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OWL'S ETHNOGRAPHIC ORCHESTRA

   

Composer Valts Pūce composed and arranged  Šaizeme/Taizeme programme within typical folk-rock boundaries. Though, one would find in the performance of Pūces Etnogrāfiskais Orķestris both dancey agility and lightness, intensity of rock music and  academically sophisticated sonic phrasing and the very eloquent simplicity of folk music.
All the musicians of the newly formed Orchestra are broadly experienced and well recognized in Latvia – Zane Šmite is a long time member of the folk-rock group Iļģi; the multi-instrumentalist Ilze Grunte of  so many diverse musical projects and sessions;  Normunds Šnē and Ainārs Majors who are widely acknowledged in the Latvian academic music; also the folklorist Kristīne Kārkle and  the master of percussions Mikus Čavarts.
The Pūces Etnogrāfiskais Orķestris's first album Šaizeme/Taizeme has already become popular and highly acclaimed in Latvia. Moreover it has also won recognition abroad.
The programme was both nominated for Latvijas Mūzikas Ierakstu Gada Balva 2006 award (Recording of the Year Award) and included in the charts of portals TVnet.lv and Delfi.lv as the most intriguing Latvian album.
In Latvian cultural space Valts Pūce is famous for his unique proficiency to unite the substance and stylistic nuances of academic, folk and rock music thus providing an opportunity for a modern person living in a highly urban environment to become acquainted with an extrordinary diverse yet unceasing, deeply human qualities.
In his vital, but also philosophically poetical and playful arrangements of folk music which frequently are dramatically refined, the composer has revealed the deep understanding of traditional Latvian culture.
In his latest masterpiece Šaizeme/Taizeme (CD issued in year 2006, publisher - association „Pasaules mūzika”) Valts Pūce has framed the message that he could still be dwelling in slightly different area of consciousness where a boat is a messenger between Hereland and Thereland.

 

 

Valts Pūce (1962)

The composer Valts Pūce is famous for his musicals for children as well as for his music written for animation, movies and theatre. He has composed choral songs – released as the CD Odi et Amo, performed by men’s choir Gaudeamus and Estonia Academic men’s choir.  The ensemble Marana, founded by Valts himself, gained the great popularity and public acknowledgment at the end of 80-ies and at the beginning of 90-ies. The ensemble performed the music written solely by Valts Pūce. The concerts have been given in Sweden, Norway, Germany, England, Australia, Faeroe Islands, Russia, and certainly in Latvia performing various programs (Songs of Annual Traditions, chamber opera ‘Chess’, musical ‘Various crap’ etc.).  Valts Pūce is the member of the board at Author Association of Latvia (AKKA/LAA) since the year 2000.


Normunds Šnē (1960)

Outstanding,- he is one of the best-loved orchestra conductors in Latvia, the art director of orchestra Rīgas kamermūziķi and Latvijas Festivāla orķestra. He is a virtuoso at oboe playing, which is proved by his continuous solo concerts not only in Latvia, but in many Europen countries as well. He is also a founding member of ensemble Marana.

 

 


Zane Šmite (1964)

    Longstanding vocalist of the ensemble Iļģi, vocal pedagogue and consultant for the projects related to traditional singing. She is an explorer of traditional singing, has taken part in many groups in Latvia, which have already get acknowledgments: Rīsa Zvejnieki, Lidojošais paklājs. She has collaborated with various Latvian musicians, representatives of both academic music and traditional music. She has been a soloist in the unique Latvian Song and Dance Festival. She has made arrangements for and participated in the creation of many record albums. Zane Šmite has experience in master-classes of vocal pedagogy in Italy and Sweden, as well as she has learned from the traditional singers in country.

 
Kristīne Kārkle (1984)

    The student at the Ethno-musicology depart   ment of Latvian Academy of Music. She has taken part in folk groups Ceiruleitis, Vilkači and Laimas Muzykanci for many years. Also participated in side-projects with groups Skandinieki, Iļģi as well as several theatrical performances and recording sessions.

 

 

 

Ilze Grunte (1971)

  A skilled player of various musical instruments, she is the author of musical arrangements for many Latvian folk, rock and pop music recordings, concert performances as well as theatrical performances. She has a broad experience playing in several Latvijas groups and projects.

A virtuoso at twelve string gutar, acoustic bass guitar as well as electric guitar.

 
 




Ainārs Majors (1963)

  A graduate of Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music (double bass). For many years a musician of Latvian National Opera and Latvian National Symphony Orchestra as well as ensemble Marana. 

 

 

 

Mikus Čavarts (1973)

A graduate of the Painting Department of Latvian Academy of Arts, a craftsman of traditional musical instruments, a researcher of folklore, a member of the percussion folk group Auļi. He has played in several Latvian folk groups - Auri, Dūdenieki, Iļģi – to name a few, participated in musical performances, plays as well as Latvian Song and Dance Festival.