“Spring is the time when we start to clean up our surroundings, but we rarely think that we also need to tidy up our internal environment. Probably, each of us has at least once heard the phrases “words of strength”, “songs of strength”. Most often they are heard probably in various honors of life, as well as in moments when strength, endurance, forgiveness and faith in the light for oneself and in the world are especially needed,” the musical association “Raxtu Raxti” addresses the listeners with an invitation to go to the new concert program “Strength Songs”. Having started with songs by Imantas Kalniņas in a folk manner, continuing with their own compositions, the musicians returned to Latvian folk songs, with which Kristīne Kalniņa started her career in music. She and Marts Kristiāns Kalniņš are guests in the series “Key of Music”.
“Sometimes what is on the outside is more important than what happens to us inside, because there requires more thorough work than with a rake in hand. It was also a necessity for ourselves – the pandemic, the neighboring war, which created a lot of uncertainty, also fear, and then it seemed that it was the right time to sing songs of Latvian strength,”
According to Kristīne Kalniņa (Kārkle), who collected folk songs on folklore expeditions, meeting people who survived the world wars. They said that the song has helped them overcome difficult moments, because the song has power – it helps to live and move forward.
Initially, “Raxtu Raxti” was created to sing the songs of Imantas Kalniņas in folk style. The initiator of the association in 2012 was Marts Kristiāns, who organized “small Imantdienas”, but he had met Kristīne much earlier, when she participated in the project “Pūces Ethnographic Orchestra”. Kristine is a singer and violinist, grew up in Livani, where her mother led the folklore group “Ceiruleits”. The musician of “Raxtu Raxtu” is also Kristīne’s brother Edgars Kārklis, a core member of the bagpipe and drum group “Auļi”, with whom there is a successful cooperation.
“I feel a great closeness with the Vaivoda family in Vanagos, my mother’s parents, my childhood was spent there. My parents, of course, speak Latgali, and my Latgali language is also alive.”
Marts Kristians has also learned to understand what his wife’s family is saying, he can listen quite freely. At the end of the “Songs of Power” program, “Pie Dieviņa gari galdi” is played – a Latvian song, which Kristīna Kalniņa even finds difficult to sing in Latvian, because she has been chanting it in Latvian since childhood.
“We sing songs of our own strength. I don’t know whether folk music lovers or “Raxtu Raxti” fans will come to the concerts, who will thus get to know folk songs. The purpose of the concert is to look inside yourself, to gain peace, to listen to the words, because nothing will bother you. But, of course, there are strong and also joyful songs. The line repeats, then you can sing along.”
In January of this year, Kristina had a round anniversary, but she does not celebrate her birthday loudly, she does not seek attention, and it is also the case at concerts – too much attention even confuses musicians. At the concerts, everyone has their own characteristic songs – Edgars Kārklis and, of course, Marts Kristiāns also sing:
“On stage, we don’t have a competition for first or second or third place. In the group “Buss debesīs”, of course, I feel myself as the main information carrier, but in the association “Raxtu Raxti” that is Kristīne.”
Gatis Valters, Artis Orubs and Ilze Grunte make music in the Power Songs program, the sound is acoustic.
“This time without drums, but with three- and four-part singing, singing of folk music, which tears up the party even without drums, gives substantial power.”
Marts Kristians also emphasizes the singing of the ensemble as the biggest priority, not denying that he himself likes the grandeur and power that can be heard at big concerts. But this time, nuanced ensemble singing, the opportunity to hear each other, is preferred.
The most popular songs from their repertoire “Raxtu Raxti” will be performed in the usual manner on May 25 together with the chamber orchestra “Sinfonietta Rīga” under the direction of conductor Normund Šnė at the end of the spring season of Liepaja concert hall “Lielais dzintars”. New arrangements for them were created by Emīls Zilberts, and “Raxtu Raxti” will play accompaniments on June 15 in the natural concert hall of Dikļi Neikenkalns in a big concert, where 125 mixed, women’s and men’s choirs will sing, celebrating the 160th year of the First Singing Festival.
In the summer, the musicians will go across the ocean several times to take part in the Latvian Song Festival of the West Coast, but in the autumn, the band “Autobuss debesīs” has been promised an anniversary concert celebration:
“The members of our first team will also join the anniversary, that is Andrejs Grimms and Irvings Znotiņš, currently living in Sweden. Why is it a special pleasure for me? Some time passes and we return to what has united us. And perhaps with a new lease of life and musical excitement!”
Latvijas Radio invites you to express your opinion about what you heard in the program and supports discussions among listeners, however, reserves the right to delete comments that violate the boundaries of respectful attitude and ethical behavior.
-
