Latvian folk songs resonate far beyond the borders of Latvia – the timeless melodies and words are the thread that weaves together Latvians all over the world – no matter where they might have been born or raised. For many diaspora Latvians, folk songs are the main element that helps them maintain their Latvianness throughout the years. There is something about Latvian folk songs that makes every new generation want to sing them and pass them down to future generations. No matter that the songs might be centuries old, each generation discovers them anew and finds something fresh and interesting in them.

Folk songs also inspire Latvian musicians all over the world. One such example is the ensemble Austrumkalns, based out of London. This quartet – who call themselves “London’s number 1 Latvian-pop-folk-girl-band” – released their first album Akcenti in 2017.

The group – made of two pairs of sisters (Anna Grīnberga-Saull on vocals and violin, sister Laila Grīnberga – on vocals and wind instruments, as well as Andra Zobens-East – on kokle, cello and vocals and sister Karolīne (Līnīte) Zobens-East on vocals, guitar and accordion) – was established in 2011 (though the foursome have been friends since childhood). They perform regularly, not just at London Latvian events, but also at world music festivals in Belgium, Germany, and, of course, in Latvia. After a Kickstarter campaign that raised more than £3000, the group set about recording Akcenti.

The fact that the sisters have been singing and performing together since childhood becomes immediately apparent on the record, as there is an exceptionally high level of musicianship and professionalism in every song. This is already clear in the opening track, ‘Tautiešami roku devu’, a rousing dance song that jubilantly sets the stage for the rest of the songs on the album. The sisters’ enthusiasm brings an added energy to this and many of the other songs on the album.

As all of the group members are singers (as well as multi-instrumentalists), this provides another artistic dimension for the music of Austrumkalns, for example the intricate harmonies on the song ‘Rūtoj’ bite, rūtoj’ saule’, a playful Latgallian song about a game between the bee and the sun.

Though many of the songs are traditional interpretations of Latvian folk songs, the ensemble does occasionally rearrange songs, such as the well-known folk song ‘Aiz kalniņa dūmi kūpa’ features some significant changes to the familiar melody, providing a new and creative take on this age-old song.

Though much of the album is active and full of vitality, there are a few calmer numbers which are just as memorable – such as the mystical wedding song ‘Dej eglīte, lec eglīte’, or the reggae-tinged midsummer song ‘Visu gadu dziesmas krāju’.

Also adding to the polish of the album is producer Kaspars Bārbals, who, besides being a member of the drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi, is also the experienced producer of many Latvian folk records, and has an innate talent for vividly bringing out all the varied elements of the music. This works especially well on Akcenti, as the multi-voiced harmonies are an essential aspect of Austrumkalns’ sound.

Akcenti is yet another excellent release from the Lauska record label, who, in the past few years, have been the leading force in presenting the many facets and interpretations of Latvian folk music. Austrumkalns display a natural talent and Latvian folk song affinity on the collection, creating a both youthfully enthusiastic and seasoned professional sound. Akcenti, a vibrant musical outing, provides for a joyous and spirited listen, showing again how Latvian folk songs can inspire Latvians all over the world.

For further information, please visit the Austrumkalns Facebook page.

Akcenti

Austrumkalns

Lauska, 2017

Track listing:

1. Tautiešami roku devu
2. Aiz kalniņa dūmi kūpa
3. Aizalaida sauleite
4. Padejoji saimeniece
5. Suntāžu līgotne
6. Cīrulīti, mazputniņi
7. Tec, pelīte
8. Iebrauca saulīte
9. Dej eglīte, lec eglīte
10. Rūtoj’ bite, rūtoj’ saule
11. Visu gadu dziesmas krāju

Ilona Meija is one of Latvia’s premiere flute performers. In her career, she has played with orchestras such as the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonietta Rīga as well as given many chamber music performances. It is in fact chamber music that is closest to her, and, due to that, Meija, along with distinguished pianist Dzintra Erliha, recorded an album of Latvian chamber music for flute and piano. Entitled Citādas krāsas (or Other Colours), the album was released in 2016 by the Latvian national record label Skani as part of their series ‘Latvian composers’.

The album displays a broad range of compositional styles and eras, covering almost eighty years in Latvian classical music, from the mid-20th century to modern times. Being just two instruments, the intimate nature of this music is apparent with the first track, composer Lūcija Garūta’s ‘Nāras dziesma’ (Mermaid’s Song). The work, composed in 1928, was originally intended as a vocal work, but is perhaps even more effective as an instrumental performance. The mystic being is presented in both a playful and energetic manner, with both light-hearted and serious moments. Erliha has long been an enthusiastic interpreter of Garūta’s works, and recorded a number of them for her 2008 album Zvaigznes skatiens.

Meija’s flute expresses a great longing and sadness in Jānis Mediņš’ work ‘Rapsodija’ (Rhapsody). The composition, written in 1945, not long after Mediņš went into exile in Sweden during World War II, quotes Latvian folk songs extensively, and one will hear passages from songs like ‘Pūt, vējiņi’ and ‘Skaisti dziedi, lakstīgala’, among others, woven together. Though there is a melancholic mood to the work, especially considering he recently had to flee Latvia, the work ends on an up-beat note, perhaps reflecting Mediņš’ wish for the listener to have hope during those dark times.

Among the more recent compositions is Anitra Tumševica ‘L’air et la lumière’, written in 2010. The work is in an experimental vein, and uses effects like Meija simply blowing air into the flute (creating a breathing-like effect) as well as simply tapping the flute keys for a kind of rhythmic effect. The work, which alternates between calm, meditative sections and sharp, crashing chords, was inspired by the works of Garūta and French composer Olivier Messiaen, and Erliha is particularly adept at interpreting this work (her previously mentioned CD Zvaigznes skatiens also included her interpretations of a number of Messiaen’s piano works).

Modern chamber music is also represented by composer Santa Bušs and her work ‘TransparenT’ for solo piano. The work begins with Erliha playing the piano strings themselves, and, over the course of the work, using the varied sounds of the piano to create a sonic portrait of the nature of Sardinia. The work was composed for Erliha, and took inspiration from the syllables of her first name – ‘dzin’ (to sound like a bell) and ‘tra’ (trill) – and uses these effects to form a compelling sonic tapestry.

The album concludes with Latvian American composer Dace Aperāne’s ‘Daina’. The work, dedicated to both Meija and Erliha, was inspired by Latvian folk song texts about the sunset and sunrise. Though the work is brief (just over two minutes in length), in a short period of time the artists present a lyrical and colorful landscape, with Meija’s flute providing the ‘fine silver’ (sīku sudrabiņu) of the folk song text.

The CD also includes works by composers such as Imants Zemzaris, Pēteris Vasks, Pēteris Plakidis, Artūrs Grīnups and Maija Einfelde, and has extensive liner notes on the performers, the composers and their compositions in English, Latvian and French.

Meija continues to actively perform with Sinfonietta Rīga, and among their many concerts in 2018 will be a stop at the Baltic Sea Festival in Stockholm in August. Erliha will join singer Maija Kovaļevska in a number of international performances, including stops in Australia in April and May, and in the United States in September and October.

Ilona Meija and Dzintra Erliha bring their immense flute and piano talents together and present an engaging and immersive spectrum of colors on Citādas krāsas. Presenting a wide array of styles and sounds, the artists have gathered some of the most notable and memorable works in Latvian chamber music, revealing many nuances and depths in these compositions. The national label Skani continues to present both the best performers and composers in Latvian classical music, and these two artists have created a valuable and essential collection.

For further information, please visit the Skani website.

Top photo: Santa Savisko-Jēkabsone.

Citādas krāsas

Ilona Meija, Dzintra Erliha

Skani, SKANI 041, 2016

Track listing:

1. Nāras dziesma – Lūcija Garūta
2. Rapsodija – Jānis Mediņš
3. Pastorāle – Pēteris Plakidis
4. Variācijas par Frensisa Lē tēmu – Imants Zemzaris
5. Noktirne – Artūrs Grīnups
6. Sērdieņu dziesma – Maija Einfelde
7. Sonāte flautai – Pēteris Vasks
8. Ēnu dejas – Pēteris Plakidis
9. L’air et la lumière – Anitra Tumševica
10. TransparenT – Santa Bušs
11. Daina – Dace Aperāne