Vilaka ethnographical ensemble
Abrenīte

Concert for sightseers, Palace square, Riga, 20 June 1998

      Name: Abrenīte
          meaning: toponym
          recommended transcription in English: Abrenite
          approximate pronunciation in English: Abreneete
          Listen pronunciation in AU format (14 Kb)

      Created: 5 January 1985
      Location: Vilaka, Balvi distr., Latgalia
      Leader: Albīna Veina
      Number of participants: 20, of them by age:
          younger than 14 years: 2
          from 14 to 24 years: 3
          from 25 to 44 years: 2
          from 45 to 64 years: 6
          older than 64 years: 7
      and by gender:
          males: 0
          females: 20
      Forms of activity: sing, dance, play roundelays

      Description:Vilaka ethnographical ensemble Abrenīte was established January 5, 1985, when the teacher of Vilaka secondary school Lūcija Bondare decided to write down chaffing songs of traditional wedding parties. The women of Ilzini the got together and began to sing songs of Abrene area.
    Our repertoir basically consists of songs about Abrene, songs of joint workdays of neighbours, of wedding and celebratory songs.
    The ensemble has performed in Latvia - in Latgale, Vidzeme, Zemgale, Riga, and abroad: in Bulgaria, Russia, Finland. We participate in Baltica folklore festivals (in Latvia). We regularly cooperate with schools and excursion bureaues.
    We are named Abrenīte recently, were called simply Vilaka ethnographical ensemble earlier. Our participants destiny is connected with Abrene. We were born and have grown in Abrene area, which administrative centre for long has been Vilaka. Our white Abrene costumes are recognized to be very beautiful.

With Hans Magnusson, Vilaka, 6 April 1998

      Sound sample: Iz bōļeņu gostūs gōju (To brother in guest I went) (1998)
One couplet in AU format (275 Kb)
Full song in MP3 format (524 Kb)

      Address:
          in Latvian: Albīna Veina, Pils 30-1, Viļaka, Balvu raj., LV-4583, Latvija
          in English: Albina Veina, Pils 30-1, Vilaka, Balvi distr., LV-4583, Latvia
      Phone: (+371) 45-63406

      Date of presenting the information: 3 August 1998