The resurgence of the folklore movement in Latvia began in the early 1980s. At the time the movement was more of a political statement than a musical trend. Singing and plying was inevitably linked to Latvian history, archeology, ethnography, mythology and traditions and the nascent independence movement.

Since all of these subjects were, if not banned outright, at least partly forbidden and not a topic for discussion under the Soviet occupation and communist regime, song and dance became an intricate part of the preservation of Latvian culture. As a result folk ensembles became de facto centers of national and cultural studies.

In 1981 Ilga Reizniece formed the folk ensemble ILGI. Like other folk musicians the members of ILGI spent time seeking out their elders - the bearers of the ancient knowledge - learning songs and mastering various folk instruments. They made their own traditional instruments and national costumes. Armed with their newly learned canon of folk music, ILGI began touring the country, teaching people the long forgotten songs and dances and helping to revive Latvian national pride through the ancient traditions.

From the beginning, ILGI was mainly interested in the most ancient and sacred levels of folk music, both musically and conceptually, in ancient Latvian mythology. The traditional ways of life, its harmony with the rhythms of nature and seasonal and family celebrations were at the forefront of the group's musical presentation. In time, however, ILGI gradually transformed from a traditional folk ensemble into a band that used folklore as a jumping off point for creating a contemporary music distinctly their own.

In 1999, ILGI received the Latvian National Grand Music Award for the album Sanies Meita (Daughter of the Sun). Saules Meita also received the Latvian Recording Companies annual award as being the Best Folk Music Album of 1998. This year, members of ILGI received a second Latvian National Grand Music Award for the album Latvju Danci -Latvian Folk Dances. In the late summer of 1999, ILGI began work on their latest album Seju Veju (Sow the Wind) when tragedy struck. One of the members o fILGI, Mara Kalnina, perished in an automobile accident. Mara's love of life served as an inspiration to the group, and the album was completed by her birthday in March 2000.

ILGI has performed in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, England, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Canada and the U.S.A. Their live performances in Latvia and abroad have hailed for their astounding mastery of Latvian folk instruments, impeccable musicianship and riveting performance. ILGI's last concert at the Guild Hall in Riga, Latvia was sold out well in advance and had one of the largest audiences of any show in modern Riga concert history.

Their most recent performances abroad have been at The London City Festival, The Women in Music Festival in Chard, England, The Medieval Music Festival in Gotland, Sweden, and Baltic Culture Week in Oland, Finland. Over the years, some of the most talented, gifted and unique musicians in Latvia have been a part of this musical collective. At present, the members of ILGI are Ilga Reizniece, Maris Muktupavels, Gatis Gaujenieks, Mikus Cavarts, Arnolds Karklis and Juris Kroics.