Vilki - "Mote soka šyupodama "
For more than three decades, this legendary group has devoted itself mainly to exploring, interpreting and embodying the songs of Latvian soldiers from various eras. Vilki are special in that their active work has inspired a whole generation of folklore enthusiasts who have grown up with their recordings. The group’s performance aesthetics are shaped by the members’ genuine respect for and long-term commitment to the field they are exploring, including the old musical instruments they play and their carefully selected clothing and jewellery (in many cases handmade by themselves), which have been reconstructed from ethnographic sources. The members of Vilki have met with Latvian Riflemen and soldiers of the Latvian Legion as well as former national partisans to learn about their lives and document their stories and songs. The group’s origins can be traced back to the Latvian national awakening and the folklore movement that emerged in the early 1980s, but the name Vilki was established in November 1992; the group released its first audio recording in 1997. When planning arrangements of songs, Vilki adapt the instrumentation to the style and age of the song. Their arsenal of musical instruments includes the kokle, wooden flute, ģīga (a type of monochord), bagpipe, horns, drums, accordion and, of course, their strong and harmonious voices.
The soldiers’ song “Mote soka šyupodama” (The mother says as she rocks the cradle) is from Vilki’s fourteenth and most recent studio album, Dievs līdz’ manim izdienēti (God help me complete my service). Over the course of the group’s existence, it has released recordings reflecting a variety of themes: sailors’ songs, soldiers’ songs from long ago, songs sung by the Latvian Riflemen (First World War) and soldiers in the Latvian Legion (Second World War), pub songs, songs about horses, etc.