Sveiki!

I am not Latvian and have no relations to Latvia at all, but I am interested in this country somehow. I read a lot about this land, its culture, sometimes I listen to Latvian online radio channels since the language sounds so nice.

I would like to ask you if you know about any modern ethno-bands who sing renewed Latvian folksongs or make songs with deep folk-music features. I am not looking for authentical ones, but rather like IĻĢI, or the Finnish band “Värttinä”.
I am also curious about the meaning if the word IĻĢI and the meaning of a Latvian song which seems to be popular over there as for youtube videos: “Sēju vēju”.

Thank you in advance, greetings from Hungary!

Hi,

nice to hear from Hungary.
You can find more info about Iļģi at http://ilgi.lv.
Another resource for Latvian folk music is http://www.radiooira.lv/.
Now about the word Iļģi. I think that the group got their name from area Iļģuciems in Riga, but actually ‘iļģis’ (more modern version is ‘velis’) is an ancient word meaning soul of the dead.

Asnate

Asnate-Mara - 25 March 2008 03:43 AM

Hi,

nice to hear from Hungary.
You can find more info about Iļģi at http://ilgi.lv.
Another resource for Latvian folk music is http://www.radiooira.lv/.
Now about the word Iļģi. I think that the group got their name from area Iļģuciems in Riga, but actually ‘iļģis’ (more modern version is ‘velis’) is an ancient word meaning soul of the dead.

Asnate

Paldies!
You have a nice folk music in Latvia.

As to “Sēju vēju” - that phrase can mean either “(I) tied/bound the wind” or “(I) sowed the wind"… not clear either grammatically or from context!

anita - 25 March 2008 09:01 AM

As to “Sēju vēju” - that phrase can mean either “(I) tied/bound the wind” or “(I) sowed the wind"… not clear either grammatically or from context!

Ah, interesting. Thank you!

Btw, it’s great you have a radio channel which broadcasts only folk-music. I found it from the link above.

Kiskun - 22 March 2008 07:10 AM

…
I would like to ask you if you know about any modern ethno-bands who sing renewed Latvian folksongs or make songs with deep folk-music features. I am not looking for authentical ones, but rather like IĻĢI, or the Finnish band “Värttinä”....

I had forgotten, but there are 2 CDs out, “Sviests” and “Sviests II” that might be right up your alley.

Both are put out by Lauska at http://www.lauska.lv/

and a review of the first “Sviests” is here (somewhere) at Latvians Online.  Reviewed by Amanda Jatniece.
The 2nd CD is similar in type to the first - various musical groups putting their own spin on folk music.  Some songs get a ‘new age-y’ treatment, some are are more rock, some play with harmonies (using major & minor keys of the same tune), some add non-traditional instruments or ‘just not heard as often’ instruments like the skirling of bagpipes or the poing-y sound of the jaw’s-harp.

I might be a tradionalist, but I love these CDs!!

Ilze Kļaviņa - 27 March 2008 08:45 AM

Kiskun - 22 March 2008 07:10 AM

…
I would like to ask you if you know about any modern ethno-bands who sing renewed Latvian folksongs or make songs with deep folk-music features. I am not looking for authentical ones, but rather like IĻĢI, or the Finnish band “Värttinä”....

I had forgotten, but there are 2 CDs out, “Sviests” and “Sviests II” that might be right up your alley.

Both are put out by Lauska at http://www.lauska.lv/

and a review of the first “Sviests” is here (somewhere) at Latvians Online.  Reviewed by Amanda Jatniece.
The 2nd CD is similar in type to the first - various musical groups putting their own spin on folk music.  Some songs get a ‘new age-y’ treatment, some are are more rock, some play with harmonies (using major & minor keys of the same tune), some add non-traditional instruments or ‘just not heard as often’ instruments like the skirling of bagpipes or the poing-y sound of the jaw’s-harp.

I might be a tradionalist, but I love these CDs!!

Thank you, I will look for a page where I can listen to it on the net.