Suitu dūdenieki - "Garais dancs"
Suiti is a special cultural and historical region in Kurzeme on Latvia’s western coast. For many years, the Suitu Sievas (Suiti Women) ethnographic ensemble has served as the musical trademark of the Suiti people. Specific singing styles such as the “short e” and the ornate drone are unique to the Suiti region, and the average Latvian from anywhere in the country recognises the sound. In the Suiti region – which consists of three villages: Alsunga, Gudenieki and Jūrkalne – traditional singing and active religious participation combine to make traditional culture a rich and fulfilling part of life. Many aspects of everyday life, such as textiles, cooking, folk songs and dances, have survived here as a living tradition, while the reintroduction of the bagpipe is the result of dedicated work by the Suiti people. In the 2013., it was the local Catholic priest who is said to have brought a bagpipe home to the village, and since then the number of bagpipe players in the Suiti region has been growing.
To celebrate their tenth anniversary, Suitu Dūdenieki (Suiti Bagpipers) released the album Trīs apaļi mēneši. Suitu dūdu danči (Three round moons: Suiti bagpipe dances). The group’s repertoire consists of genuine Suiti dances and songs. The sound of the bagpipes is lively, and Suiti Dūdenieki have also collaborated with the band Auļi; their joint pieces “Alšvangas dūdu meldiņš” (Bagpipe melody from Alšvanga) and “Ozoliņi” (Little oak trees) have already been heard in the Native Music selection. This time it’s a traditional wedding dance tune.