Latvian post-folk ensemble Iļģi has a new retrospective compact disc, simply entitled Izlase. Released by the Upe tuviem un tāliem recording label, the CD contains a number of selections from the group’s albums released over the past decade.

The collection, which covers the years from 2001-2009, selects songs from the albums Sēju vēju, Kaza kāpa debesīs, Ne uz vienu dienu, Ej tu dejot!, and Īsākās nakts dziesmas. However, the collection does not feature any songs from albums Totari, Spēlēju, dancoju, Saules meita and earlier albums.

Tracks on the Izlase disc include:

1. Sēju vēju
2. Ābelīte
3. Sit, Jānīti, vara bungas
4. Šķiraties(i), zosu pulki
5. No tālienes es pazinu
6. Seši jauni bandenieki
7. Ačkups
8. Pankūku virkne
9. Barabolja
10. Šķērsu dienu saule teka
11. Ģežablis
12. Uz Daugavas es dzīvoju
13. Aizalaida sauleite
14. Kas tur nāca pār jūriņu
15. Jūrā gāju naudu sēti

Iļģi has recently recorded two new songs: “Dārguma trauks,” which can be found on the Strāvoklis collection of songs with lyrics by Latvian poet Rainis, and “Trīs rītiņi saule leca” with lyrics taken from Latvian dainas, which can be heard on the group’s draugiem.lv profile page.

Iļģi in 2011 celebrates its 30th anniversary as an ensemble. An anniversary concert and the release of a double CD of new material are planned for later this year. Iļģi also frequently performs this summer at the Egle outdoor beer garden in Old Rīga.

Iļģi also traveled to Borneo to participate in the Rainforest World Music Festival on July 9-10.

For more on Iļģi, visit the ensemble’s website, ilgi.lv.

This seems to be a year of greatly renewed interest in Latvian poets, particularly by musicians. In what is now the third such release this year, the work of famed Latvian poet Aleksandrs Čaks is featured on Domās par tevi, a set of two compact discs.

The poetry of Imants Ziedonis was set to music on Viegli, released May 1, while the Strāvoklis project, unveiled later in May, featured the poetry of Jānis Rainis.

The record label Upe tuviem un tāliem released Domās par tevi in cooperation with the Aleksandrs Čaks Memorial Apartment, a museum in Rīga honoring the writer.

The first CD contains poetry read by actor Vilis Daudziņš, with occasional guitar accompaniment by Kaspars Zemītis.

The second CD contains songs with the words of Čaks, including such popular titles as “Atzīšanās (Miglā asaro logs)” and “Tev (Liepas satumst)”, as well as new musical interpretations of his poetry. The CD features performances by actors Artis Robežnieks (vocals and guitar), Artūrs Skrastiņš (vocals), Kaspars Zemītis (guitar) as well as previously recorded performances by actor Ivars Kalniņš and composer Arturs Maskats, as well as composer Uldis Stabulnieks.

Tracks on the CD include:

1. Orman, saki kurp mums steigties (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
2. Mēs sēdējām ostmalas krogā (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
3. Sirds citā vietā trīc (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
4. Viss senais klusi prātā nāk (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
5. Tīk man (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
6. Savādā meitene (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
7. Ne jaunkundzēm es savas rindas rakstu (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
8. Vakara apskaidrība (music composed and performed by Artis Robežnieks)
9. Romance (composer Pēteris Plakidis, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
10. Atzīšanās (Miglā asaro logs) (composer unknown, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
11. Ormaņa dziesma (composer Imants Kalniņš, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
12. Tev (Liepas satumst) (composer unknown, performed by Artūrs Skrastiņš and Kaspars Zemītis)
13. Romance (performed by Ivars Kalniņš and composer Artūrs Maskats)
14. Rīgai (performed by Ivars Kalniņš and composer Artūrs Maskats)
15. Marijas iela (performed by composer Uldis Stabulnieks)

Čaks, who would have marked his 110th birthday in 2011, was one of the most celebrated of 20th century Latvian writers and was known for his expressive and lyrical poetry. His poems were often about Rīga, and were known for their depictions of the grimier and seedier side of the city.

To honor the 810th anniversary of the city’s founding, the Bank of Latvia has released a commemorative silver coin honoring the capital of Rīga. Also issued is a coin marking the Latvian midsummer celebration, Jāņi.

The proof quality Rīga coin was designed by Gunārs Krollis with plastic molding by Jānis Strupulis. It has a nominal value of 1 lat and features the city’s coat of arms on the obverse and a panorama of Rīga on the reverse.

The 15,000 coins were minted by Rahapaja Oy of Finland. The coin is meant for collectors and will not go into general circulation, according to the Bank of Latvia.

The Rīga coin completes the eight-piece Hanseatic League series. Each coin in the series commemorates one of the Hanseatic League cities in Latvia. Previously released were coins for Ventspils, Straupe, Limbaži, Koknese, Kuldīga, Valmiera and Cēsis. Rīga joined the Hanseatic League, a mercantile organization of many cities around the Baltic Sea, in 1282.

Additionally, just in time for Jāņi, the bank has released a 1-lat coin with an image of a beer stein. The coin was designed by Juris Dimiters (graphical design) and Andris Vārpa (plastic molding).

The beer stein lat was minted by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt of the Netherlands. A total of 1 million coins will be put into circulation, according to the Bank of Latvia.

The coins are available for purchase at branches of the Bank of Latvia.