Amanda Zaeska

Author: Amanda Zaeska

  • Baznīcas dziesmas / Hymns

    Baznīcas dziesmas / Hymns

    About this recording

    This recording is also available on all popular music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Tidal and Deezer.

    Accompaniments for well-known Latvian hymns played by Tabita and Amanda.

    Tabita Urdze – piano
    Amanda Zaeska – recorders, accordion

    This project was initiated by Rev. Gita Putce, who encountered the problem that several smaller Latvian congregations abroad have experienced, namely, the lack of an organist for church services. These congregations use specially recorded piano or organ accompaniments on cassette tape or compact disc.

    Thus, Tabita (Gita’s daughter) and Amanda (Gita’s daughter-in-law) began preparing recordings of popular hymns. The main instrument is piano, but the recorder and accordion are added to many of the recordings to enhance the sound. The goal of this project is not to create “academic” virtuoso performances; instead, Tabita and Amanda play hymns in a warm, approachable manner that takes into account the actual needs of congregations, for example, by transposing certain hymns to lower keys.

    Financial support granted by the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in Great Britain allowed us to start this project.

    All songs are freely available; listen to them online at Bandcamp. Download individual songs for free by clicking “Download” or buy the full album by clicking “Buy now”.

    For all songs we have recorded three verses. If you want to add or remove a verse, use an audio editing programme such as “Audacity” (freely available at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/). Open the downloaded song, select the second verse, select “Copy” in the menu, left click between two verses and then select “Paste”. In order to remove a verse, select “Cut” instead of “Copy”.

    All songs are published under a “Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported” license. This means that you can freely use them for non-commercial purposes, giving appropriate credit. You are also allowed to remix, transform or build upon the material, but you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. Find detailed information about this license here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.

    Please share your suggestions, feedback and requests by mailing us at amanda.zaeska@gmail.com

    Thank you!

    Tabita, Amanda and Toms

    Par šo ierakstu

    Ieraksts arī ir pieejams visās populārās mūzikas straumēšanas platformās, tai skaitā, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Tidal un Deezer.

    Tabitas un Amandas pavadījumi 57 latviešu trimdas draudzēs pazīstamām baznīcas dziesmām.

    Tabita Urdze – klavieres

    Amanda Zaeska – blokflautas, akordeons

    Projekts tapa pēc mācītājas Gitas Putces iniciatīvas, kura saskārās ar problēmu, ka jau daudzus gadus vairākās mazākās trimdas draudzēs ir bijis jāiztiek dievkalpojumos bez ērģelnieka. Dziesmu pavadījumiem izmantoja īpaši sagatavotus klavieru vai ērģeļu pavadījumus iespēlētus kasetēs un pēdējā laikā arī kompaktdiskos.

    Tā Tabita (Gitas meita) un Amanda Zaeska (Gitas vedekla) sāka sagatavot ierakstus ar korāļu melodijām, pamatā izmantojot klavieres, papildinot atsevišķus pavadījumus ar akordeonu un blokflautu. Šī projekta mērķis nav radīt “akadēmiskus”, virtuozus skaņdarbus bet gan emocionāli siltu un draudžu realitātē balstītu baznīcas dziesmu ierakstu, piemēram, transponējot dziesmas vieglāk izdziedamās toņkārtās.

    Pateicoties Latvijas Evaņģēliski luteriskās baznīcas Lielbritānijā atbalstam, varējām uzsākt šo projektu.

    Materiāls ir brīvi pieejams katram interesentam. Visas dziesmas varat klausīties tiešsaistē Bandcamp. Varat lejupielādēt atsevišķas dziesmas, piespiežot “Download” pogu, vai visu albumu, piespiežot “Buy now” pogu. Izvēloties “Buy now”, jums tiks piedāvāta iespēja norādīt summu, ko maksāt par šo albumu.

    Visām dziesmām esam ierakstījuši trīs pantiņus. Ja gribat noņemt vai pielikt pantiņu, iesakām lietot programmatūru “Audacity”, kas ir brīvi pieejama http://audacity.sourceforge.net/. Atvēriet lejupielādēto dziesmu un ar kreiso peles pogu iezīmējiet otro pantiņu, piespiediet “Copy”, ieklikšķiniet ar kreiso pogu starp diviem pantiņiem, un piespiediet “Paste”. Lai izņemtu pantiņu, “Copy” vietā piespiediet “Cut”.

    Visas dziesmas esam publicējuši kā “Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported”. No tā izriet, ka varat tās brīvi izmantot nekomerciālos nolūkos, veicot atsauci uz autoru. Arī jums ir tiesības tās pārveidot un pārpublicēt, veicot atsauci uz oriģinālu un saglabājot tos pašus autortiesību nosacījumus. Detalizētāku informāciju par to, ko drīkst un ko nedrīkst darīt, atradīsit šeit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.

    Ja jums ir ieteikumi vai gribat padalīties ar savu atsauksmi, rakstiet mums uz amanda.zaeska@gmail.com.

    Paldies!

    Tabita, Amanda un Toms

  • Bēru dziesmas / Music for funerals

    Bēru dziesmas / Music for funerals

    About this recording

    Instrumental Latvian folk melodies played on kokle for funerals and memorial services.

    Amanda Zaeska – kokle

    In 2012 Rev. Gita Putce asked me to record instrumental music on the kokle that could be used at funerals and memorial services. The songs on this album are Latvian folk melodies relating to the topics of funerals, orphans and commemoration of the dead. The music can also be used for various other types of events and occasions when sorrowful or meditative music is needed.

    All songs are freely available; listen to them online at Bandcamp. Download individual songs for free by clicking “Download” or buy the full album by clicking “Buy now”.

    All songs are published under a “Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported” license. This means that you can freely use them for non-commercial purposes, giving appropriate credit. You are also allowed to remix, transform or build upon the material, but you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. Find detailed information about this license here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.

    Please share your suggestions, feedback and requests by mailing us at amanda.zaeska@gmail.com

    Thank you!

    Amanda

    Par šo ierakstu

    Instrumentāla tautas mūzika bērēm.

    Amanda Zaeska – kokle

    2012. gadā mācītāja Gita Putce mani lūdza, lai ierakstu instrumentālu kokles mūziku, ko izmantot bērēs. Albumā iekļautās dziesmas ir bēru, bāreņu un veļu laika latviešu tautas melodijas. Tās izmantojamas ne tikai bērēs, bet piemiņas pasākumos un citās reizēs, kad nepieciešama sērīga vai meditatīva mūzika.

    Materiāls ir brīvi pieejams katram interesentam. Visas dziesmas var klausīties tiešsaistē Bandcamp.

    Varat lejupielādēt atsevišķas dziesmas, piespiežot “Download” pogu, vai visu albumu, piespiežot “Buy now” pogu. Izvēloties “Buy now”, jums tiks piedāvāta iespēja norādīt summu, ko maksāt par šo albumu.

    Visas dziesmas esam publicējuši kā “Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported”. No tā izriet, ka varat tās brīvi izmantot nekomerciālos nolūkos, veicot atsauci uz autoru. Arī jums ir tiesības tās pārveidot un pārpublicēt, veicot atsauci uz oriģinālu un saglabājot tos pašus autortiesību nosacījumus. Detalizētāku informāciju par to, ko drīkst un ko nedrīkst darīt, atradīsit šeit: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/.

    Ja jums ir ieteikumi, gribat padalīties ar savu atsauksmi vai vēlaties ieteikt kādu dziesmu, ko būtu vēlams ieskaņot nākotnē, rakstiet mums uz amanda.zaeska@gmail.com.

    Paldies!

    Amanda

  • Lullabies / Šūpuļdziesmas

    Lullabies / Šūpuļdziesmas

    Amanda Zaeska

    About this recording

    A project from our home studio.

    Vocals: Laima Jātniece, Jānis Jātnieks, Amanda Zaeska
    Guitar: Jānis Jātnieks, Amanda Zaeska
    Accordion: Jānis Jātnieks
    Pump organ, kokle: Amanda Zaeska
    Sound engineering and production: Toms Urdze
    Artwork: Laima Jātniece
    Studio “20 ābeles”
    Recorded on December 17-19, 2017

    Songs

    1. Aija, Ancīt, aijā (trad.)
    2. Puff the Magic Dragon (Leonard Lipton, Peter Yarrow)
    3. Pasakām vajag ticēt (Ā. Ziemelis, E. Vēveris)
    4. Aun, meitiņa, balti kājas (trad.)
    5. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bob Dylan)
    6. Div’ dūjiņas gaisā skrēja (trad.)
    7. Apziņas mijkrēslī dziļā (Imants Daksis)
    8. Velc, pelīte, saldu miegu (trad.)

    Par šo ierakstu

    Mūsu mājas studijā tapis projekts.

    Balsis: Laima Jātniece, Jānis Jātnieks, Amanda Zaeska
    Ģitāra: Jānis Jātnieks, Amanda Zaeska
    Akordeons: Jānis Jātnieks
    Pump organ, kokle: Amanda Zaeska
    Skaņu inženieris: Toms Urdze
    Māksla: Laima Jātniece
    Studija “20 ābeles”
    Ierakstīts 2017.g. 15.-17. decembrī

    Dziesmas

    1. Aija, Ancīt, aijā (t. dz.)
    2. Puff the Magic Dragon (Leonard Lipton, Peter Yarrow)
    3. Pasakām vajag ticēt (Ā. Ziemelis, E. Vēveris)
    4. Aun, meitiņa, balti kājas (t. dz.)
    5. I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bob Dylan)
    6. Div’ dūjiņas gaisā skrēja (t. dz.)
    7. Apziņas mijkrēslī dziļā (Imants Daksis)
    8. Velc, pelīte, saldu miegu (t. dz.)
  • Lini

    Lini

    Lini albums are available on all popular music streaming platforms, such as, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Tidal and Deezer.

    “Lini” was formed in 1994 by 2nd-generation Latvian-Americans in Minneapolis (USA). The group sings and plays Latvian folk songs, but sometimes also uses melodies from other traditions. All arrangements are their own. “Lini” recorded their first songs on cassette tape in 1996. Their first recording was re-released as a CD in 2006. They made a second recording in 1999 and a third recording together with friends and family in 2009.

    “Lini” seldom perform together anymore because the members no longer all live in the same city. They come together for special occasions and actively participate in Latvian folk music groups near their homes, notably, “Teiksma” in Minneapolis.

    Ingrīda Erdmanis – voice, violin
    Amanda Zaeska – voice, recorder, guitar
    Gunta Pone – voice, clarinet, percussion
    Zinta Pone – voice, accordion, kokle, guitar, percussion

    Lini ieraksti ir pieejami visās populārās mūzikas straumēšanas platformās, tai skaitā, Spotify, Youtube, Apple Music, Tidal un Deezer.

    Grupa “Lini” darbojas kopš 1994. gada, kad to Mineapolē, ASV, izveidoja trimdas latviešu mūziķes, kuŗām ļoti tuvas ir latviešu tradīcijas un folklora. Lini dzied un spēlē latviešu tautas dziesmas pašu aranžējumos, reizēm izmantojot arī citu tautu melodijas. Pirmais ieraksts grupai iznāca 1996. gadā, otrais 1999. gadā, un trešais ieraksts, iedziedāts kopā ar draugiem, iznāca 2009. gadā. Grupas dalībnieces tagad dzīvo gan Amerikā, gan Latvijā un visas kopā sanāk reti.

    Ingrīda Erdmanis – balss, vijole
    Amanda Zaeska – balss, blokflautas, ģitāra
    Gunta Pone – balss, klarnete, perkusijas
    Zinta Pone – balss, akordeons, kokle, ģitāra, perkusijas

    Lini and Friends Sing Popular Latvian Folk Songs

    About this recording

    When our parents and grandparents were forced to leave Latvia during World War II, among the few things they could take with them were their folk songs. During the early years of exile in the Displaces Persons (DP) camps and later in their adopted homelands, not a single celebration, party, or gathering took place without singing. Latvians continue to sing these well known songs and pass them on to their children and grandchildren.

    “Lini” was established by four 2nd-generation Latvian-Americans in 1994. In this recording they have compiled the most popular folk songs sung in the Minneapolis, MN, and other North American Latvian communities. The collection includes serious songs, humorous songs, children’s songs, lvoe songs, orphans’ songs, and lullabies. “Lini” learned these songs from their parents and grandparents and also at weekend Latvian language schools and have recorded them together with friends in Minneapolis. This recording is intended to help Latvians abroad relive and remember the songs they grew up with and also as educational material for younger Latvians.

    To order an actual compact disc (includes booklet with texts to all songs), contact Zinta Pone at zintapone@yahoo.com.

    Par šo ierakstu

    Kad mūsu vecāki un vecvecāki Otrā pasaules kaŗa laikā bija spiesti atstāt Latviju, viņi, nevarēdami daudz mantu ņemt līdzi, tomēr paņēma sevī līdzi ļoti daudz tautas dziesmu. Tās viņi sākuma gados dziedāja “dīpīšu” nometnēs Vācijā, vēlāk katrā ballītē, sanākšanā vai svinībās savās jaunajās mītnes zemēs. Nākamā paaudze tās mācījās no saviem vecākimeun vietējās latviešu skolās. Turpināsim šīs labi pazīštamās dziesmas dziedāt, un mācīsim tās tālāk saviem bērniem un mazbērniem!

    Linus dibināja četras otrās paaudzes Amerikas latvietes, 1994. gadā. Viņas tautas dziesmas iemācījās no vecākiem un vecvecākiem un latviešu valodas skolās. Dažādās trimdas kopienās iemīļoja dažādas dziesmas un arī ierada dziedāt ar savām melodiju un tekstu variācijām. Šajā ierakstā apkopotas trimdā visbiežāk dziedātās tautas dziesmas, ierakstītas kopā ar “Linu” latviešu draugiem Mineapolē, ASV. Klausoties ierakstu, varēsit kavēties atmiņās, mācīties dziesmas, kā arī dziedāt līdzi.

    Lai pasūtītu īstu, taustāmu disku (kam klāt ir grāmatiņa ar visu dziesmu tekstiem), rakstīt Zintai Ponei: zintapone@yahoo.com.

    Lini I

    About this recording

    The first recording by “Lini”, from 1996.

    This site connects to Bandcamp, where you can download the songs or album in a variety of formats. To order an actual compact disc (includes booklet with texts to all songs), contact Zinta Pone at zintapone@yahoo.com.

    Par šo ierakstu

    Pirmais “Linu” ieraksts, no 1996. gada.

    Lai pasūtītu īstu, taustāmu disku (kam klāt ir grāmatiņa ar visu dziesmu tekstiem), rakstīt Zintai Ponei: zintapone@yahoo.com.

  • Puglia, Calabria, Naples – 2018

    Puglia, Calabria, Naples – 2018

    Puglia

    After last-minute car trouble postponed our plans for a central European road trip, Bari (at Italy’s heel) turned out to be the most affordable destination south of Ljubljana, so off we were. We rented a car at the airport and headed straight past Bari to the hills and the famed trulli region of central Puglia, Italy’s heel. A trullo is like a dry, southern-climate version of a Hobbit’s house: a small, cone-shaped building made of flat stones that is characteristic only of this part of Italy. Drive up into the hills of Puglia and they’re everywhere: from old, gray, half-collapsed sheds on the edge of fields to cute homes consisting of a couple of trulli and a modern addition and even white-washed mansions with a dozen trulli tips rising from the roof. Puglia, or at least this part of it, is more densely inhabited than we imagined. Where there are no houses or towns, it’s agriculture, particularly olives, and rocky, red soil.

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  • Baking bread — first time in the wood-fired oven

    The weather has cooled off in Latvia and it was finally time to try baking bread in the bread oven at our house in the country (“Stiebriņi”).

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  • New York City 2012

    New York City 2012

    Several days in New York City, April 2012. Some tips and comments:

    Finding baggage storage in New York City is a bit tricky if you’re not staying at a hotel. One option is Schwartz Travel and Storage – they have one location about five blocks from Grand Central Station and two other locations. The place is reasonable at USD 10 per day per bag/suitcase and the staff is very friendly, but it’s hard to find. Look for the Subway restaurant on the south side of 46th Street between 5th and 6th Ave. Right next to it is an unassuming door with a small “Schwartz” sign in the window. Baggage storage is on the 4th floor. Just an empty room in an unpolished building, but it does the job.

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  • Ostfriesland 2011

    Ostfriesland 2011

    A short trip back to Toms’ childhood and youth in Oldenburg, Germany.

    The pictures more or less tell it all. But there are no pictures of Leer, which we also passed through. Lucky we did, too, because we were pleasantly surprised at what a nice town it seemed to be. Next time we’ll take a closer look.

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  • Siberia / Russia – June 2011

    Siberia / Russia – June 2011

    First, the background information: on June 14, 1941, more than 14,000 people were forcibly deported by Stalin’s regime from Latvia to Russia – families were separated, the men sent to hard labor camps, women and children sent to work and fend for themselves on the Siberian taiga and tundra. Teachers, doctors, government workers, members of the Latvian national guard, active members of their communities – these were their only “crimes”. The vast majority of the men died of hunger, illness, exposure, and/or were sentenced to death as “enemies of the state” and shot. Far too many of the women and children died as well, of the same causes. Another 40,000+ people were deported eight years later in a second round of deportations by the Soviet regime.

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  • Rome 2011

    Rome 2011

    June 2011

    The challenge was to combine 1) a whirlwind tour of Rome 2) in early summer 3) with three children with 4) a four-day visit with a dear cousin and her daughter, whom we haven’t seen in a while. And we were successful!

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