About our new album «Ej tu dejot»
2008.07.09 13:41:52
The most recent CD "Ej tu dejot!" (Take a dance!) produced by the world
music group "Iļģi" differs from all their previous CDs. The 10 CDs recorded
by "Iļģi" each have a unique quality and mark a certain stage in the group's
history of 25 years.
However "Ej tu dejot!" is special. It is neither a studio recording nor a
record of a live performance. Last summer the CD was envisaged and rehearsed
at a country retreat - a farmstead far from the lure and hassle of the
metropolis. Upon the return to Riga the resulting live session was recorded
at the studio of the Latvian Radio.
In terms of the content of the album the main difference is that the CD "Ej
tu dejot!" contains only instrumental dance music - there are no vocals. All
the tracks are traditional dance melodies arranged in a not-so-traditional
manner. The mood of the recordings varies from wild rock connotation to
quiet soulful serenity.
It is not unusual for "Iļģi" to play dance music. Their long time endeavour
has resulted in two DCs with Latvian dance music "Latviešu danči" (Latvian
Dances) produced by Māris Muktupāvels with the record label "Upe" in 1999.
Māris Muktupāvels and Ilga Reizniece recorded most of the dances in these
albums. These CDs were and still are used by a lot of people in Latvia as
well as abroad to learn Latvian dances.
The next CD "Danco Dievis" (God Dances"), produced in 2000, contained
recordings of different groups and musicians.
Even though the musicians from "Iļģi" were essential for the production of
the previous albums of dance music neither of the CDs mentions the group in
the credits.
It has almost become a tradition for the "Iļģi" concerts to end with a jolly
session of folk dancing. It helps to have people in the audience who know
the steps but if it is not the case Ilga happily leads the dances herself.
The new album contains Latvian dances as well as dances from other countries
which historically have integrated the Latvian dance music - Lithuanian,
Estonian (Subota- Saturday) and Ukrainian ("Barabolja") and the Pankūkas
(Pancake dance).
Pankūkas (Pancake dance) is special. This time "Iļģi" mix the "batter" in 11
different ways. Each reflects an influence from a different country but
please, don not expect it to be a scientific study! They were recorded just
for the kick of it, for pure joy of making music. The names of the tracks
are pancakes in the different languages the influences were borrowed from.
These recordings were never planned they just happened spontaneously.
Some of the other dances have a humorous touch as well therefore this could
be considered the most joyful album "Iļģi" produced so far.
Thanks to the president of the Riga Folkdance Club Valdis Putniņš the
descriptions of the dances are on the "Iļģi" website
http://ilgi.lv/lv_danci.php (in Latvian), there are some more at the Riga
Folkdance Club website http://www.folkdance.lv/?cat=201 (in Latvian). Also
everybody who happens to be in Riga is invited to join the Riga Folkdance
Club gatherings. Usually they take place every Tuesday in the Great Hall of
the Riga Technical University (Rīgas Tehniskās Universitātes Lielā zāle).
For additional information please visit the Riga Folkdance Club web page
http://www.folkdance.lv/?cat=198&topcat=198.
Ilgi available on iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody and more...
2008.01.27 02:12:44
Since the beginning of 2008 our albums can be found in the most popular mp3 e-shops. At the time of this writing these albums are available: «Ne uz vienu dienu» , «Totari», «Saules meita» and «Riti Riti». We are updating the list so soon more of our albums will be available.
Currently mp3 albums or individual songs can be found at iTunes (all regions), Rhapsody, eMusic, GroupieTunes and Amazon MP3 (all regions).
Direct links and all updates always can be found in the Discography page of our website.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
2007.12.24 15:15:05
Just before Christmas, Iļģi played concert in Riga. Pictures form concert are here: kultūras portāls SV.LV.
We wish you Merry Christmas and happy New Year! See you next year on our concerts!
We are back home!
2007.10.10 00:09:53
Thanks to everyone who join us on tour! And thanks to everyone who help us to make this US tour possible!
Now just a time to take a rest and prepare to concerts in Latvia as soon as Gatis will be back also.
Ilga, Māris and Egons.
US tour dates! (Updated!)
2007.07.31 12:41:17
Sunday, Sept. 9th, 12:30 p.m.
Minneapolis-St. Paul Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church
3152 17th Ave. South, Minneapolis
Presented by the Minnesota Assn. of Latvian Organizations
Call 763-972-2521
Sunday, Sept. 9th, 7:30 p.m.
The Cedar Cultural Center
416 Cedar Avenue South
Minneapolis
$18 advance / $20 day of show
www.thecedar.org/tickets or call 612-338-2674
Thursday, Sept. 13th, 7:00 p.m.
Madison World Music Festival
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St
www.union.wisc.edu/worldmusic/
Friday, Sept. 14th , 7:30 p.m.
Latvian Zion Ev. Lutheran Church
6551 W. Montrose Ave.
Chicago, Illinois
Tickets are $20; $15 for parents with children; $5 under age 16
Contact 773-724-1579 or sil@skbdesign.org
Saturday, Sept. 15th
Gaŗezers, Grasis Pavilion
ALJA Culture Days
ILGI Concert at 5:00 p.m.
All are welcome!
Tickets are $15 for the concert, or $25 for the concert and dance
Presented by ALJA. Contact: Imanta Nīgale- latvian_oddball@yahoo.com or Markus Apelis- markus.apelis@case.edu. ALJA information: www.alja.org
Sunday, Sept. 16th , 5:00 p.m.
Indianapolis Latvian Community Center
1008 W. 64th Street
Call 317-652-1781
Friday, Sept. 21st, 8:00 p.m
Swallow Hill Music Assn.
Daniels Hall
71 East Yale Ave., Denver
Tickets are $15.00
Available at www.swallowhill.com or 303-777-1003
Saturday, Sept. 22nd
¡Globalquerque!
National Hispanic Cultural Center
1701 4th St. SW, Albuquerque
Tickets available at the NHCC box office or Ticketmaster
Festival begins at 6:00 p.m.
www.globalquerque.com
Thursday, Sept. 27th, 8:00 p.m.
The Freight & Salvage Coffee House
1111 Addison Street, Berkeley
$18.50 advance / $19.50 at the door
Ticketweb at 866-468-3399 or www.ticketweb.com
The Freight at 510-548-1761 or www.thefreight.org
Friday, Sept. 28th, 8:00 p.m.
California State University, Sacramento
Music Recital Hall in Capistrano Hall
$15 general admission / $8 students
Available at the CSUS Central Ticket Office or by calling 916-278-4323. Parking is free.
Sponsored by the Dept. of Music and the World Music Club
Saturday, Sept. 29th 7:00 p.m.
Alberta Street Public House (1036 NE Alberta St, Portland) Tickets $10. For info call (503)284-7665.
Monday, Oct. 1st, 7:30 p.m.
The Triple Door
216 Union Street, Seattle
$18 advance / $20 day of show
Available at www.thetripledoor.com or by calling 206-838-4333. All ages show.
Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 8:00 p.m.
Whitman College
345 Boyer Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
Friday, Oct. 5th, 8:00 p.m.
New York Latvian Ev. Lutheran Church
254 Valentine Lane, Yonkers
Tickets are $25
Presented by the Council of New York Latvian Organizations
Call 516-674-8802
Miķels Akerbergs and Jānis Baļķīts open
Saturday, Oct. 6th, 8:00 p.m.
Philadelphia Society of Free Letts Hall
531 N. 7th Street, Philadelphia
Contact 917-446-3087 or blbphilly@gmail.com
Doors open at 7:00 p.m.