv/lv/1/4/143/).

Boiko, Martins. (2012). (co-author Aigars Lielbardis). Psalmu dziedāšana Latgalē. Officium defunctorum. The Office of the Dead in Latgale. LU Literatūras, folkloras un mākslas institūts.

Cibule, Ruta. Psalm singing in Breksene Cemetary: [Anele Vizule, Baiba Supe, Cekina Kaupera, Valentina Keisa, Irmina Slisane, Lucija Logina] / Ruta Cibule. - Digital photograph. - Balvi: [b.i.], 2013 - 1 photo.

Sprudzane, Maruta. Svētīga un laba tradīcija : [par psalmu dziedāšanu Susāju pagastā] / Maruta Sprudzāne; tekstā stāsta Vēršukalna muzeja vadītājs Aldis Pušpurs // Vaduguns. - ISSN 1407-9844. - Nr.98 (2012, 18. dec.), 11. lpp.

Martins Boiko on latgalīšu saļmu rošonūs i nūzeimi [elektroniskais resurss]. - Tiešsaistes pakalpojums. - Lakuga : Latgolys studentu centrs, 2012.

Locmele, Sandra. Medneva ethnographic ensemble wives: [singing psalms at the St. Mary Magdalene's Church, during the international folklore festival “Baltica 2012”: in the first row from the left - Marijanna Kokorevica, Antonina Paberza, Nina Circene, Antonija Paberza, Malvine Locmele; in the second row from left - Eleanora Kaimina, Silvija Babane, Natalija Smuska]/Sandra Locmele. - Vilaka: [b.i.], 2012.

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Websites

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=637 – provides an insight into the singing of psalms in Baltinava parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=1055 – provides an insight into the singing of psalms in the parish of Briezuciems and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=216 – provides an insight into the singing of psalms in Berzpils parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=217 – provides an insight into the singing of psalms in the Kuprava parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=242 – provides an insight into the singing of psalms in Lazdukalns parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=1114 – provides an insight into the singing of psalms in the Medneva parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=218 - provides an insight into the singing of psalms in the Rugaji parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=220 - provides an insight into the singing of psalms in the Rugaji parish and the most important tradition holders.

http://www.balvurcb.lv/kb/?View=entry&EntryID=219 - provides an insight into the singing of psalms in the Rugaji parish and the most important tradition holders.

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