GRIEŽYNĖ - 1994
September 1 - 4, 1994

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„GRIEŽYNĖ-94” is coming

Antanas Karvelis

(Published by Music bars, 1994. No.11, article 12)

There is a saying “prepare the sleigh in the summer”. It seems that the organizers of the international festival of folk music are taking this saying seriously. Although “Griežynė 1994” will only start on the 1st September, the preparation for it is really active. Already about 80% of the participants and sponsors are known, an audio cassette “Griežynė 1992” has been recorded, the stickers and other attributes are produced.

On the 7th June the press conference of the upcoming “Griežynė“ tookplacein the „Langas“ music club. Already there are almost 30 TV, radio, photo and press journalsts that have been accredited. The festival has suppport from a number of radio stations, a separate broadcast, and a newspaper. The organizers even decided to reward a journalist who will release the most publications about the festival.

Soon we will have a second “Griežynė“festivalwhichwill take place on 1-4 September, 1994. Probably everyone still remembers the festival in 1992 and the musicians from Norway, Sweden, Poland, England, Peru, Latvia, Russia, Ukraine and Lithuania. It was beautiful, but this year it is the second “Griežynė“festivalin Vilnius, and its purpose is to get to know the world`s folk music instruments and musicians, and to show them our own authentic musical tradition. You will have an opportunity to hear the concerts inthe old town halls, spend time together with the musicians, and even play together.

The organizers of this festival have a strong attitude in not to make this festival as only a decorative manifestation, to which most of the events novadays has already turned into. In „Griežynė” the most important thing is professionalism. Therefore, the festival is not only concerts. During the festival there will be a folklore movie theatre where you will be able to see the movies from different countries. In the “Langas” gallery you will be able to admire the photo exhibition. The festival will have guest musicians from Norway, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Ireland, Estonia, Belarus, France, Slovakia, Tanzania, Denmark and elsewhere.

Now, a short intro to the festival guests:

Group HUDA (Belarus)

Established in 1992. The name comes from one of the Belarusian land titles. “HUDA” is a group of young people who want to live according to the laws of their people, therefore, by examining their customs and ceremonies, collecting legends, dances and songs, enjoying their folk costumes and decorations, musical instruments, they target to their authentic archaic form reproduction.

Maris Jansons (Latvia)

Maris Jansons activities are related to Latvia`s folk music center. He is the director and one of the founders of this center. LFMC are engaged into the traditional folk music and material studies, collection (in forms of video films and audio recordings) and spreading their popularity. Maris Jansons main occupation is the production of folk music instruments (bagpipes, kankles, lumzdelis, whistles, etc.). A part of his time is devoted to playing with the folk music group “AURI”.

NILLER OG LUFFE (Denmark)

Niels Erik Easmyssed (Niller) and Herluf S. Larsen (Luffe)

Niller of Luffe plays traditional Bornholm and Danish folk music. Both musicians play in the famous Bornholm folk ensemble “KalteniSakken”.

NillerogLuffe musicians play with old and new instruments: flute, drums, bagpipes, accordion, silver flute. Old folk songs are performed by the Bornholm dialect how it was used over 200 years ago.

 Hungarian traditional folk music trio

JoszefBirinyi (b. 1956) – folklorist, folk musician and folk instruments manufacturer. He is one of the most famous Hungarian folk music solo performers. Excluding stringed instruments and cymbals, he plays more than 20 different Hungarian folk music instruments. He is famous as the best zither, hurdy-gurdy, whistle, Pan`s little pipe and Jews harp performer. In his concerts he proudly presents Hungarian folk music instruments, show their place in the cultural history.JoszefBirinyyi – a professional soloist of the National Philharmonic Orchestra, who travelled across the whole Europe and North Korea, also made several TV and radio recordings. He also teaches in music schools and folk music camps, and is a leader of the folk ensembles “Csutoras” and “Forras”. JoszefBirinyi has won many folk music festivals and competitions awards.

MariaMaczko – folk singer who fell in love with folk music and art back in the childhood. She graduated from the conservatory of Debrecen, but despite of the classical education she turned to the authentic folk music, for several years she taught folk songs in different camps. Since 1986 Maria Maezko is the soloist of Hungarian national folk ensemble.

Laszlo Kovacs was born in 1967 in Lajosmizse. Started playing folk instruments in 1979, and now he plays almost all folk instruments (flute, guitar, whistles, ocarina, hurdi-gurdi, tambourine, bass, etc.). He is a member of the ensemble Csutoras, and a student of JozsefBirinyi. He graduated from the Instrument craftsmen school of Budapest.

 TALLINN TEACHER`S HOME MUSIC TRIO

Tallinn Teacher`s home music trio has formed in the September of 1993. Its members Igor Tonurist (leader), ToivoTubli and Mati Viiul are the ex-members of a folk music ensemble “Leegajus” where they played for 22 years. This trio performs instrumental and vocal Estonian folk music in an authentic style. The trio plays in two Estonian zithers and violin, or violin, zither and rhythmic folk instruments. It is also possible to play in zither duo or violin duo (one would be imitating a bagpipe) and T.Tublisol violin and lyre (hiiukannel), as well as I. Tonurist Estonian Zither, bagpipe, jews harp (parmupili) and volad goat horn (sikusarv) imitations, and bagpipes. Both musicians playing zithers are using different playing technique.

Musicians repertoire includes ancient ritual dance tunes, the so-called software music (“shepherd and cows”, etc.), popular dances, improvisations and mixed style vocal-instrumental music, e.g. humorous imitations of bagpipe playing. Trio performs Estonian folk songs in an old and new rune style, as well as traditional men dances (“Dancing on the cross”, “Magpie dance”). Moreover, musicians tell stories and folk tales about folk musicians and their instruments (“Birth of the fiddle”, ”The devil makes the fiddle”, etc.). Igor Tonurist (b. 1947) is a researcher, ethnologist. He works in Estonian Academy of Science, Institute of History. His main scientific theme is folk instruments.

ToivoTuble (b.1949) and Mati Viiul (b.1957) works in the Estonian Academy of Science, Institute of Geology. T.Tubli is an engineer, and M.Viiul – the Deputy Director of the Institute.

As folk musicians they participated in the release of two record plates of the ensemble “Leegajus”. I. Tonurist participated in the recording of lira music in Sweden, where he performed folk songs. This trio has made a new Estonian folk music records in the Estonian Radio. I.Tonurist and. T.Tubli are also teaching how to play zither and folk fiddle in the folk instrumentalist’s biannual courses.

ANNIE AND ARTUS (Paris, France)

These are the actors, musicians, singers, whose repertoire consists of folk songs, street romances from the beginning of 20th century to the present day. Annie and Artus are also singing about the 50s, and they do that in the most beautiful way. They have developed the mechanical music genre to the level of street opera masterpiece (by playing “La Goualante de Mackie”). An excellent metallic timbre of the voice, accompanied by hurdy-gurdy, awakens the forgotten street beauty, Zola`s novels dramatic poverty pathetics, sidewalk misery which is not that far from us.

FOLK GROUP VERTYMNIEKI (Latvia)

In the very heart of Latvia, Vidzeme region, between the fabulous hills, located is a small but cozy town of Madona, where the group Vertumnieki come from. The members are constantly preparing for expeditions where they collect the material for their programs. Their repertoire includes many typical Vidzeme songs and melodies.

I am very pleased to say that this year Lithuania will be represented by the most experienced and authoritative folklorist and musician EvaldasVyčinas with his band “VISI”.

About all the other participants of “Griežynė 94” we will tell you in other “Music bars”. The festival initiators and hosts Ona Šaltytė, Arūnas Lunys and Algirdas Klova represents promoters: Vilnius city Department of Culture, Lithuanian Folk Culture Center, and Lithuanian Musicians Society. You are very welcome to “Griežynė 94” in Vilnius on 1-4 of September.

Festival programme:

09.01 Thursday

10.30 Press conference in Vilnius comena center "Skalvija“ (A. Goštauto str. 2/15)

11.00 Folk movie theater opening in Vilnius cinema center "Skalvija“

16.00 V. Daraškevičius, E. Onaitis, H. Gaičevskis photography, musical stamps, beer labels exposition opening and concert in gallery "Langas“ (Ašmenos str. 8)

19.00 „Meet and greet“ evening for participants in a restaurant "Senas grafas“(private event)

09.02 Friday

11.00 Folk movie theater in Vilnius cinema center "Skalvija“ (A. Goštauto str. 2/15)

11.00 Folklode workshop in Vilnius Artillery Bastion (Bokšto str. 20/18)

19.00 Festival "Griežynė 94“ opening contect in Vilnius Academy drama theater (Gedimino pr. 4)

09.03 Saturday

11.00 Folk movie theater in Vilnius cinema center "Skalvija“ (A. Goštauto str. 2/15)

Concerts of festival guests:

17.00 Gallery "Arka“ (Aušros vartų str. 7)

19.00 Vilnius University theater hall (Universiteto str. 3)

19.00 Ryšininkųculture palace hall (Šv. Jono str. 3)

20.00 Music club "Langas“ (Ašmenos str. 8)

20.30 Caffe "Arka“ (Aušros vartų str. 7)

09.04 Sunday

11.00 Folk movie theater in Vilnius cinema center "Skalvija“ (A. Goštauto str. 2/15)

16.00 The charity concert for the orphans ( Nemenčinės pi. 16)

20.00 Final concert of the festival in the hall of the National Philharmony(Aušros vartų str. 5)

Press and information center in Vilnius cinema center “Skalvija" during all festival days from 10.30 till 14.00

Photos

Recordings