Dainas Hill – Turaida

Dainas Hill

We perceive the world through signs in the most eclectic manifestations – written signs and figural symbols. Over the centuries, peoples have created their system of recognising signs, traditions and values. Dainas Hill has a become a cultural heritage landmark, a place where folksongs live and resound.
Anna Jurkāne
Turaida Museum Reserve Director (1973–2021)

Sculpture can and should articulate a summary of a human life. Thousands and thousands of lives lie in folksongs.The soul of song flutters and flits, moreover raised, centred, spun, and whirled into metaphors, and becomes endless
Indulis Ranka
sculptor

Folksong Park – Dainas Hill and the Song Garden

The story of the history of Latvia and Turaida is enriched by the nation’s verbal oeuvre passed down over the centuries, which illuminates the character of the people and demonstrates its attituded to events poetically. In Turaida, Dainas Hill tells of the accrued heritage of intangible culture and the system of values based on the people’s traditional folk wisdom. Together with the Song Garden, Dainas Hill forms the Folksong Park, where 26 sculptures by sculptor Indulis Ranka are installed. It is a place where everyone is invited to discover the secret of the vitality of the Latvian people, to learn about the multi-faceted nature and wisdom of folksongs, to experience nature and draw energy. Dainas Hill has become the symbol of Turaida and Latvia, which is recognised all over the world.

With the approach of the third Awakening period, the songs sung on Dainas Hill announced the Singing Revolution that took place from the mid-1980s and ended in 1991 with the restoration of the country’s independence. During the Awakening and Singing Revolution, Dainas Hill drew thousands of people, reinforcing the foundation of national identity for the renewal of the Latvian State. Today, Dainas Hill has become a symbol of the Singing Revolution, telling the story of the power of song and the nation’s self-respect.

Right from the outset, this was a place cherished by all our people. Dainas Hill was and still is the biggest cultural creation of the Awakening Period, I’d say – the joint cultural symbol and cultural creation of the entire nation.
Art historian Ruta Čaupova
(Folksong Park Sculptures in Turaida – Turaida Museum Reserve Historical Archive, 2015)

Late 1970s

Birth of the idea of creating a Latvian folksong park with sculptures by Indulis Ranka on Jelgavkalns Hill in Turaida, dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Krišjānis Barons.

1982 – 1985

Landscaping of the Dainas Hill territory and trails, and installation of 15 sculptures. With the help of people taking part in its clean up, landscaping work at the Folksong Park and clean up events continue until 1990.

Picture 2 Ed — Museum workers help to tidy up Dainas Hill. 1982.

Sculpture modelling on Dainas Hill, on the right – sculptor Indulis Ranka. 1982.

Installing the monument to Krišjānis Barons in Sigulda. 1985.

Mine-clearing work on Dainas Hill. 1983.

7 July 1985

Opening of Dainas Hill. Birth of a tradition of summer ethnographic concerts. Over 400 folklore concerts have taken place here through to the present day.

1985 Ielūgums V.kucins (medium) — Vitolds Kucins’ sketch for the invitation to the opening ceremony on Dainas Hill; poster. 1985.

19 October 1985

A monument to Krišjānis Barons is unveiled in Sigulda, sculpted to a design by Teodors Zaļkalns. Sculptor: Kārlis Baumanis, architect: Edvīns Vecumnieks

Installation of the sculpture *Father of Song*. 1983.

1988

The first Baltica International Folklore Festival in Latvia. Fluttering next to the Father of Song sculpture in Turaida is Latvia’s national symbol – the red, white and red flag.

A visit to Dainas Hill by the President of the Republic of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and
his wife Guðrún Katrín Þorbergsdóttir. 1989.

1 July 1990

The XX All-Latvia Song and Dance Celebration bursts into song in Turaida. Participants are addressed by Turaida Museum Reserve Director Anna Jurkāne, sculptor Indulis Ranka and folklore researcher, Professor Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. Installation of the sculpture Austra’s Tree completes the landscaping of the Turaida Manor Apple Orchard cultural venue. A green amphitheatre – the Song Garden is built on the steep slopes.

May 1996

Dainas Hill is included on the list of World Sculpture Gardens and Parks in Washington.

Unveiling of the sculpture *This Life – Afterlife* during the Baltica International Folklore Festival. 2000.

2003

Celebrating the birthday of sculptor Indulis Ranka (15. 04. 1934 – 13. 04. 2017), a gala performance of the documentary film A Man at the Summit of a Hill (director Aivars Freimanis) took place at Turaida Museum Reserve. Indulis Ranka was also documented in films by Zigurds Vidiņš – on 16 February 2010, a meeting with director Zigurds Vidiņš took place in Turaida, followed by a screening of the film Leave through Your Stone. On 17 July 2015, on the 30th anniversary of the opening of Dainas Hill, a gala opean air screening was held of Zigurds Vidiņš’ documentary film On the Steep Hill of Hills.

2004

Indulis Ranka’s 26th sculpture The Raven’s Wing – Treasure Repository is unveiled. It is located in Turaida at the place where the Tibetan Buddhists’ vessel of treasures was donated at the behest of the Dalai Lama.

1 July 2005

The Folksong Park hosted the opening ceremony of the international forum “Preservation and Assimilation of Intangible Cultural Heritage: Youth, Education, Development”, organised by the UNESCO Latvian National Commission in cooperation with the Republic of Latvia’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education and Science.

21 June 2007

As part of the 10th Conference of the World Congress of Ethnic Religions, and in cooperation with the NGO “Māras lok, the Summer Solstice was celebrated for the first time in Turaida with special rituals, initiating a tradition that continued until 2019.

1 July 2007

Turaida hosts an event “Sun Flowers for the President”, which is an expression of gratitude to Latvian State President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. In the Song Garden, a “Flower Sun” takes shape, formed from flowers presented by the Latvian public. The event is attended by over 30,000 people.

Krišjānis Barons’ Trail

Krišjānis Barons’ Trail stretches downhill from Dainas Hill to the Ancient Gauja Valley. 300 metres long, this is possibly part of Krišjānis Barons’ ancient walking route along Turaida’s ravines. The Ancient Gauja Valley is home to the “Dainas” house, where folklore reasearcher Krišjānis Barons spent the last summer of his life. Since 1995, on Krišjānis Barons’ birthday – 31 October – at the initiative of staff of Turaida Museum Reserve, a tradition of gathering at his monument has been observed, to honour the father of the Dainas and his work, and to encourage people to listen to the values contained in folksongs.

Baltica International Folklore Festival

Since 1988 all concerts during the Baltica International Folklore Festival have taken place in the Turaida Folksong Park, along with a number of programmes and concerts “Pulkā eimu, pulkā teku” aimed at helping children and teens to discover and assimilate traditional culture and intangible heritage. These have been documented, photographic negatives and video recordings can be found in the Turaida Museum Reserve collection.

Official visits

High-ranking officials from over 18 different countries have visited the Dainas Hill on official visits.

Research and education programmes

One of Turaida Museum Reserve’s seven research subjects is “Spiritual heritage, folk wisdom and the role of religion in people’s lives”. Exhibitions, conferences and events are regularly organised under its auspices, fostering the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. As part of the “Latvian School Bag” programme, a museum teaching programme “Enter the World of Folksongs” (for 1st-6th grades) has been devised and is being implemented

Awards

1996. European Museums’ Annual Award

2016. Grand Prix in the European Cultural Tourism Network Competition “Sustainable Cultural Tourism Destination 2016” for the preservation and promotion of intangible cultural heritage

2016. Cultural Excellence Award

2021. The European Heritage Label is awarded to the Historical Centre of Turaida