Songs & Dances from Slovakia

by Urpin Folklore Ensemble

Overview

The Urpin Folklore Ensemble has existed in Slovakia, the eastern half of the former Czechoslovakia, since 1957. They perform songs and dances in period costumes. Obviously, listeners get only the music on this disc. It is played by an orchestra of eight musicians: three on violin and one each on viola, accordion, cimbalom (hammered dulcimer), clarinet, and double bass. The vocals vary from a solo male to one of those "mysterious" (i.e., high-pitched without vibrato) female choruses. As with a lot of Eastern European music, many of the time signatures are unusual and the tempos are sometimes frenetic. Every single track is traditional. The slow to midtempo music is particularly noteworthy. "Dobry Vecer, Mila Moja" features an accordion and a tenor; it seems almost like a sentimental Irish song. "Od Lucenca" starts with a man singing solo in what sounds like a liturgical style. The orchestra enters piece by piece, building up the pace just slightly. The texture is gorgeous. While most listeners might wonder what the song is actually about, the music seems ideal for a patriotic hymn. Although it's a bit hokey or ear-piercing, it's a good disc for fans of music from that region. ~ Kurt Keefner

Product Details

Release Date:	11/16/2010
Label:	Arc Music
UPC:	5019396231429
Rank:	251145

Tracks

1. Zasela Sem Bazalicku
2. Povedaj¿¿ Lud¿¿
3. Od Lucenca...
4. Tam Pozdola Mlyna
5. Jore, Jore Ses Vol¿¿
6. Mel¿¿die Z Podpolania
7. Fujard¿¿cka Moja
8. Dobry Vecer, Mil¿¿ Moja
9. Mel¿¿die Z Kys¿¿c
10. Doliny, Doliny
11. Spomienky Na Samka
12. Dobre Mi Je, Dobre
13. Vrch¿¿rske, Z Hirnovej
14. Draveck¿¿ Mel¿¿die
15. Piesne Z Balogy
16. Cig¿¿nsey Tanec
17. Ramody
18. Vyhadzovan¿¿

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Urpin Folklore Ensemble   Primary Artist
Folklorny Subor Lipa   Primary Artist
Michael Holler   Violin
Jana Stofilova   Vocals
Vladimir Bales   Vocals
Tomas Beljak   Viola
Pavol Butor   Ensemble Director
Jan Kruzliak   Violin
Eduard Pravnansky   Bass
Ctibor Fiala   Clarinet

Technical Credits

Diz Heller   Pre-Mastering,Text Editor,Assistant
Guy Tourville   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Traditional   Composer
Jelena Gajdosova   Costume Design
Stefan Molota   Composer
Pavol Butor   Choreographer
Jan Kruzliak   Composer
Brendon Zimmatore   Assistant
Jesse Reuben Wilson   Cover Design