Elīna Ose, Kuolm Randõ / Three Shores

Elīna Ose and the Kuolm Randõ / Three Shores project performs original music in the Liv  language, which has been created thanks to the work of three composers and three authors of  lyrics. Valts Ernštreits (1974), Baiba Damberga (1957) and Ķempju Kārlis (1963) are distinguished  poets and keepers of the Liv language whose poetry can be heard on this album. Elīna Ose  (1988), for her part, is a singer and vocal coach who works in various genres of music. Stanislav  Yudin (1981) is a double bass player and composer who has performed in classical symphony  orchestras, although in recent years he has concentrated more on jazz improvisation inspired by  ethnic and Latvian folk music. Austris Kalniņš (1984) is a pianist, conductor and composer who  has collaborated with various artists and works in both academic and popular music. All three  musicians have composed music for this album. 

The Livs are an indigenous Baltic Finnic people living in the area of present-day Latvia who  have significantly influenced the Latvian language and culture. The Latvian language of today  arose from the interaction between Liv and ancient Baltic (Latgalian, Semigallian, Curonian) tribes,  and this has given it its unique sound. Historically, the Livs inhabited a broad area of Vidzeme and  Kurzeme, including northern Kurzeme from the Abava River to the coastal fishing villages and the  towns of Ventspils, Talsi and Kandava. Liv heritage is still alive in folklore, the language itself and  in everyday life, and the influence of the Liv language can be particularly felt in the local varieties  of Latvian spoken in areas formerly inhabited by Livs. Liv language and culture has survived  longest in twelve northern Kurzeme fishing villages (including Kolka, Mazirbe and Košrags) along  the so-called Liv Coast in western Latvia. 

Elīna Ose – voice 

Austris Kalniņš – piano 

Jānis Rubiks – double bass 

Ernests Mediņš – percussion