Lāns - "Tumša tautu istabiņa"

Lāns is a Latvian folklore group that represents the folk revival style, which refers to traditional folklore yet includes modern interpretations. The group’s repertoire includes vocal as well as instrumental pieces featuring traditional Latvian instruments such as the kokle, fiddle and bagpipe. Lāns regularly performs at folklore festivals and other cultural events, and the group’s emotional performances always attract a wide audience.

The song “Tumša tautu istabiņa” (Dark is the in-laws’ room) features ethnographic kokle and Jew’s harp as well as wooden flutes and tree trunk drums for a rich and multilayered sound. In this selection, the song represents the Sviests album series. With a new edition published every couple of years, Sviests offers a compilation of Latvian ethno-music and has become one of the most important and recognisable projects in the field of Latvian traditional and contemporary music. The series is published by the Lauska culture management centre.