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Popular folk songs are latest in Upe series

Andris Straumanis

July 01, 2007

An album of popular and upbeat folk songs is the latest in Upe Recording Co.’s Latvian Folk Music Collection. Liku bēdu zem akmeņa was released at the end of June.

The compact disc includes 13 tracks: “Div’ dzelteni kumeliņi,” “Es uzkāpu kalniņā,” “Strauja, strauja upe tecēj’,” “Aiz kalniņa dūmi kūp,” “Puiši, puiši, kas tie puiši,” “Ķēvīt, mana svilpastīte,” “Tur es dzēru,” “Es nenācu šai vietā,” “Lobs bej puika myusu Jezups,” “Bēdu, manu lielu bēdu,” “Visi ciema suņi rēja,” “Tumša, tumša tā eglīte” and “Div’ pļaviņas es nopļāvu.” Latvians abroad for whom recent recordings of folk music have left them wanting for more traditional fare should find this CD a pleasant surprise.

Not so pleasant might be that the recording uses some instruments, such as the banjo and bouzouki, that are downright un-Latvian. “Div’ dzelteni kumeliņi” at some points sounds more like American bluegrass than Latvian folk. But other tracks we have heard are quite acceptable.

The tracks were arranged by Aleksandrs Dmitrijevs, who also plays most of the instruments. Vocals are by Kristīne Kārkle, Ainars Mielavs, Māris Muktupāvels, Valdis Muktupāvels, Līga Priede and Kristaps Rūķītis.

Liku bēdu zem akmeņa is the 18th album in the Latvian Folk Music Collection.

Andris Straumanis is editor of Latvians Online.