Folklore ensemble
Mūdernīki

Review of folklore ensembles of Preili district, Lici, 2 February 1997

      Name: Mūdernīki
          meaning: cheese-makers
          recommended transcription in English: Muderniki
          approximate pronunciation in English: Muuderneeki
          Listen pronunciation in AU format (17 Kb)

      Created: 17 February 1986
      Location: Preili, Latgalia
      Leader: Jānis Teilāns
      Number of participants: 21, of them by age:
          younger than 14 years: 2
          from 14 to 24 years: 4
          from 25 to 44 years: 10
          from 45 to 64 years: 3
          older than 64 years: 2
      and by gender:
          males: 7
          females: 14
      Forms of activity: sing, play music, dance, play roundelays
      Musical instruments: zither, accordion, devil drum.

      Description: 17 February 1986 in former Preili cheese-making plant a folklore ensemble was created under direction of Jānis Teilāns.
    Firstly the ensemble acts at home: on factory, town and district holidays. The ensemble participates in 1987 in the meeting of ethnographical and folklore ensembles Dainu kalns-87 in Sigulda.
    The ensemble has participated in the international festivals Baltica-88, Baltica-91, Baltica-92 (in Estonia), Baltica-94, Baltica-97, was performed in Lithuania and Russia. In autumn 1993 Mūdernīki have participateted in the International festival of folklore music in Angere (France).
    From the beginning Mūdernīki are a family ensemble, in which there participate no professional musicians or singers. Participants are united by their interest in folk song and folk traditions.
    The ensemble is trying to master songs, roundelays, folk believes of Preili area - to be able together with countrymen participate in the processes of nature and the pace of sun.
    As the ensemble works at joint-stock company Preiļu siers (Preili cheese), and most part of its participants are the workers of the company, in 1990 the a new name was selected: Mūdernīki - cheese-makers.

During recording on Latgalian television, 1995

      Sound sample: Mīdzeņš īti, gulēt gribu (Slumber comes, I want to sleep) (1998)
One couplet in AU format (210 Kb)
Full song in MP3 format (278 Kb)

      Address:
          in Latvian: Veneranda Skutele, A.Upīša 10-2, Preiļi, LV-5301, Latvija
          in English: Veneranda Skutele, A.Upisa 10-2, Preili, LV-5301, Latvia
      Phone: (+371) 53-22590

      Date of presenting the information: 26 August 1998