"Cielava" 15'th anniversary,
Salacgriva, 11 October 2003

      In rainy autumn's saturday's evening the large hall of the Salacgriva Culture house was full of people. And, in spite of the fact that in the hall it was very cold, the atmosphere was warm and pleasant.

Cielava sings

      The first part of the celebration was a concert of the heros of the anniversary. Basically they sang, sang beautifully - both traditional songs and romances.

Psalteries' players

      A playing of folk instruments in the group is developed enough too. At the beginning they have shown psalteries' playing. They played good, only it was a pity, that psalteries were not tuned well.

Cielaviņa

      Already a year under a wing of Cielava works a children's folklore ensemble Cielaviņa. When the children sang together, the impression was, that everyone sings in individual key and melody. But a solo song of the youngest participant of the ensemble was beautiful.

Plays the group's band

      Participants of the ensemble plays not only psalteries, but also newer instruments: violin, squeeze-box, drum and monochord (in a role of a bass). This time they played loudly and vehemently.

Krauklēnieši

      In the second part of the celebration were congratulations (by speeches, songs, dances etc.) of guests: officials of Salacgriva, chiefs of other local artistic collectives and a lot of folklore ensembles from the whole Latvia: (Krauklēnieši, Kāsis from Limbazi, Pūrs from Slampe, Abrenīte from Vilaka, Rota from Valmiera, Artava from Ogre, Laiva from Riga, Jaunlaicene, Otanki ethnographical ensemble and Maskačkas spēlmaņi).

Laiva

      Many well-wishers praised the leader of the collective Zenta Mennika (and we join them too), because without a preliminary knowledge and preparations, by self-denying work she has reached very much: a knowledge about traditional customs, skills of an organizer, and skill to play psaltery and violin.

Jaunlaicene

      In the third part the hosts have layed a huge table. The guests and the hosts eated, drinked, singed and danced until the midnight.

      Article: Ansis Ataols Bērziņš, 22 October 2003
      Photos: Ansis Ataols Bērziņš