Auli
Riga, Rīga, Latvia | Established. Jan 01, 2003 | INDIE
Music
Press
Auli, one of the strongest and most unique Latvian folk-music groups, are known for their use of the minimalist sounds of bagpipes and primitive drums. The group’s first album was a true discovery for listeners who had always thought of folk music within the traditional clichés. The members of Auli are exciting and provocative, visually interesting, and very self-assured. Their music, though it employs traditional Latvian melodies and sometimes texts, may easily be included in the “world music” category, as Auli combine medieval acoustic sounds with a rhythm and drive charasteristic of contemporary dance music. - Baltic Outlook
Bagpipes could be heard almost a mile apart… and one could lose consciousness from the huge noise… - Balthazar Russow
Auli is an acoustic ensemble of keen, energetic young “post folkloric” musicians who are forging a new but traditionally-rooted sound... and starting to take it abroad. Their debut album is work of energetic optimism: fresh, listenable and enjoyable. - Piping Today October/November, 2005
Discography
Dizducis - 2013, Lauska
Etnotranss - 2010, Lauska/Westpark music
Aulos... - 2007, Lauska
Sendzirdeju - 2005, Lauska
Photos
Bio
The group consists of 10 players. 1 electric cello; 6 Latvian Bagpipes and 3 Traditional drummers.
Bagpipe and drum music group Auli was founded in 2003 in Riga, Latvia. Regardless of the fact that there is scare trace left of bagpipe and drum playing traditions in Latvia, both instruments were mentioned in Latvian folklore materials.
Based in their own research and experience Auli have developed the perception of Latvian bagpipes their tunes and possibilities as well as combined this sound with the rhythm and beat of different kinds of drums, including one of the biggest tree trunk drums in the Baltics.
Auli`s repertoire started out with traditional dance and bagpipe melodies including tunes of other European peoples as well as drum pieces. But they soon developed their own melodies and style, not continuing the traditional route, but also not following the well-beaten path of the various medieval bagpipe and drum groups known all over Europe. The music pieces reflect the creative approach of the group members.
In their third album Etnotranss Auli are going on a conceptional journey of initiation through the underworld, travelling through time and various stages of passion, fear, power and friendship, meeting on their way mythical companions, transforming themselves several times and returning wiser and stronger. The well-known Latvian writer Laima Muktupavela has written texts for each of the pieces, which can be read while listening to the music and thus create an associative background.
CD Etnotranss won the Music Award of Latvian Recording Companies in the nomination The Best Folk Music Album 2010.
The group consists of 10 players. 7 Bagpipes and 3 drummers. Auli's second CD Aulos won the Music Award of Latvian Recording Companies for Best Contemporary Folk Music album in 2007. Song Sendzirdeju received Author Rights Association Award as a most played folk tune arrangement in 2007 in Latvia.
In 2008 Auli performed at the four-yearly Latvian Song and Dance Festival opening and gala concert (one of biggest musical events in Latvia) together with 12,000 singers.
Auli participated in musical projects of many popular Latvian composers: Juris Kulakovs, Valts Puce, Martins Brauns, Zigmars Liepins, Raimonds Tiguls and Peteris Butans.
Auli have performed in Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Bielorussia, Russia, China.
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