Archaization versus Modernization: The Revival of Instrumental Traditions in Riga Folklore Ensembles, Late 1970s and 1980s

The article examines the revival of instrumental music traditions in Latvia as part of a broader folklore movement during the Soviet occupation. Unlike the state-supported modernization of musical instruments, the revival of traditional instruments was driven by personal motivation and individual efforts, with scholars playing a significant role through their research and publications. Due to limited resources, the revival relied heavily on experimentation and intuitive creativity which was legitimized with a reference to tradition and archaism. The study explores how traditional instruments were reintroduced into Latvian musical life, with a focus on urban folklore ensembles, such as the influential Skandinieki. The sources of the research include autoethnography, interviews with the revival participants, recordings, and published media. The revival of instruments served three main purposes: accompanying singing, accompanying dancing, and purely instrumental music. These aspects are further explored, detailing the motivations, key figures, and outcomes. Overall, the revival of instruments symbolized resistance to Soviet occupation by rejecting modernized forms and embracing archaic, pre-Soviet cultural elements. This movement cultivated the idea that traditional culture, particularly its older, simpler forms, was especially valuable and representative of Latvian identity.