RIGA - Latvians are proud of the kokle. More than simply the national instrument, the kokle is a symbol behind which the Latvians can rally; a symbol that they can call their own.
Solaris, the upcoming international Kokle music festival, aims to not only keep the ancient musical traditions alive, but also to "create a fresh and professional vision and direction for the instrument."
The concert, already in its 11th year, will blend old traditional folk songs with new songs written specifically for the event. The shows will not only feature the best Latvian kokle players, but also visiting musicians from Austria, Estonia and Russia who will play zithers and other traditional instruments closely related to the kokle.
The festival began as simply a collection of concerts and lectures in the Imanta Cultural Center in Riga. By its third year of existence Solaris had already begun to attract international attention, and drew its first foreign guests. As interest in the festival ballooned, exhibitions of particularly beautiful instruments and competitions for the best kokle composition were introduced to the program.
Interest continued to grow, and the organizers set up an academic conference on the instrument and a number of chamber music concerts as a part of the Solaris festivities. Indivi-dual compositions are written specifically for the festival. This year there will be a short film about the instrument, accompanied by a unique song design specifically for the show.
The Kokle is a flat wooden string instrument that can produce hauntingly beautiful sounds when in the hands of a master. The instrument underwent drastic changes in the 20th century, going from about eight strings up to 31 and gaining small switches which allow for half-tones. The more modern instrument is now called a "concert kokle."
The process of creating the complex kokle requires great skill and attention. In fact, there is now only one person 's Imants Robeznieks 's in Latvia who is able to produce a concert kokle. Robeznieks is currently using EU funds to help attract apprentices to whom he can pass on the secrets of kokle production. As a part of the festival, Robeznieks will hold a master's class titled "the secrets of building a kokle" to disclose some of his tricks in forging the instruments.
The Oct. 12 workshop with Robeznieks falls in the middle of four days of kokle concerts. The first concert 's scheduled to take place at the Latvian Music Academy on Oct. 11 's will feature musical groups from Austria and Estonia, as well as four Latvian kokle soloists. The show will finish with a performance by the Sinfonia Concertante orchestra conducted by Andris Vecumnieks.
In addition to the workshop, Oct. 12 will see kokle concerts in Sigulda and Madona 's giving music lovers outside of Riga the chance to appreciate the unique instrument.
Oct. 13 will give Wilfried Scharf from Austria and Pavel Lukojanov from Russia the chance to teach people a little bit about the history and tradition behind their own kokle-like instruments. Following those workshops, the two artists will take the stage at the New Riga Theater along with the Karte Kokle Quartet and Altera Veritas from Latvia.
The final concert of the festival will be held in the Golden Hall on Oct. 14. The grand finale will host nine different kokle ensembles along with repeat performances from Scharf and Lukojanov.
Solaris Kokle Festival
Oct. 11 's 14
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