Ginta Pērle-Sīle

I Have a Little Chest of Songs

I am a millionaire. Unlike many others among the wealthy, I genuinely welcome assistance in tracing the origins of my million—its various sources and the individuals who helped bring it into being. I am eager to share this wealth and am delighted each time I hear it being put to use.

“My million” consists of folk songs—those found in Latvju dainas, in the academic edition Latviešu tautasdziesmas, as well as those considered damaged or newly created. I am deeply engaged in exploring the interrelations between song texts, both through analog and digital means, examining their transformations over time and their resonances in contemporary culture, perceptions, and beliefs.

No less compelling to me is the opportunity to observe, through the lens of folk song collection, the birth and development of Latvian identity, nationhood, and statehood—not only through the celebrated and widely recognized narratives but also through those that are uncomfortable, unintentionally or deliberately forgotten.