About the project
The aim of the project „Iepazīsti un mācies spēlēt bubynu!!!” (Discover and learn to play bubyns!) is to actualise the use of traditional folk music instruments in the culture environment of the 21st century. One of the results of the Project is the website www.skaniarmani.lv, that will facilitate more active circulation of information on folk music and musicians, provision of opportunities for learning the playing techniques of bubyns in the virtual environment, thus furthering the use of the instrument in different genres of music.
The idea of the Project was developed in cooperation of the Tautas muzikantu biedrība (The Society of Folk Musicians) and Zane Dukaļska, who is a representative of the younger generation of the bubyns players, placing the instrument on the list of the Latvia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. The content of the website is based on the MA thesis by Z. Dukaļska (2020) „Rāmja bungu bubyna tradīcija Latgalē” (‘The Tradition of the Frame Drum bubyns in Latgale’), as well as the material gathered by the Society.
Within the framework of the Project individual musicians and groups of musicians playing the instrument and having included it into the set of instruments of the respective groups were studied, the makers of the instrument were interviewed. There are video lessons made available aimed at teaching the basic techniques of the instrument’s playing.
Zane Dukalska
Bubyna is a carrier of the game
I became interested in bubyna by starting to participate in Rēzekne folklore group “Vīteri (since 2007). At the beginning, I learned to play the instrument from video material about folk musicians, especially Peter Vereba from Dagda.
Later, I started researching the instrument while studying at the University of Latvia for bachelor's and master's studies and participating in folklore expeditions, as well as learning the skills of playing bubyna with ethnomusicologist Rimas Garsoniene in Lithuania. For several years I played bubyn in the post-folklore group “Rikši” (2010-2018) and other musical projects.
Since 2010, wired practical instrument games in master classes in person or in a digital environment. I am currently playing in the music association "Dzilna".
About the association
Video from the 19th Folk Music Festival in Barkava
Tautas muzikantu biedrība (TMB; The Society of Folk Musicians) was formed in 2006 and has been active since. There are 19 members. The Society was founded for an indeterminate period of time, and any physical person or legal entity may become its member.
The main aims and tasks of the Society are to ensure the process of inheritance and preservation of the traditional culture, study of the cultural history material and intangible heritage, its preservation and popularisation, along with provision of life-long learning activities for audiences of the most diverse age range, organising classes, learning camps, field-work, seminars, conferences, master-classes, activities, cultural and educational events.
The TMB works in collaboration with local municipalities and NGO’s in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and other countries. It organises study projects, folk music festivals (e. g. „Ziņģētāju un stāstnieku vakars” (the Night of Singers and Storytellers), „Tautas muzikantu svētki” (The Festival of Folk Musicians), etc.), provides consultations, organises and leads various projects and so on.
In 2017 the Society was included on the Latvian List of Intangible Culture Heritage, and has contributed significantly in popularising the frame drum - bubyns over the period of 20 years, through regular organising of folk music events, master-classes, popularisation of the craft – „folk musician”. The Society has studied the players of bubyns belonging to various generations of musicians.
Iveta Dukaļska
Head of the Folk Musicians Association
My idea of tradition was formed within my family, where my grand-father’s sister was a master cook at family festivities, with my mother starting her career as the cook’s assistant. Later my mother, having acquired all the necessary skills the traditional way, became a master cook in her own right. While the ladies took care of the food on the festive tables, my grand-father was a musician playing at these festivities and the evening parties - večerinkas.
Based on the practical knowledge of the Latvian and especially the Latgallian traditions already acquired in my childhood, in 2001 I started my studies of folk music-making and the related traditions, these being my subject for Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral studies.
I acquired the art of playing the bubyns from various folk musicians, honing it at the master classes of the ethnomusicologist Rima Garsoniene (Lithuania). On my part I have taught these skills to several pupils of mine – folklorists.
Project development partners
