It may be surprising to some that the town of Ludza, in the Latgale region in eastern Latvia, had, for many centuries, a small but active Estonian minority. Though relatively distant from Estonia itself, these Estonians, or Lutsi, have a rich cultural heritage and their own southern Estonian dialect.

Not far from Ludza is the Cibla parish, home of the traditional folklore group Ilža. Founded in 1990, the group has, throughout their decades of activity, performed songs from the Latgale region and released many CDs. Their latest CD – released in 2019 – called Lutsi Rahvalaulud – Ludzas igauņu dziesmas (or Songs of the Ludza Estonians) explores the songs of the Lutsi. Combining both historical recordings and new performances, the album reveals the deep roots and cultural legacy of the Lutsi.

Ilža worked on this CD for many years, as much research was needed to study the songs. Composer Emīls Melngailis had collected Lutsi songs in the first half of the 20^th century, and his work was the foundation for Ilža’s further study, which included listening to audio materials located at the University of Tartu in Estonia.

The CD also includes historical recordings, such as performances by folk singer Anna Germova, originally recorded in the early 1970s, which are then followed by Ilža’s new interpretation. These include ‘Lätş jezänd sanna’, a humorous song about farmer John who has an unfortunate fall into a clay pit and is laughed at by both birds and the old lady he was going to visit. Another song learned from Germova is the joyous ‘Karga mulle kassikyne’, a song about a little bird’s wedding.

Group member Vita Ruduša, vocalist and kokle performer, provides a tender arrangement of ‘Ōdaks ma ta’ süögi tūjat’ in both an instrumental version, as well as a version with vocals. The song, about a ploughman waiting for his lunch, is given a dreamy atmosphere by the sounds of the kokle. Using the sounds of the stabule (or recorder), Ilža provide an almost Renaissance sound to their performance of ‘Kos sa oļļi’ kitsekyne’, about a man asking his billy goat where he has been (textually similar to the Latvian folk song ‘Kur tad tu nu biji, āzīti manu’, but melodically quite different). The kokles and stabules give an appropriately mystical sound to the lullaby ‘Maka kavva, kazu sūrist’.

The extensively detailed CD booklet is also an invaluable resource, as it contains a very detailed history of the Lutsi, as well as words and music for each song, including the lyrics in the Lutsi dialect, as well as Estonian and Latvian. Texts and song descriptions are also provided in English. The booklet also provides theories as to how these Estonians came to live in Latvia, one such theory is that they were fleeing forced conversion from Catholicism to Lutheranism.

Though the Lutsi culture and dialect may be silent today, the songs on Lutsi Rahvalaulud are still full of vitality and life. This small minority has left a legacy that Ilža have revealed in their recordings, and it is clear that the group has put in a significant amount of work to ensure the performances are authentic. The attention to detail comes through in the performances and provides for a fascinating and enjoyable listen to these rarely heard songs.

For further information, please visit the Ilža page on the Lauska website

Lutsi Rahvalaulud – Ludzas igauņu dziesmas

Ilža

Lauska CD087, 2019

Track listing:

1. Oļļi nūr, oļļi sūr
2. Lätş jezänd sanna – Anna Germova
3. Lätş jezänd sanna
4. Velikyne, armakyne
5. Nyze hummugu
6. – Anna Germova
7. Karga mulle kassikyne
8. Kits, kits habenilla
9. Ōdaks ma ta’ süögi tūjat – Anna Germova
10. Ōdaks ma ta’ süögi tūjat
11. Ōdaks ma ta’ süögi tūjat (V.Ruduša, instrumental arrangement)
12. Čīri vīri čirgukyne
13. Kos sa oļļi’ kitsekyne – Anna Germova
14. Kos sa oļļi’ kitsekyne
15. Kiige maagõ – the men’s ensemble “Ütsiotsõ”
16. Maka kavva, kazu sūrist
17. Kūzekyne
18. Ōdaks ma ta’ süögi tūjat (V.Ruduša, vocal instrumental arrangement)

The early 20^th century, particularly the 1920s and 30s, was a truly explosive time for music around the world – new styles and genres came to life, and many popular songs were written, songs that are still sung and beloved today. Latvia also experienced this phenomenon, and groups of that era like Brāļi Laivinieki, Alfrēds Vinters, Pauls Sakss, among many others that recorded for the pre-war record local label Bellacord Electro, are still fondly remembered.

Inspired by the music of that time, as well as other genres, the group Rahu the Fool released their debut album in 2019. Over the course of two CDs (one featuring songs in Latvian, the other with songs in English), Rahu the Fool displays a wide variety of influences. On their Facebook page, the group describes itself as “folk music, with sparkles of jazz, hip hop, avantgarde, bluegrass and world music.” The group is made up of Evita Bambāne on double bass, Lauma Bērza on violin and vocals, Benny Goldsmith (Zeltkalis) on saxophone and ukulele, Pēteris Narubins on vocals and guitars, and Jāzeps Podnieks on vocals, flute, washboard, and a number of other instruments. The name ‘Rahu’ is from Hindu mythology, but also means ‘peace’ in Estonian.

The group conjures up an authentic early 20^th century atmosphere on songs like ‘Šņāci Minna’ (the Latvian version of the British novelty song ‘Wheezy Anna’), and ‘Bagāts un nabags’. Guest vocalist Marija Broča provides a soulful rendition of ‘Just a Little Bit of Rain’, as well as the spiritual ‘Trouble so Hard’.

There are elements from later decades as well, such as the group’s interpretations of two songs by composer Imants Kalniņš – ‘Četri Balti krekli’ and ‘Viena meita govi slauca’. Also, the group’s version of the blue standard ‘Make me a Pallet on Your Floor’, featuring guest vocalist Madars Apse, is perhaps meant to evoke the vocal stylings and harmonica of Bob Dylan. Even Latvian folk songs appear on the album, such as the almost manic performance of the song ‘Švilpastīte’.

The wide variety of styles and moods on the album can make for a slightly disorientating listen, as the mood can jump from humorous to serious, from rollicking to somber from one song to another. It also is not always clear if something is meant to be funny or not, which perhaps is part of the group’s charm – leave the listeners guessing. Some songs are even slightly disturbing, like ‘Seagull’s Meat’, about boiling and eating a seagull. The group provides an ode to cannabis, ‘Reefer Song’, meant to be playfully silly (much like someone under the influence) but winds up being just silly.

With 29 songs altogether, there are bound to be a few misfires, but these are far overshadowed by moments of true beauty, like the sentimental Estonian instrumental dance of ‘Sāremā’ or the wistful and heartbreaking sea shanty ‘Jūrnieku dziesma’, about a sailor swearing his love before going to sea. Also, worth noting is the clarity in production on the recordings, with all the various instruments clearly heard and well balanced in the mix – veteran producer Kaspars Bārbals oversaw the recordings.

The CD booklet has many classic and vintage photos, as well as modern photos in a vintage style (in an interview with the group, they revealed they had found a photographer – Andris Uškāns – who had an antique camera that still worked – and he took the new photographs of the band). There are also brief notes from the band, though, curiously, the authors of the songs or sources are not provided. It would have been interesting to read a bit more about the songs chosen for this collection, or to know if a song is a cover or an original.

Over the course of two CDs, Rahu the Fool take the listener on a journey through time, and a journey that makes stops both in Latvia and the United States. Throwing themselves fully into the role of a 1930s ensemble, even dressing the part, the group produced an authentic recreation of a bygone era, but still with a few modern touches and flourishes. Though there are certainly retro elements and nostalgia, the group’s performances are full of vitality and vigor, giving these songs – some a century or older – a new life with their enthusiastic performances.

For further information, please visit the Rahu the Fool Facebook page

Rahu the Fool

Lauska, 2019

Track listing:

CD Rahu

1. Bagāts un nabags
2. Koketka
3. Šnāci Minna – video
4. Sāremā
5. Jūrnieku dziesma
6. Mīļākā
7. Švilpastīte
8. Taiga
9. Četri balti krekli
10. Viena meita govi slauca – video
11. Stepe
12. Tumšā naktī
13. Igauņu subata
14. Saimniekdēli

CD The Fool

1. Minglewood Brothers
2. Move That Thing – video
3. Make Me A Pallet on Your Floor
4. I Don`t Want to Set The World On Fire
5. Rag, Mama, Rag – video
6. I Can`t Give You Anything but Love
7. Haul On The Bowline
8. Three Little Puns and Rood
9. Reefer Song – video
10. Just A Little Bit Of Rain
11. Minnie The Moocher
12. Seagull`s Meat
13. Waiting for A Train
14. Trouble So Hard
15. Oh, Long River