The museum of the ancient instruments and home brew of the Gunārs Igaunis. Hostel “Muzikanti”

The Museum of Ancient Musical Instruments features several dozen different harmonicas and garmoshkas, 12 accordions, several mandolins, a collection of old zithers, stump drums, kokle, various metallophones, xylophones, and percussion instruments typical of Latvia. The story of musical instruments played over the past 150 years in the territory of Latvia, as well as the history of various musical instruments - "the way of life" until it ended up in the museum, you can try making music. The tradition and application of playing is shown. The museum offers to learn to play the zither, kokle, and dulcimer yourself.

Under the guidance of the master, a musical orchestra of participants is formed, where everyone plays a musical instrument. There is an opportunity to purchase products produced in the Music Workshop. Gunārs Egaunis has been awarded the “Latvian Heritage Label” for his collection of ancient musical instruments, traditional music making and chanting of musical instruments. Applications for the Musical Instrument and Shmakouka Museum can be made by calling +371 28728790 or by email - gunars.igaunis@gmail.com 

Home made brew Shmakouka - a modern and attractive story of the ancient alcoholic beverage, the culinary heritage of Latgale. You can learn about the history and tradition of this drink, see more than 15 distillation apparatuses made in different time periods, collected from the near and far surroundings, see the development of the distillation process, hear the story of the process of making shmakoukas, and have the opportunity to taste at least three types of shmakoukas.
(Latgalian) "Šmakouka", "šmiga", "gonceņa", "kandža", "wife tears", "samagonka" - in each side of Latvia, this drink is called differently. In order to know the history and tradition of this drink, there was a Museum of Šmakoukas (home brew). The museum/private collection is a Latgale Culinary Heritage enterprise.

Swings and activities for children and parents in the yard. Wi-Fi. It is possible to rent rooms and book Estonian family musicians for an evening in “Krūga” for approx. 24 people. Phone +371 26593441, rasmaigaune@inbox.lv

 Hostel “Muzikanti”
In the center of Gaigalava village, cozy accommodations for 4 people are offered on the 2nd floor of the owner's house, and in the summer period, there is space for 11 people and tent sites upstairs in the barn.

A 10-minute drive away is Lake Lubāna, the water tourism center "Bāka", the fishermen's farm "Zvejnieki", and the Teirumnīku swamp trail.

Interesting: 

Gunārs Igaunis lives and works in this village (Gaigalavā) – a very attractive man and a passionate folk music fan, who also managed to participate with his family in the TV show "Dziedošās ģimenes", as a result of which they still tend to perform quite intensively. But that's not the main thing.

In Gaigalavā, there is a museum of ancient musical instruments and a workshop set up in a former horse stable. You can "get lost" there for a long time, because Igaunis is not only a great storyteller, but also involves guests in a real jam session, as they say nowadays. Namely, there is an opportunity to make music together with the artist himself, playing a variety of musical instruments, which, after the encouragement of the owner himself, no longer seems like a complicated process. Rather, on the contrary - quite easy and joyful! The end result, of course, cannot be compared with the folk music created by the masters (Igaunis, who is already very experienced in music, is the leader of the "Dziga" band, whose records can be purchased right there). But it will still sound much better than you can currently imagine.
Gunārs also knows how to talk about each of the accordions, harmonicas, zithers, mandolins, kokles, drums and whatnot in his collection, which he has been building for six years. Not all instruments are in playing order, but many have been restored, and Gunārs also makes new instruments himself, such as new kokles.
As the charismatic Latgalian himself emphasizes, families with children are especially welcome to visit, because then special fun is guaranteed.
Report by: Kaspars Zavileiskis, 2011, 18th May
Material re-published from www.tvnet.lv