Livija Otaņke herself is surprised by this, because she could not even imagine that she had been applied for a scholarship. “I didn’t expect it, I’m in tears!” says L. Otaņke, whose voice can be heard touching.
She was not informed that someone had directed her to receive the scholarship, and a couple of days ago she received the news about the awarded scholarship from the leader of the ethnographic ensemble of Barta and her daughter, Gunta Klievena.
L. Otaņke is also involved in the ensemble now, because she believes that age is not an obstacle to singing.
“Of course, I still work in the ensemble. Where else will I stay! I will sing as long as I can,”
insists the folklorist.
Gita Lancere, an Intangible Cultural Heritage expert from the Department of Historical Lands and Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Latvian National Cultural Center, who is convinced that there are many people worthy of a scholarship in Kurzeme, nominated Bartenieci for the scholarship.
“There are several reasons why I nominated Livia for the scholarship. First of all, she is a wonderful singer and a continuation of a tradition that is special today.
There are not so many people who have inherited a tradition in a continuous way, which they continue to practice throughout their lives.”
As another reason, G. Lancere mentions the fact that the ethnographic ensemble of Barta is very stable and active, and its heart and soul has been L. Otaņke for many years.
“I had several candidates from Kurzeme, because right now Latgale is very active with applications, but I thought that Kurzeme had no less such talented singers. Well, Livia was the first one for whom I prepared this application, because she is a very rich and bright personality. I hope that in the future I will be able to directly direct the people of Kurzeme for the scholarship,” says G. Lancere.
G. Klievena learned about these plans a long time ago, as she had to prepare all the necessary information for the application.
However, she did not tell the lead singer, and when she received the news about the grant, she chose to keep the news a secret until Christmas.
“She is my mother, and I myself have learned everything from her, there are many feelings.
We have also participated in the “Baltica” festival as a family, because she has taught us these cultural values. Both as her child and as the leader of the ensemble, I feel great satisfaction,” says the leader of the ethnographic ensemble of Barta.
“Her godfather Jēkabs Ķiburis is the founder of the ensemble, so Livija has always sung here. And for about 30 years now, she has also been our lead singer,” says G. Klievena.
The ensemble felt how difficult it is to sing without its lead singer and connoisseur of traditions in the previous season, when L. Otaňkė underwent two leg surgeries and she had to give up attending the ensemble for a while.
“It was difficult without her. J. Ķiburis has left a handwritten songbook, but Livija is the one who knows it all well, who remembers how everything was sung.”
Contribution of the media support fund from Latvian state budget funds. The portal liepajniekiem.lv is responsible for the prepared content.
2023-12-28 03:51:57
#Bart #folklorist #Livija #Otaňkei #awarded #lifetime #scholarship
