Lyrics and Recordings

Summary

 

01. Što se beli gore Šar planina
What is So White Atop The Shara Mountain mp3/200kb

- A patriotic song; The village of Štrpce on the Šara Mountain, Kosovo and Metohia
(Vocals)

Song begins with the Slavic antithesis, a figure of speech frequently used in Serbian folk songs. The folk singer asks himself:
What is so white atop the Šara Mountain?
Is it snow, or a white flock?
and then he replies:
Neither snow, nor a white flock, That is Milka’s tent in which Milka is grieving and mourning for her brother, whom the Turks captured and hung.


02. Gugutka guka vo osoje
(Turtledove Sings in the Shade mp3/268kb

A bridal song; Krajište, Bosilegrad, Southern Serbia
(vocals, kaval, tambura, darabuka)

Krajište is a region in South eastern Serbia, near the border with Bulgaria. This song describes a conversation between a bride and a turtledove, a frequent motive in folk songs. The bride is grieving for the days spent in her parental home, remembering how – while her parents nurtured, bathed and fed her – she used to sing as joyfully as the turtle-dove sings now.

 

03. Oro povardarska devetka mp3/147kb

A line-dance from the region around the river Vardar) - oro, FYR Macedonia
(tambura, kaval, tapan, Jew’s harp)

Oro (line-dance) is the name of a folk dance. The terms tanac and kolo are also used. The Serbian people frequently say: “Let’s dance oro!” Oro used to have a social function. Dancing brought people of villages together, and those of several villages, at larger gatherings. It accompanied all of the most important moments both in the life of a man and the life of the entire community (patron saint celebrations, festivities, fairs), and so the tradition of folk dances has been preserved among the Serbs to the present day. Macedonian line-dances have a particular beauty, both of dance forms and figures and the richness of rhythm and style.


04. Ogrejala sjajna mesečina
(Bright Moonlight Shining) mp3/237kb

A wedding song, Southern Serbia
(vocals)

It is sung when the bride is being led into the groom’s house. The bride is compared to bright moonlight shining down on all the guests, both old and young. She gives her father-in-law a silk shirt as a present, and receives a scarf from him.


05. Što se sija gore na planine
(What is Shining Atop the Mountain) mp3/153kb

A wedding song, the village of Koure in the Pinja region, Southern Serbia
(vocals, dvoyanka, tambura, tapan, Jew’s harp)

The song probably accompanied the moment of placing the rings upon the fingers of the newlyweds. The singer asks himself what is shining in the mountains, whether the Sun, a shining star or a golden thread. The answer that he receives is: “That’s a bridegroom’s ring shining”.


06. Gugu Tino, najmalo mome
(Coo, Tina, little girl) mp3/152kb

A love song, the area around Kumanovo, FYR Macedonia
(vocals, kaval, tambura, tapan)

A young man asks Tina for some water to “cool his heart, rest his soul”. The folk singer compares Tina to a turtledove, pointing out the beauty of her voice, and to a meek lamb, showing her gentleness and sweetness.

 

07. Zvuci prirode
(The sounds of nature) mp3/102kb

(nature)

The traditional setting for the playing of the kaval.

 

08. Kavalska svirka
(Kaval playing) mp3/98kb

(kavals)

Kaval playing, “ezgija” or shepherd’s music is an improvisation. It can frequently be inspired by some folk song.

 

09. Rosa rosi više selo
(Dew is Shining Above the Village) mp3/225kb

A ballad, the area around Bujanovac, South Serbia
(vocals, kavals)

In the past, the Serbs were exhausted by great diseases, such as the plague, as well as frequent wars, taking the lives of many, and so these occurrences were frequently woven into songs. The plague was a metaphor for perishing in slavery. This song describes the perishing of an entire village during a bout of the plague. All the villagers fled. Only pale Neda remained, weaving white linen and preparing gifts for her wedding. She is as white as the linen she is weaving.

 

10. Udade se Živka Sirinićka
(The Marriage of Živka Sirinić) mp3/194kb

A ballad, Prizren, Kosovo and Metohia
(vocal, tambura, darabuka, daff)

Female children used to be married off very young in the past. In the past, female children were married very young. Parents tried to provide a better life for them by marrying them into known families, on time, as early as possible. The most danger threatened from Moslem neighbors (Albanians and Turks) who frequently kidnapped Christian girls, and even young married women.
This song tells of the great love between Živka and Mika, who promised themselves to each other. Suddenly, Živka is marrying another. Mika, upset, seeks an answer, and she replies sadly: “They gave me away, they didn’t ask me!”

 

11. Karanfilče devojče
(Carnation Maiden) mp3/279kb

A love song, FYR  Macedonia
(vocals, daff, darabuka, jingle, Jew’s harp, shakers)

The song describes a conversation between a young man and a girl. He, enchanted by her beauty, wonders that she smells of flowers, though she isn’t adorned with them; that she smells of brandy, though she doesn’t drink it. She explains that she got those smells from walking upon flowers in the garden and pouring brandy in the cellar.


12. Trešnja se od koren korneše
(A Cherry-Tree Branched off from the Root) mp3/141kb

A wedding song, Southern Serbia
(vocals, kaval, tambura, tapan)

It is sung when a groom comes with his suite to ask for a girl’s hand in marriage. At parting, leaving for her new home, she says goodbye to her parents and relatives. The song describes the very moment of parting. It begins with a comparison: as a cherry-tree is branched off at the root, so she separated from her family. Seeking forgiveness from all, she promises to be obedient to her mother-in-law and her new family, as she has been to hers so far.

 

13. Karanfile, cveće moje
(Carnation, Flower of Mine) mp3/262kb

A love song, Prizren, Kosovo and Metohia
(vocal, tambura, darabuka)

A girl dreams of blossoming, like a carnation, beneath the window of her beloved. She would give out her fragrant smell and draw his wistful sigh, a sigh that would be heard in Heaven. Merciful God, hearing this, would join the two young people.

 

14. Gradski zvuci
The sound of a city crowd mp3/57kb

(city)

A contemporary setting for the playing of the kaval.

 

15. Kavalska svirka
(Kaval playing) mp3/119kb

(kavals)

 

16. Mitana Turci grabija
(The Turks Captured Mitana) mp3/176kb

Heroic song, the village of Istibanje, FYR Macedonia
(vocals, kavals)

Mitana is a woman - outlaw leader, which was frequent during the time of slavery under the Turks. The Turks take her to trial to a cadi. Her appearance is magnificent and formidable: all who see her rise, and so does the cadi himself. Mitana’s last words are: “Judge, cadi, rule! I am a young leader, I have a faithful band!” The words of the cadi are not mentioned, accentuating Mitana’s courage, which is stronger than torture and death.

 

17. Ustaj Kato, ustaj zlato
(Rise Kate, rise dear) mp3/111kb

A wedding song, Prizren, Kosovo and Metohia
(vocal, tambura, darabuka)

This song is similar to the well-known serbian sad song from Kosovo Zapevala sojka ptica. However, apart from a more cheerful melody, the words of this song also bear a bright message. When asked why she was getting married when she was poor and had no gifts, she replied that she did have a gift. Her gift was her beauty.

 

18. Vrbice, vrbo zelena
(Oh Willow, Green Willow) mp3/141kb

A song sung on St. George’s Day, Prizrenska Gora, Kosovo and Metohia
(vocals, daff)

Region Prizrenska Gora is a live museum of customs and dialects of Kosovo and Metohia. It is located in the far south of Kosovo and Metohia, surrounded by high mountain ridges and neighboring countries. Goranians, although having concerted to Islam under pressure during the 18th century, preserved their sense of Slavic roots and a dialect somewhere between the old Prizren (Kosovo) and the Tetovo (Macedonia) ways of speech. It is presumed that they represent the oldest layer of population in Kosovo and Metohia. It is interesting to note that Goranians have also preserved a multitude of customs related to Christianity. That is what this song, sung on St. George’s Day, testifies to.

19. Gusta mi magla padnala
(A Dense Fog Has Fallen) mp3/192kb

A wedding song, Kosovo and Metohia
(vocals, kaval, tambura, tapan)

A popular serbian wedding song from Kosovo and Metohia. Although it is performed on festive occasions, the song begins with sad verses: “A dense fog has fallen… not a thing can be seen.” A large number of songs from Kosovo begin with the same verses. These words are a metaphor for the suffering and pain of the Kosovo Serbs in slavery under the Turks. Dense fog symbolizes the burden of life, under the pressure of which freedom cannot be glimpsed (“not a thing can be seen”). In the very next verse, like light shining through the darkness of slavery, the song places a tall tree in sight. Beneath it sits a tailor, sewing a wedding waistcoat upon which silver adornments shine like stars in the sky. These verses testify to the existence of faith, hope and joy even in slavery.
The words of this song are as true today as they were once.

 

20. Devojče, devojče crveno jabolče
(Oh Maiden, Maiden, Apple Red) mp3/149kb

A love song, FYR Macedonia
(vocals, tambura, tapan)

A young man is yearning for a girl like flax yearns for water, a flower for dew. She replies that she, too, is burning with love for him, but that her mother will not give her away for she is too young – she is but sixteen.

 

21. Marino oro - uvod
(Mara’s Oro - intro) mp3/116kb

(tambura)

Opening instrumental – an improvisation.

The practice of opening instrumentals is a customary occurrence in modal musical tradition. Introductions are sometimes very brief, so that it seems as if they have the role of introducing the theme that will be played and the mode that will be governing. Sometimes introductions are longer of very long, which by all means depends upon the inspiration of the player as well..

 

 

22. Marino oro
(Mara’s Oro) mp3/135kb

A line-dance, FYR Macedonia
(tambura, tabla, Jew’s harp)

Mara’s oro was probably named after Marino selo (Mara’s village) near Skopje. With rhythm and melodic ornaments typical for the region of Macedonia, it is presented in a different arrangement on this edition. As a result of the cooperation with Akash, the dance is played with the accompaniment of the Indian tabla.

Songs and instrumentals performed by:

Nataša Simić - vocals
(solo on 13, 17, lead on 1, 2,4,9,11, 12, 20 and back on 6, 16, 18, 19)
Zvezdana Anastasia-Ostojić - vocals
(solo on 10, lead on 1, 2, 6, 12, 16, 18, 19, back on 3, 9, 11, 20)
Vladimir Simić - all wind (kavals, dvojanka) and string (tamburas) instruments
Akash Bhatt - percussions
(tarabuka on 13, 17, daff on 10 and tabla on 21)
Vele Solunčev - percussions
( goč on 3, 5, 6, 12, 19, 20, tarabuka on 10, 11 and daff on 2, 11, 18
Dejan Zarić - percussions
( Jew's Hearp on 3, 5, 11, 21, jingle and shakers on 11)

 

 

Recorded in studio Bare

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