Psalmu dziedāšanas tradīcija Stirnienes draudzē

Abstract

Office of the Dead, or officium defunctorum, or saļmes is a form of traditional Catholic music – a complex ritual consisting of several hours long prayers sung at home, dedicated to saving the souls which, in accordance with Catholic provisions, have entered purgatory after death. The main function of this ritual is to pray, basically through singing, for the soul of the deceased. The goal of the study is to research of the tradition’s historical development in Stirniene and monitor its current preservation efforts. Empirical materials from the field research – interviews with local informants, biographical narratives, audio and video recordings – as well as articles in local and regional mass media have been used in the research. The tradition in Latgale was introduced by Jesuits at the end of the 18th century. The first church in Stirniene parish was a Jesuit mission centre in the 18th century. It can be concluded that the primary purpose of the chant is to sing and pray for the soul of the deceased. It can be assumed that the Office of the Dead chanting tradition in Stirniene, just like in other parts of Latgale, could have begun at the end of the 18th century and thus may have existed for more than 200 years. The texts of Christian psalms and the original Gregorian chant have transformed and intertwined with folk singing practices; the ritual or its parts are traditionally transferred orally. Usually, saļmes are sung before and after funerals, on death anniversaries, specifically on November 1 and 2, as well as throughout November and in cases of supernatural occurrences at home. Through two centuries and to this day, Office of the Dead chants in Stirniene is a common religious practice, and almost every family has experienced it, as the chants are a crucial part of the funeral rites. In 2021, Saļmes Stērnīnē was included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.