Stengrevici releases a winter song with lyrics by Jānis Baltaus

Composer, pianist and producer Helvijs Stengrevics has released a new song “Divi” after a long break, which the author sang in a duet with his wife Laina Ligeri-Stengrevics. A video version of the song was also made, which fits well into the winter scene at the end of the year, announcing the warmth of hearts that can melt not only the snow.

In recent years Helvijs Stengrevics rarely but regularly composes one song at a time. One of the last was a year ago – “Noiausma” with the poem by Imantas Ziedonis. “Despite the disturbing events in the world, as a creative person, I always have a desire to create a new musical work. I have looked through many collections of poems by young poets, but it is increasingly rare to find in them something suitable and useful for a song” , says Helvijs Stengrevics. This summer, in search of good poetry, he thought of his old comrade in arms, the late Jānis Baltaus. The poet’s wife, Olita, offered a collection of poems “I drew a nightgown with fog”, as well as some unpublished poems by Baltaus.

Helvija Stengrevic’s most popular collaboration with poet Jānis Baltaus is the song “Ticot, mīlot und gaidot”, which has been recorded countless times. The collaboration between the two began in the late 1980s, creating the repertoire of the group “Jaunais laiks”, and continued in the song programs of the children’s vocal ensemble “Dzeguzīte” in the early 1990s, as well as songs published in the album “Dāvini man” (1994).

After re-reading the collection “Ar miglu tev zemiyeu natskreku”, the composer chose the poem “Two”, which attracted him with its rhythm and emotions: “Jānis’s romantic poetry is unequivocally dedicated to his bride Olita, but why couldn’t it be associated with any other couple who lived a longer life together?! That’s why I thought this song could fit us too – Laine and Helvi.”

It should be remembered that they met at the competition of young singers organized by LTV “We are looking for soloists”, later together they created a joint album “Gaismā” (2000), joint concerts were held, including in Latvian churches and during Christmastide. “Naturally, while writing the song ‘Two’, the memories related to both Jānis and our collaboration, as well as Laina and our romantic youth, awoke,” Stengrevics admits.

A video version for the song “Two” was also made, to reflect the romantic mood of poet Jānis Baltaus’ verses. The recording was also attended by Armands Alksnis (guitar), Raimonds Macats (mouth harmonies), the song was mixed and mastered by the author himself.