This is a collaborative study on how, and by whom, the discourse of folklore authenticity was dev... more This is a collaborative study on how, and by whom, the discourse of folklore authenticity was developed in Latvia in the 1970s–1980s and how it affected and still affects the Latvian folklore revival and post-revival practices. Influential positions and vital discussions have arisen in search of meaningful (authentic) folklore practices, such as honouring an unattainable ideal and practicing political resistance, creative ancientness, and spiritual empowerment. Keywords: folklore revivals, non-democratic states, authority, ancientness, creativity, contemporary spirituality
The study documents a recent phase in the Latvian cultural policy implementation aimed at represe... more The study documents a recent phase in the Latvian cultural policy implementation aimed at representing ethnic diversity in national cultural events. Since 2012, the Latvian National Center for Culture has provided institutional support for ethnic minority amateur groups. Still, the state’s amateur art system is based on a well-established aesthetical canon that is not much shared by ethnic minorities. By combining the approaches of ethnomusicology and policy studies, the study tests the compatibility of the amateur art system with ethnic minority music groups. The case study has been narrowed down to the Slavic music groups performing in the frames of folklore and traditional music. Compared to the ethnic Latvian folklore groups, the preconditions of the local Slavic groups are more uncertain. The idea of a “rooted” performance of folklore meets not only the different backgrounds and choices of the musicians but also their available resources and social networks.
IntroductionDichotomization of society - separation between us and others - always is the basis o... more IntroductionDichotomization of society - separation between us and others - always is the basis of ethnic definition. In the case of Roma it is explicit and manifested in their daily use of language - in Latvia their endonym is Roma and all nonRoma are called gadze (there are also less popular names to designate the nonRoma). Roma and gadze are plural forms of these nouns, but singular forms are used to address a man, woman, boy or girl depending on their belonging or not belonging to the group: a Romani man is called Rom, non-Romani man is gadzo, a women is romni or gadzi, a Romani girl and boy is chaj and chavo, but a nonRomani girl and boy is rakli and raklo. The usage of the word gadze can be neutral or pejorative the same way as the Romani exonym Cigani in Latvian language.This categorization of people through the use of language demonstrates their perception of society. Until recent, Roma had a clear and nonnegotiable identity including definite borders and ideology of belongi...
The List of 84 Selected Abstracts for 2015 Gypsy Lore Society Annual Meeting and Conference on Gy... more The List of 84 Selected Abstracts for 2015 Gypsy Lore Society Annual Meeting and Conference on Gypsy/Romani Studies (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, 10-12 September 2015).
The dissertation explores the concepts of authenticity and ethnicity implied in the music of Latv... more The dissertation explores the concepts of authenticity and ethnicity implied in the music of Latvian Roma. The hybridity of Romany music does not it the national romantic, puristic idea of authentic ethnicity. Yet, authenticity is an essential concept of music and music-making for the Latvian Roma. This can be observed in the meaning of the Romany word "čačipen" (truth, genuineness), in the contemporary Romany discourse of ethnic identity and assimilation, as well as in the public “Gypsy music” image to which both Roma and non-Roma equally contribute. The research is based on fieldwork sessions with Latvian Roma, mostly lotfitka roma in Kurzeme region, that took place between 2002 and 2013. The dissertation follows up and discusses observations and ideas by Michael Stewart, Irén Kertész-Wilkinson, Allan Moore, Fredrik Barth and others.
Keywords: Roma, music, authenticity, ethnicity, identity
Darbā pētītas Latvijas čigānu (romu) mūzikas autentiskuma un etniskuma izpratnes un izpausmes. Či... more Darbā pētītas Latvijas čigānu (romu) mūzikas autentiskuma un etniskuma izpratnes un izpausmes. Čigānu mūzikas hibriditāte nepakļaujas nacionālromantiskajai, pūristiskajai etnisko grupu autentiskuma idejai, tomēr autentiskums ir nozīmīgs čigānu mūzikas un muzicēšanas koncepts. To atklāj gan čigānu vārda čačipen (patiesība, patiesums) nozīmes, gan čigānu etniskās identitātes un asimilācijas diskurss, gan čigānu un nečigānu kopveidotais publiskais čigānu mūzikas tēls. Pētījuma pamatā ir lauka darbs pie Latvijas, galvenokārt Kurzemes, čigāniem laikaposmā no 2002. līdz 2013. gadam. Tajā turpinātas čigānu pētnieku Maikla Stjuarta un Irēnas Kertēsas-Vilkinsones, populārās mūzikas pētnieka Elana Mūra, sociālā antropologa Fredrika Barta un citu autoru risinātās diskusijas.
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, mūzika, autentiskums, etniskums, identitāte
Presē ir liecības tikai par vienu biedrības "Čigānu draugs" kora koncertu, kas notika Latvijas K... more Presē ir liecības tikai par vienu biedrības "Čigānu draugs" kora koncertu, kas notika Latvijas Konservatorijā 1933. gada 29. aprīlī. Taču čigānu mūzikas niša un priekšstati par to Latvijā pastāvēja gan pirms, gan pēc šīs iniciatīvas – vietējie čigāni (lotfitka roma) to nevis veidoja, bet tika konfrontēti ar tās nosacījumiem. Kādu reprezentācijas veidu viņi izvēlējās un kāpēc? Rakstā pievēršos koncerta organizatoriskajiem aspektiem. Mēģinājums izveidot kori aplūkots kā marginālas grupas centieni iekļauties sociālajā apritē, kuras noteikumus rada citi. Latvijas čigānu publiskās muzicēšanas vēstures pirmās lappuses atklāj, ka čigānu mūzikas radīšanā nečigāniem ir līdzvērtīga vai pat noteicoša loma. Šī situācija sniedz vielu diskusijai par etniskās mūzikas autentiskumu.
The article concerns changes in Latvian Romani ethnic identity over last decades. Roma traditiona... more The article concerns changes in Latvian Romani ethnic identity over last decades. Roma traditionally perceive society in a dichotomized way (Roma and non-Roma), but in the process of assimilation a category of ‘half-Roma’ has appeared. Thus, a question arises – what is the ethnic awareness and status of “half-Roma” in Romani and non-Romani communities. The study is based on interviews recorded during author’s fieldwork. The author continues the exploration of ethnic boundaries actualised by Fredrik Barth. The focus here is on assimilated younger generation Roma living in the “ethnic borderland”. The article discusses the modes of ethnicity articulation. The author concludes that until recently the most significant exposure of ethnic belonging has been the participation in community events and communication, not the use of ethnic attributes or a traditional lifestyle. Moreover, today ethnic belonging is a choice not a restriction more than before.
Key words: Roma, ethnic identity, assimilation
Rakstā pētītas izmaiņas, kas pēdējās pāris desmitgadēs skārušas Latvijas čigānu (romu... more Rakstā pētītas izmaiņas, kas pēdējās pāris desmitgadēs skārušas Latvijas čigānu (romu) etnisko identitāti. Čigānu sabiedrības uztvere tradicionāli ir bijusi izteikti dihotomizēta, tāpēc asimilācijas rezultātā radusies “pusčigānu” kategorija rosināja jautāt, kāda ir šo “pusčigānu” etniskā apziņa un statuss čigānu un nečigānu sabiedrībā. Raksta pamatā ir autores veikts lauka pētījums pie Kurzemes čigāniem. Autore turpina Fredrika Barta (Fredrik Barth) aktualizēto etnisko robežu pētniecību, šajā gadījumā analizējot nevis čigānu un nečigānu nošķiršanas veidus, bet gan jaunākās paaudzes asimilēto čigānu dzīvi “etniskajā pierobežā”. Raksts turpina etnicitātes pētnieku diskusiju par etnicitātes artikulācijas veidiem. Autore secina, ka līdz nesenam laikam būtiskākais etniskās piederības izrādīšanas veids ir bijusi piedalīšanās kopienas notikumos un komunikācija, nevis etnisku simbolu lietošana vai tradicionāls dzīvesveids un ka mūsdienās etniskā piederība lielākā mērā nekā senāk ir izvēle, nevis ierobežojums.
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, etniskā identitāte, asimilācija
Living a rural life is a commonly held ideal in Latvian society. This study of the informal dwell... more Living a rural life is a commonly held ideal in Latvian society. This study of the informal dwellers of Lucavsala island in Riga shows the adaptation of this ideal to an urban environment. Their choice is a legally unstable, but economically and environmentally sustainable housing solution.
This is a collaborative study on how, and by whom, the discourse of folklore authenticity was dev... more This is a collaborative study on how, and by whom, the discourse of folklore authenticity was developed in Latvia in the 1970s–1980s and how it affected and still affects the Latvian folklore revival and post-revival practices. Influential positions and vital discussions have arisen in search of meaningful (authentic) folklore practices, such as honouring an unattainable ideal and practicing political resistance, creative ancientness, and spiritual empowerment. Keywords: folklore revivals, non-democratic states, authority, ancientness, creativity, contemporary spirituality
The study documents a recent phase in the Latvian cultural policy implementation aimed at represe... more The study documents a recent phase in the Latvian cultural policy implementation aimed at representing ethnic diversity in national cultural events. Since 2012, the Latvian National Center for Culture has provided institutional support for ethnic minority amateur groups. Still, the state’s amateur art system is based on a well-established aesthetical canon that is not much shared by ethnic minorities. By combining the approaches of ethnomusicology and policy studies, the study tests the compatibility of the amateur art system with ethnic minority music groups. The case study has been narrowed down to the Slavic music groups performing in the frames of folklore and traditional music. Compared to the ethnic Latvian folklore groups, the preconditions of the local Slavic groups are more uncertain. The idea of a “rooted” performance of folklore meets not only the different backgrounds and choices of the musicians but also their available resources and social networks.
IntroductionDichotomization of society - separation between us and others - always is the basis o... more IntroductionDichotomization of society - separation between us and others - always is the basis of ethnic definition. In the case of Roma it is explicit and manifested in their daily use of language - in Latvia their endonym is Roma and all nonRoma are called gadze (there are also less popular names to designate the nonRoma). Roma and gadze are plural forms of these nouns, but singular forms are used to address a man, woman, boy or girl depending on their belonging or not belonging to the group: a Romani man is called Rom, non-Romani man is gadzo, a women is romni or gadzi, a Romani girl and boy is chaj and chavo, but a nonRomani girl and boy is rakli and raklo. The usage of the word gadze can be neutral or pejorative the same way as the Romani exonym Cigani in Latvian language.This categorization of people through the use of language demonstrates their perception of society. Until recent, Roma had a clear and nonnegotiable identity including definite borders and ideology of belongi...
The List of 84 Selected Abstracts for 2015 Gypsy Lore Society Annual Meeting and Conference on Gy... more The List of 84 Selected Abstracts for 2015 Gypsy Lore Society Annual Meeting and Conference on Gypsy/Romani Studies (Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, 10-12 September 2015).
The dissertation explores the concepts of authenticity and ethnicity implied in the music of Latv... more The dissertation explores the concepts of authenticity and ethnicity implied in the music of Latvian Roma. The hybridity of Romany music does not it the national romantic, puristic idea of authentic ethnicity. Yet, authenticity is an essential concept of music and music-making for the Latvian Roma. This can be observed in the meaning of the Romany word "čačipen" (truth, genuineness), in the contemporary Romany discourse of ethnic identity and assimilation, as well as in the public “Gypsy music” image to which both Roma and non-Roma equally contribute. The research is based on fieldwork sessions with Latvian Roma, mostly lotfitka roma in Kurzeme region, that took place between 2002 and 2013. The dissertation follows up and discusses observations and ideas by Michael Stewart, Irén Kertész-Wilkinson, Allan Moore, Fredrik Barth and others.
Keywords: Roma, music, authenticity, ethnicity, identity
Darbā pētītas Latvijas čigānu (romu) mūzikas autentiskuma un etniskuma izpratnes un izpausmes. Či... more Darbā pētītas Latvijas čigānu (romu) mūzikas autentiskuma un etniskuma izpratnes un izpausmes. Čigānu mūzikas hibriditāte nepakļaujas nacionālromantiskajai, pūristiskajai etnisko grupu autentiskuma idejai, tomēr autentiskums ir nozīmīgs čigānu mūzikas un muzicēšanas koncepts. To atklāj gan čigānu vārda čačipen (patiesība, patiesums) nozīmes, gan čigānu etniskās identitātes un asimilācijas diskurss, gan čigānu un nečigānu kopveidotais publiskais čigānu mūzikas tēls. Pētījuma pamatā ir lauka darbs pie Latvijas, galvenokārt Kurzemes, čigāniem laikaposmā no 2002. līdz 2013. gadam. Tajā turpinātas čigānu pētnieku Maikla Stjuarta un Irēnas Kertēsas-Vilkinsones, populārās mūzikas pētnieka Elana Mūra, sociālā antropologa Fredrika Barta un citu autoru risinātās diskusijas.
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, mūzika, autentiskums, etniskums, identitāte
Presē ir liecības tikai par vienu biedrības "Čigānu draugs" kora koncertu, kas notika Latvijas K... more Presē ir liecības tikai par vienu biedrības "Čigānu draugs" kora koncertu, kas notika Latvijas Konservatorijā 1933. gada 29. aprīlī. Taču čigānu mūzikas niša un priekšstati par to Latvijā pastāvēja gan pirms, gan pēc šīs iniciatīvas – vietējie čigāni (lotfitka roma) to nevis veidoja, bet tika konfrontēti ar tās nosacījumiem. Kādu reprezentācijas veidu viņi izvēlējās un kāpēc? Rakstā pievēršos koncerta organizatoriskajiem aspektiem. Mēģinājums izveidot kori aplūkots kā marginālas grupas centieni iekļauties sociālajā apritē, kuras noteikumus rada citi. Latvijas čigānu publiskās muzicēšanas vēstures pirmās lappuses atklāj, ka čigānu mūzikas radīšanā nečigāniem ir līdzvērtīga vai pat noteicoša loma. Šī situācija sniedz vielu diskusijai par etniskās mūzikas autentiskumu.
The article concerns changes in Latvian Romani ethnic identity over last decades. Roma traditiona... more The article concerns changes in Latvian Romani ethnic identity over last decades. Roma traditionally perceive society in a dichotomized way (Roma and non-Roma), but in the process of assimilation a category of ‘half-Roma’ has appeared. Thus, a question arises – what is the ethnic awareness and status of “half-Roma” in Romani and non-Romani communities. The study is based on interviews recorded during author’s fieldwork. The author continues the exploration of ethnic boundaries actualised by Fredrik Barth. The focus here is on assimilated younger generation Roma living in the “ethnic borderland”. The article discusses the modes of ethnicity articulation. The author concludes that until recently the most significant exposure of ethnic belonging has been the participation in community events and communication, not the use of ethnic attributes or a traditional lifestyle. Moreover, today ethnic belonging is a choice not a restriction more than before.
Key words: Roma, ethnic identity, assimilation
Rakstā pētītas izmaiņas, kas pēdējās pāris desmitgadēs skārušas Latvijas čigānu (romu... more Rakstā pētītas izmaiņas, kas pēdējās pāris desmitgadēs skārušas Latvijas čigānu (romu) etnisko identitāti. Čigānu sabiedrības uztvere tradicionāli ir bijusi izteikti dihotomizēta, tāpēc asimilācijas rezultātā radusies “pusčigānu” kategorija rosināja jautāt, kāda ir šo “pusčigānu” etniskā apziņa un statuss čigānu un nečigānu sabiedrībā. Raksta pamatā ir autores veikts lauka pētījums pie Kurzemes čigāniem. Autore turpina Fredrika Barta (Fredrik Barth) aktualizēto etnisko robežu pētniecību, šajā gadījumā analizējot nevis čigānu un nečigānu nošķiršanas veidus, bet gan jaunākās paaudzes asimilēto čigānu dzīvi “etniskajā pierobežā”. Raksts turpina etnicitātes pētnieku diskusiju par etnicitātes artikulācijas veidiem. Autore secina, ka līdz nesenam laikam būtiskākais etniskās piederības izrādīšanas veids ir bijusi piedalīšanās kopienas notikumos un komunikācija, nevis etnisku simbolu lietošana vai tradicionāls dzīvesveids un ka mūsdienās etniskā piederība lielākā mērā nekā senāk ir izvēle, nevis ierobežojums.
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, etniskā identitāte, asimilācija
Living a rural life is a commonly held ideal in Latvian society. This study of the informal dwell... more Living a rural life is a commonly held ideal in Latvian society. This study of the informal dwellers of Lucavsala island in Riga shows the adaptation of this ideal to an urban environment. Their choice is a legally unstable, but economically and environmentally sustainable housing solution.
Weaver (Vīvere), Ieva and Ilmārs Mežs. 2023. Jurjāns’s Itineraries 1891-1892 and Places of Docume... more Weaver (Vīvere), Ieva and Ilmārs Mežs. 2023. Jurjāns’s Itineraries 1891-1892 and Places of Documentation of the Transcriptions he Published in His "Latvju tautas mūzikas materiāli" (Jurjānu Andrejs, Materials of the Latvian Folk Music, 1894-1926)
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Keywords: folklore revivals, non-democratic states, authority, ancientness, creativity, contemporary spirituality
frames of folklore and traditional music. Compared to the ethnic Latvian folklore groups, the preconditions of the local Slavic groups are more uncertain. The idea of a “rooted” performance of folklore meets not only the different backgrounds and choices of the musicians but also their available resources and social networks.
Keywords: Roma, music, authenticity, ethnicity, identity
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, mūzika, autentiskums, etniskums, identitāte
Key words: Roma, ethnic identity, assimilation
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, etniskā identitāte, asimilācija
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Keywords: folklore revivals, non-democratic states, authority, ancientness, creativity, contemporary spirituality
frames of folklore and traditional music. Compared to the ethnic Latvian folklore groups, the preconditions of the local Slavic groups are more uncertain. The idea of a “rooted” performance of folklore meets not only the different backgrounds and choices of the musicians but also their available resources and social networks.
Keywords: Roma, music, authenticity, ethnicity, identity
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, mūzika, autentiskums, etniskums, identitāte
Key words: Roma, ethnic identity, assimilation
Atslēgvārdi: čigāni, etniskā identitāte, asimilācija