Vilani culture house folklore ensemble
Viļōnīši

Christmas action in the Culture house, Vilani, 26 December 1995

      Name: Viļōnīši
          meaning: Vilanians (inhabitants of Vilani)
          recommended transcription in English: Vilonisi
          approximate pronunciation in English: Viluoneeshi
          Listen pronunciation in AU format (17 Kb)

      Created: October 1989
      Location: Vilani, Rezekne distr., Latgalia
      Leader: Inga Stafecka
      Number of participants: 27, of them by age:
          younger than 14 years: 9
          from 25 to 44 years: 7
          from 45 to 64 years: 7
          older than 64 years: 4
      and by gender:
          males: 5
          females: 22
      Forms of activity: sing, play music, dance, play roundelays
      Musical instruments: violin, zither, drum, accordion.

      Description: In Vilani a folklore ensemble was created in autumn 1989. Before this, chief of the Culture house Sarmīte Kalvāne had convened the connoisseurs of folklore and in a joint effort they created a collective of 24 persons. The ensemble existed two seasons, then dispersed because of departure of the chief. In 1992 the collective was revived under management of Inga Stafecka. Thereafter its functioning has not been interrupted, us can be heard and seen in Vilani, in the Rezekne district, outside the district and even outside the republic.
    Our year begins with Shrovetide, afterwards comes Easter with pussy willows and eggs. We meet spring with a song. The most cheerful holiday is approaching - John's day. Summer passes in caring for the crop and in other works. Then there comes autumn - a time for guessings riddles,for telling fairy tales. During the autumn it is possible to have fun too, and Martinmas we meet behind a rich table.
    Years 1992-1994 passed mastering the repertoir and acting in the local club. In 1995 we participated in the district holidays and performed in Kupiskis (Lithuania). In 1996 we were in Feimani, Vidsmuiza, Andrupene. In 1997 we participated in the Baltica-97 festival.
    A young generation is growing up at the side of our group - the children folklore ensemble Biteites.

Rasa holiday in Kupiskis, Lithuania, 24 June 1995

      Sound sample: Čižyks (Siskin) (1998)
One couplet in AU format (445 Kb)
Full song in MP3 format (360 Kb)

      Address:
          in Latvian: Inga Stafecka, Masaļski, Viļāni, Rēzeknes raj., LV-4650, Latvija
          in English: Inga Stafecka, Masalski, Vilani, Rezekne distr., LV-4650, Latvia
      Phone: (+371) 46-63325 (h.), 46-62250 (o.)

      Date of presenting the information: 26 August 1998