Drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi have long been a major force in Latvian folk music, with their driving beats complemented by the powerful sounds and tones of the bagpipes. A newer group on the Latvian folk music scene is Tautumeitas, who, as their name might indicate, is a collection of young Latvian women singing in a traditional style. In 2017, these two combined their talents and recorded an album entitled Lai māsiņa rotājās!, an album with songs about engagements and weddings.

As Auļi has ten members, and Tautumeitas has six singers (and one bassist), the united ensemble has seventeen musicians and displays a true strength in numbers, with the drums, bagpipes and multiple vocalists coming together to create a broad sonic tapestry, which is at once both traditional and modern. One of the most effective examples of this is the song ‘Dzied’ papriekšu, brāļa māsa’, where the traditional Latvian singing style is meshed with the thundering drums to make for a powerful performance.

Latvian folklore is full of references to the inability of a bride and her groom’s mother to get along, such as in the song ‘Benķa kāja’, where the bride sings “ja tu man’ par beņķa kāja – es tev – veca raganiņ’” (If you say that I am a bench leg, then I will call you an old witch.”) With their confident, expressive singing, Tautumeitas make it clear that the bride will be no pushover, no matter how little the groom’s mother thinks of the dowry.

The hard working, independent young Latvian woman appears in the song ‘Manā lopu laidarā’, where the young woman defiantly turns away a suitor, saying “Kā es varu tava būt? Netīk manam prātiņam!” (How can I be yours? You are not my type!) The extensive and intricate vocal harmonies of Tautumeitas make for an authentic interpretation of this song – in fact, many of the members of the group are ethnomusicologists, another reason that their singing is so very genuine.

The album does have the occasional softer, calmer song, such as ‘Es jaunā būdama’. Tautumeitas are not just vocalists, they also bring quite a few instruments along with them, such as the violin and accordion, and these additional elements, along with the sounds of Auļi, enrich this song and others on the album.

There are also songs from the Latgale region, such as the vigorous ‘Sēdēja muoseņa aiz galdeņa’ and ‘Voi vacuokīs buoleliņi’, with its lively string introduction then followed by an ever expanding vocal group supplemented by the indefatigable drumming of Auļi.

The combination of the two ensembles is a highly effective one – with the masculinity of the drums and the femininity of the vocals, a memorable balance is achieved. As the album is about engagement and weddings, it is then appropriate to have both of these perspectives in the songs. One might even interpret the album itself as the older brother (Auļi) leading the debutantes of Tautumeitas into wider society (this is, after all, Tautumeitas’ first album).

The driving drums and bagpipes of Auļi along with the energetic, potent vocals of Tautumeitas makes for a dynamic combination on Lai māsiņa rotājās! In fact, this album was awarded the Zelta mikrofons award for best folk music album of 2017. Though steeped in tradition, the songs still sound fresh and robust, with, once again, thanks to the skills of producer Kaspars Bārbals (a producer of many such folk music albums), who ensures a full and rich, but not overwhelming sound on the record. The union of these two groups has made for a particularly enjoyable and significant entry in the field of Latvian folk music.

For further information, please visit the Auļi website and the Tautumeitas website.

Lai māsiņa rotājās!

Auļi/ Tautumeitas

Lauska, LAUSKACD072, 2017

Track listing:

1. Manā lopu laidarā
2. Neviens mīļi tā nebrauca
3. Dzied’ papriekšu, brāļa māsa
4. Netīšāmi es iegāju
5. Sēdēja muoseņa aiz galdeņa
6. Nu ar Dievu
7. Ko zinu gaidīt
8. Es jauna būdama
9. Dej, eglīte
10. Voi vacuokīs buoleliņi
11. Ama jama muosenis
12. Beņķa kāja
13. Aulejas klezmers

 

The Carion Quintet, a woodwind quintet that brings together musicians from Denmark, Hungary and Latvia, has been performing together since 2002, and, in their fifteen year history, have become one of the premiere wind quintets worldwide. Though they have been active recording artists, up until recently, their recordings were focused on Danish composers. However, in 2017, after encouragement from the Latvian national record label Skani, the ensemble recorded an album of works by Latvian composers. Entitled Northwind, it gathers recordings of works by Imants Zemzaris, Pēteris Plakidis, and Pēteris Vasks. The album is part of the Skani series celebrating the Latvian centennial.

Carion is formed from the following musicians – Dóra Seres on flute, Egils Upatnieks on oboe, Egīls Šēfers on clarinet, David M. A. P. Palmquist on horn, and Niels Anders Vedsten Larsen on bassoon.

The compositions on this CD were all written in the period between 1975 and 1985, a period when the Woodwind Quintet of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra was actively performing and inspiring artists to compose for them. It was also a time of artistic upheaval (some small creative freedoms were being allowed by the Soviet authorities), and the works display a number of different styles and approaches, even though they were all composed in a similar period of time.

Composer Imants Zemzaris wrote ‘Four Preludes on a Theme by Alfrēds Kalniņš’ in 1981, on the 30^th anniversary of the composer’s death. The theme is one of Kalniņš’ sacred songs, and the result is melodic and spiritual. Zemzaris blends together both classical and more modern elements in the preludes, lyrically bridging the divide between the two eras with gently flowing melodies and harmonies, and all the various elements are beautifully rendered by the members of the Quintet.

Zemzaris also is represented by his work ‘Voice’, and, as the title would suggest, it is a composition for a single instrument, the voice of the clarinet. Šēfers provides a compelling interpretation of the piece, with its meditative and quiet beginning, which then grows and expands to cover the many dynamics and aspects of a voice, and with the jumps in tone, can almost seem like a conversation.

The late composer Pēteris Plakidis makes full use of all the instruments of the quintet in his energetic and driving ‘Prelude and Pulsation’, with its alternating short bursts of sound and longer and occasionally shriller tones creating a layered sonic painting. This is then followed up by Plakidis’ ‘Two Sketches’ for solo oboe, and Upatnieks’ expressive and nuanced performance makes for a memorable rendition of these works.

The album concludes with two works by Pēteris Vasks. The first is ‘Music for Fleeting Birds’, an aural representation of migratory birds in Latvia. Carion create a dramatic, ornithological landscape, as the birds gather and sing, and then depart in preparation for the coming cold winter. Each instrument has its own, unique birdsong, There is also a considerable amount of tension in the work, perhaps reflecting Vasks’ own interest in ecology and conservation and the threat to the birds from humanity and industry.

The second work is perhaps Vasks’ most tragic composition – ‘In Memory of a Friend’, a work dedicated to bassoonist Jānis Barinskis, who perished in a fire in 1980. The terrifying work, with its all too real depiction of rushing and rising flames in the instruments, then concludes with a despairing moan, as if to symbolize one’s final breath.

The CD is accompanied by extensive notes on Carion, the composers and their works in English, German and Latvian.

The Carion Quintet show themselves to be a truly talented and versatile ensemble on Northwind. Though the compositions were all composed over the course of just a decade, each one is stylistically different and unique, and Carion bring out the individuality and personal characteristics and inner beauty of each of the works. As a result, Northwind is an exceptional document of some of the most compelling Latvian chamber music to have been composed, and the Carion Quintet, with their innovative and resonant performances, has brought new life and energy to these works.

For further information, please visit the Carion Quintet website and the Skani website.

Northwind

Carion Quintet

Skani, SKANI050, 2017

Track listing:

1. Imants Zemzaris – Four Preludes on a Theme by Alfrēds Kalniņš
2. Imants Zemzaris – Voice
3. Pēteris Plakidis – Prelude and Pulsation
4. Pēteris Plakidis – Two Sketches
5. Pēteris Vasks – Music for Fleeting Birds
6. Pēteris Vasks – In Memory of a Friend

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