Best of Folk Music from Latvia

Overview

Taking on one of the largest codified repertoires is a mighty task for a single album, but this compilation from ARC does a pretty good job. Latvian folk music is known to have some 1.2 million songs set in the repertoire, covering every aspect of life and reality. As such, folk groups tend to focus on one genre of the songs alone, leaving other genres to other groups. Here, various folk groups work their way across the styles. The album opens with a women's song and a haunting chorus somewhat reminiscent of Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares. An almost Celtic song marks the first appearance of the mythological subset, and a nostalgic piece of contemporary fusion shows off the newer genre known in Latvia as post-folklore. Ilga Reizniece, the originator of that very genre, makes an appearance with a gravelly delivery over lilting strings (worth the price of the album itself), and Patina mix an ancient song with a bit of sparse jazz. A fire ritual song serves as an introduction to a series of war and ritual songs to come, followed up a few songs later with a war song by Vilkaci (not all that far from a standard drinking song). Normally known for their metal, Skyforger contribute a light piece centered on a flute before the sound turns back to the ritual songs. The bulk of the remainder of the album is filled with more academic folk ensembles, each re-creating one song from its chosen genre, with one treat in the moribund Liv language. Latvian music is widely varied, and as such will prove hit-and-miss with listeners depending on their own tastes and the specific genres in play. This album does a decent job of collecting enough variety to please everyone with at least a couple of tracks. Excellent for the curious newcomer. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	12/13/2019
Label:	Arc Music
UPC:	5019396288225
Rank:	200286

Tracks

1. Gaismena Ausa  - Lauma Garkalne  - Gatis Gaujenieks  - Kaspars Indrevics  - Dina Kalnina  -  Laiksne  - Vineta Romane  - Baiba Susko
2. Videni Juras  -  Auri  - Mikus Cavarts  - Sniedze Grinberga  - Ieva Grudule  - Mariss Jansons  - Maija Sadovska  - Peteris Sadovskis
3. Supo Mani Mamulina  - Ieva Akuratere  - Matiss Akuraters  - Kaspars Barbals  - Ilze Grunte  -  LidojoUais Paklajs  - Zane emite
4. Ai Tumsa Nakte, Zala Zale  - Gatis Gaujenieks  -  Ilgi  - Maris Muktupavels  - Ilga Reizniece
5. Ai, Mamena Momulena  - Olegs Grisins  - Talis Gzibovskis  - Biruta Ozolina  -  Patina  - Janis Rubenis  - Raivo Stasans
6. Uguns Vardi  - Raimonds Abele  - Kaspars Barbals  -  Delve  - Ilze Klavina  - Aina Tobe  - Gvido Tobis  - Karolis Treijs
7. Ai, Zala(I) Birztalina  - Kaspars Barbals  - Mikus Cavarts  -  Draugi  - Kristine Karkle  - Edgars Karklis  - Peteris Sadovskis  - Gatis Valters
8. Neba Lielas Lietas De  - Zita Bankevica  - Kaspars Barbals  - Silvija Briede  - Karlis Bringis  - Justs Dimants  - Tenis Dimants  - Janis Feldmanis  -  Kokle  - Ieva Lakute  - Dina Liepa  - Oskars Patjanko  - Agate Rapa  - Diana Smuska  - Katrina Teterovska  - Toms Voits  - Katrina Zalane
9. Var Gan!  -  Auli  - Kaspars Barbals  - Leanne Barbo  - Mikus Cavarts  - Gatis Indrevics  - Kaspars Indrevics  - Maris Jekabsons  - Edgars Karklis  - Normunds Vaivads  - Gatis Valters
10. Es Gulu, Gulu  - Kaspars Barbals  - Kristine Karkle  - Edgars Karklis  - Ieva Karpenko  - Karlis Krumins  - Davis Stalts  - Gatis Valters  -  Vilkaci
11. Cekulaina Zile Dzied  - Kaspars Barbals  - Edgars "Zirgs" Grabovskis  - Girts "Motors" Klavins  - Edgars "Mazais" Krumins  - Peteris Kvetkovskis  -  Skyforger
12. Metens Sola  - Viesturs Aboltins  - Kaspars Barbals  - Peteris Lukasevics  - Andrejs Planders  -  Trejasmens
13. Ganeidama Izganeju  -  Ceiruleits  - Kristine Karkle  - Edgars Karklis  - Ieva Karpenko  - Aija Raubisko  - Rita Sokolovska  - Elina Viluma
14. Es Redzeju  - Kaspars Barbals  - Laila Gabranova  -  Lans  - Ieva Murniece  - Dagnija Parupe  - Aleksejs Siverenko  - Ruta Stepina
15. Pavasars  - Marija Berzina  - Gints Gravelis  - Kala Jeng  - Pauline Klavina  - Zinta Pone  - Julgi Stalte  - Davis Stalts
16. Tolka  - Lauma Garkalne  - Gatis Gaujenieks  - Kaspars Indrevics  - Dina Kalnina  -  Laiksne  - Vineta Romane  - Baiba Susko
17. Vira Mate  - Kaspars Barbals  - Ilze Grunte  - Artis Gulbis  - Ugis Vitins  - Risa Zvejnieki  - Zane emite
18. Dziedit Meitas  - Kaspars Barbals  - Mikus Cavarts  - Ieva Murniece  - Inese Osa  - Gatis Valters  - Visi Veji

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Lidojosais Paklajs   Primary Artist
Draugi   Primary Artist
Kala Jeng   Primary Artist
Kokle   Primary Artist
Ilgi   Primary Artist
Laiksne   Primary Artist
Auri   Primary Artist
Skyforger   Primary Artist
Auli   Primary Artist
Ceiruleits   Primary Artist
Delve   Primary Artist
Lans   Primary Artist
Lidojosais Paklajas   Primary Artist
Patina   Primary Artist
Risa Zvejnieki   Primary Artist
Trejasmens   Primary Artist
Vilkaci   Primary Artist
Visi Veji   Primary Artist
Kristine Karkle   Primary Artist,Kokle,Violin,Vocals,Voices
Ieva Akuratere   Primary Artist,Vocals,Voices,Guitar
Zane Smite   Voices,Vocals
Toms Voits   Guitar,Vocals,Voices
Katrina Teterovska   Kokle,Vocals,Voices
Davis Stalts   Vocals,Drums
Leanne Barbo   Flute,Bagpipes
Silvija Briede   Vocals,Voices,Flute
Gatis Valters   Bass,Drums,Vocals,Mungiga,Mandolin,Sampling
Andris Buls   Drums
Gints Gravelis   Guitar
Ilze Grunte   Guitar,Guitar (Bass),Bass (Acoustic),Guitar (12 String),Guitar (12 String Acoustic)
Viesturs Aboltins   Vocals,Voices
Kaspars Barbals   Pipe,Flute,Kokle,Vocals,Voices,Bagpipes
Maris Jekabsons   Bagpipes
Olegs Grisins   Bass
Peteris Sadovskis   Guitar
Oskars Patjanko   Kokle,Vocals,Voices
Inese Osa   Guitar,Vocals,Voices
Ieva Lakute   Flute,Vocals,Voices
Vineta Romane   Vocals,Voices,Jew's-Harp
Artis Gulbis   Percussion
Justs Dimants   Vocals,Voices,Mandolin
Talis Gzibovskis   Percussion
Maija Sadovska   Vocals,Voices
Laila Gabranova   Kokle
Janis Feldmanis   Vocals,Voices,Accordion
Aija Raubisko   Vocals,Voices
Ugis Vitins   Saxophone,Guitar (Bass)
Ilze Klavina   Kokle,Vocals,Voices
Peteris Kvetkovskis   Vocals,Voices
Girts "Motors" Klavins   Vocals,Voices
Gvido Tobis   Flute,Kokle,Vocals,Voices
Zinta Pone   Accordion
Ieva Murniece   Flute,Violin,Vocals,Voices
Edgars "Mazais" Krumins   Drums
Rita Sokolovska   Vocals,Voices
Raimonds Abele   Vocals,Voices
Aina Tobe   Vocals,Voices
Tenis Dimants   Vocals,Voices
Karlis Bringis   Flute,Vocals,Voices
Elina Viluma   Vocals,Voices
Marija Berzina   Vocals,Voices
Kaspars Indrevics   Rhythm,Percussion
Ieva Karpenko   Vocals,Voices
Matiss Akuraters   Drums,Tabla,Percussion
Lauma Garkalne   Violin,Vocals,Voices
Agate Rapa   Kokle,Vocals,Voices
Dina Kalnina   Vocals,Voices,Mandolin
Maris Muktupavels   Kokle,Vocals,Voices,Bagpipes,Accordion
Mikus Cavarts   Drums,Percussion
Ruta Stepina   Mungiga,Sampling,Jew's-Harp
Zita Bankevica   Flute,Vocals,Voices
Peteris Lukasevics   Vocals,Voices
Normunds Vaivads   Bagpipes
Baiba Susko   Kokle,Vocals,Voices,Accordion
Gatis Indrevics   Bagpipes
Raivo Stasans   Saxophone
Diana Smuska   Flute,Vocals,Voices
Ieva Grudule   Vocals,Voices
Ilga Reizniece   Violin,Vocals,Voices
Gatis Gaujenieks   Bass,Wind Instruments
Edgars "Zirgs" Grabovskis   Vocals,Voices,Mungiga,Sampling
Karolis Treijs   Drums,Vocals,Voices
Sniedze Grinberga   Kokle,Vocals,Voices
Aleksejs Siverenko   Percussion
Karlis Krumins   Vocals
Andrejs Planders   Drums,Vocals,Voices
Julgi Stalte   Guitar,Vocals,Voices
Katrina Zalane   Vocals,Voices
Edgars Karklis   Vocals,Bagpipes,Accordion
Dagnija Parupe   Kokle
Mariss Jansons   Accordion
Biruta Ozolina   Kokle,Vocals,Voices

Technical Credits

Zane Smite   Arranger
Dina Liepa   Arranger
Davis Stalts   Arranger
Leanne Barbo   Composer
Pauline Klavina   Engineer
Biruta Ozolina   Arranger
Leannine Blanpain   Translation
Gvido Tobis   Arranger
Alex Stokes   Cover Design
Lauma Garkalne   Arranger
Ruta Stepina   Arranger
Kaspars Barbals   Arranger,Engineer,Audio Engineer
Daina Zalane   Liner Notes,Translation
Ilga Reizniece   Composer
Juris Zalans   Photography
Gatis Gaujenieks   Engineer,Programming,Audio Engineer,Rhythm Programming
Edgars "Zirgs" Grabovskis   Arranger
Sniedze Grinberga   Arranger
Andrejs Planders   Arranger
Julgi Stalte   Arranger
Mariss Jansons   Engineer,Audio Engineer
Diz Heller   Mastering,Liner Notes,Translation
Kristine Karkle   Arranger
Barbara Papadopoulos   Typesetting,Layout Design
Janis Rubenis   Engineer,Audio Engineer