Information & History

Dūdalnieki is a Latvian folk band based in West Yorkshire, in the North of England. It was founded in 1983.

The band is made up of people from all age groups who share an interest in Latvian folklore and etnography.

The line-up changes as singers and musicians come and go. The main aim of the group is to uphold ancient Latvian customs and rituals,
celebrating the seasonal cycle of festivals. Dūdalnieki sing and play traditional tunes from various parts of Latvia.

They have preformed in France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Latvia and all over the UK.

The have also been broadcast on various radio stations around Europe.

The majority of Latvian traditional music is vocal, sung in different local dialects. Latvian folksongs are, in the main, made up of four-line verses called "dainas".

They have been passed down orally for centuries and illustrate everyday family and community life and beliefs.

So, if you would like Latvian music, song and dance for a funtcion you are organinsing, please get in touch.

DISCOGRAPHY

1985. Dūdalnieki Cassette
1999. CD "Tai Kalnāi..."
2003. CD "20" (20 Years of Dūdalnieki)
2008. CD "Pilnu pūru pielocīju"

Dūdalnieki ir latviešu folkloras kopa Ziemeļanglijā, kas uzsāka darbošanos 1983.gadā. Kopa sastāv no dažāda vecuma cilvēkiem, kuriem interesē latviešu tautas mūzika, un kuriem rūp latviešu tautas garamantu saglabāšana. Folkloras materiāli, dziedāt un spēlēt prieks ir pamats kopas darbībai.

Dūdalnieki, viņu vecāku un vecvecāku dažādas izcelsmes vietas Latvijā, verš vērību uz dažādu novadu dziesmu mācīšanos, tā ļaujot pārstāvēt visu Latviju. Dziedot mūzikas materiālos pierakstītas izloksnēs un spēlējot dažādus tautas mūzikas rīkus, Dūdalnieki atzīmē latviskos gada laikus, svētkus un mūža godus.