Ethnographic Ensembles in Latvia: From Village to Stage
Ethnographic Ensembles in Latvia: From Village to Stage

Summary/Abstract: Currently, 24 folklore performer groups, known as ‘ethnographic ensembles’, are active in Latvia. The term ‘ethnographic ensembles’ was introduced in Latvia during the first Soviet occupation in 1941, and the phenomenon became more widespread in the mid-20th century. However, performers of village- and community-based musical traditions were already present in the interwar period and even earlier. On the one hand, the preservation of tradition-based content and forms in the ensembles’ performances and repertoire during the Soviet period positioned them as knowledge keepers and preservers of national heritage. On the other hand, ethnographic ensembles also served as instruments for expressing, promoting, and maintaining Soviet ideology and stage aesthetics. In the 1980s, their performances became an integral part of the folklore revival movement, confirming the uniqueness and richness of national culture and strengthening national identity. This article provides a historical overview of the staging of folk music traditions, traces the origins and conditions for the existence of ethnographic ensembles in the Soviet period, and analyzes their role in the folklore revival movement during the Third Awakening. The study is based on archival research, historical press publications, analysis of audiovisual sources, and interviews with participants of the folklore revival movement.

• Details
• Contents