Stare snimke
Uns sind in diesem Blog schon einige alte Aufnahmen begegnet, die sehr gut die lange Tradition von Volks- und Autorenliedern in den Balkanländern dokumentieren. Sie werden von Musikern und Solisten vorgetragen, die damals sehr berühmt waren und uns einen tieferen Einblick in die Geschichte der Musik des Balkan vermitteln.
Die Kommentare zu den einzelnen Aufnahmen sind in Englisch – ich belasse es dabei.
A very nice version of an old Serbian patriotic song. Legendary primaš, vocalist, and band leader Dušan Jovanović recorded this track in 1925, with his „Orao“ tamburica orchestra. This song dates originally
to the Balkan Wars (1912-13), but it’s development can be traced to even earlier Serbian guerrilla songs from the regions of Old Serbia and Macedonia (an example being the song „Mrka četa“, which has similar lyrics and an identical melody). – Auf uns wirkt der flotte Geschwindmarsch heute eher erheiternd als patriotisch, fast wie eine Kuriosität aus längst vergangenen Zeiten.
A beautiful rendition of „Sagradiću šajku“ („Саградићу шајку“) by Serbian tenor Mijat Mijatović, likely accompanied by legendary Romani violinist Steva Nikolić and his orchestra. This was recorded in Europe, sometime between the World Wars. The song is based on the poem „Napraviću“ (Javor, 1881) by renowned Serbian poet Mita Popović (Мита Поповић), and was set to music by Serbian composer Jovan Paču (Јован Пачу).
This beautiful old Bosnian folk song (better known as „Čudna jada od Mostara grada“) was recorded in Chicago, Illinois, sometime after the Second World War by tambura legend Dave Zupkovich and his Balkan Recording Tamburitza Orchestra.
An absolutely breathtaking rendition of the famous Bosnian song „Emina“ by legendary violin virtuoso, vocalist, and bandleader Stevan Bačić-Trnda and his tamburica orchestra from Sombor, Serbia. This recording is one of Stevan Bačić-Trnda’s rare, post WWI, electrical recordings. It was made in Vienna,
85 years ago, on September the 18th, 1930. The song „Emina“ is known today practically worldwide and has become one of the most famous Bosnian sevdalinkas. The lyrics are based on a work by renowned poet Aleksa Šantić (Алекса Шантић) of Mostar. This version of the poem dates to 1903 and was later set to music by an as yet to be positively identified composer (at least as far as I’m aware).
A beautiful rendition by vocalist Edo Ljubić and the Kapugi Brothers tamburica orchestra of the famous song „Kad sam bio mlađan lovac ja „. The song is traditionally attributed to famed Serbian composer Marko Nešić of Novi Sad, but it was actually written and composed by Alojz Lesjak, a conductor from Šid and Vukovar.
This beautiful and seemingly forgotten song was recorded in Serbia before the First World War (circa 1913) by the Serbian folk orchestra of Boža Stojanović [Srpska narodna kapela Bože Stojanovića].
A great Hungarian style csárdás performed by legendary primaš and bandleader Dušan Jovanović and his „Orao“ Tamburitza Orchestra. This was recorded on August 8, 1927, in Camden, New Jersey.
„Стиго Шваба до Земуна“ is a famous old Serbian song from the First World War. The track ends with
a great version of Pašona kolo. Legendary primaš, vocalist, and band leader Dušan Jovanović recorded
this track in 1925 with his „Orao“ tamburica orchestra.
This rare gem features the orchestra of legendary tambura musicians Šanjika Grebenar and Nikola Panić (Tamburaška kapela Š.Grebenar i N.Panić). The song is a beautiful and rare variant of the popular tune „Čuješ Seko“ [it ends with a great kolo!]. This orchestra came from the town of Sombor, in Vojvodina, Serbia. It was recorded in Europe sometime between the World Wars.
This great early tamburica orchestra recorded sometime after the turn of the last century. – Gemeint sind die Jahre kurz nach 1900.
A beautiful arrangement of Isidor Bajić’s composition „Zračak viri kroz grančice“ („Зрачак вири кроз гранчице“) by tamburitza legend Milan Verni and his orchestra, recorded in New York, on January 28, 1941.
A beautiful rendition of Marko Nešić’s composition „Udovica“ („Bogata sam imam svega“) by legendary tambura musicians Stevan Zerbes, Ljubomir „Leo“ Baić, Joe Škornjak, and their „Balkan“ Tamburitza Orchestra (Tamburaško Društvo „Balkan“). This was recorded in New York, in 1918.
Serbian composer Marko Nešić’s beautiful song „Đuvegije gde ste gde ste“ is performed by Djoko Dokić and the Jorgovan Tamburica Orchestra.
A haunting rendition of an old South Serbian folksong by Belgrade tenor Milan Timotić, accompanied by the orchestra of legendary Roma violinist and bandleader Steva Nikolić. The unusual spelling of the word for „sun“ in the title (s’lnce) is somewhat archaic – possibly from a regional dialect (similar to Bulgarian „слънце“). The common spelling of the title would be „Ajde, sunce zajde“.
This haunting rendition of the old folk song „Rujna zora“ was recorded in Belgrade on the 23rd of April, 1911, by Baka Cicvarić and the legendary Cicvarići of Šabac, Serbia.
This hauntingly beautiful rendition of „Zorule“ was recorded in Belgrade during the winter of 1927
by famed Serbian tenor Mijat Mijatović, likely accompanied by Roma violinist Steva Nikolić and his orchestra.
A unique take on an old kolo (traditional circle dance) called Vranjanka (Врањанка) from the town of Vranje, in Southern Serbia. The label reads „Tubaphone with Orchestra“, but it almost sounds like bells
are being played. This was recorded in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1910.
Possibly the oldest known recording of this melody. It was probably made in the early 1910’s by Serbian baritone Rado Stojadinović with beautiful musical accompaniment by an unnamed Roma orchestra. –
Die Melodie kennen wir doch – richtig: von „Ruse kose curo imas“ (Die Mädchen haben rote Haare …), zum Beispiel gesungen von Danica Obrenic.
Tambura legend Marty Kapugi and his tamburitza orchestra perform a beautiful rendition of „Vinska pesma“ („Винска песма“), a famous song by renowned Serbian composer Isidor Bajić (Исидор Бајић)
of Novi Sad.
A powerful rendition of Isidor Bajić’s famous composition „Pesma Srpskih Sokolova“ („Песма Српских Соколова“) by Šule Radosavljević-Šapčanin and his orchestra from Šabac, Serbia, recorded in Belgrade
in November of 1927. The second half of this track is a wonderful Serbian folk dance called „Žikino kolo“ („Жикино коло“).
A beautiful rendition of „Poslušaću staru majku“, a song by renowned Serbian composer and tambura musician Marko Nešić, performed by tambura legend Mirko Kolesar and his Blue Danube Orchestra,
and featuring vocals by Nick Brozovich.
Legendary primaš and tenor Vlado Marjanović recorded this duet with rhythm guitarist and baritone vocalist Drago Ilkić in New York, in the summer of 1912. This track ends with an amazing instrumental „Kokonješte“.
A beautiful rendition of an old Bosnian song performed by legendary vocalist and tambura musician Edo Ljubić, accompanied by the Balkan Tamburica Orchestra directed by Martin Kapugi. Recorded in Chicago on December 16, 1941. Band members included Martin Kapugi, Adam Kapugi, Louis Kapugi, Frank Kapugi, Djoko Dokić, and Milovan „Mel“ Dokić (Violin).
This gorgeous rendition of the famous song „Mislio sam da je život“ („Мислио сам да је живот“)
was recorded in Chicago, on December 15, 1941, by legendary tamburaš, vocalist, and bandleader Martin Kapugi and his Balkan Tamburitza Orchestra. The band was popularly known as the Kapugi Brothers
(or Braća Kapuđija) although Frank Kapugi is not present on this session. The song (actually a tango) was written and composed by Serbian poet Dragutin B. Ilić (1910—1933). The original title of the song was „Ispovest jedne skitnice“ („Исповест једне скитнице“). The lyrics are rather dark and are written from the perspective of a young man dying of tuberculosis and reflecting on his short life. And in fact, the author of the song did succumb to this terrible disease when he was in his early twenties.
This is the „Jugoton“ record company’s original 1960 release of the now world famous song „Jutros mi
je ruža procvetala“ (“My Rose Blossomed This Morning”), featuring vocalist Milica Popović Milutinović accompanied by the orchestra of renowned musician and composer Miodrag Todorović Krnjevac (1924-1991). This hauntingly beautiful song is thought by many to be a traditional folk song, but it was actually written and composed in 1959 by Petar Tanasijević (b.1932), a multitalented singer, songwriter, and composer from Belgrade, Serbia.
This beautiful old song was recorded in the 1920’s by the Adamov and Co. tamburica orchestra.
Djoko Dokić was one of the greatest tamburica musicians of the 20th century. He played with all the greats and was one of the founding members of the famous „Jorgovan“ orchestra.
This beautiful instrumental, composed in the style of a Turkish march, was recorded in New York on the 29th of March, 1918, by legendary violinist and bandleader Stevan Zerbes and his „Balkan“ Tamburica Orchestra (Tamburaško Društvo „Balkan“). The title of the tune, „Turski rastanak“ („Турски растанак“), translated here as „Turkish farewell“, recalls the departure of the last detachment of the Turkish garrison from the Belgrade Fortress on the 24th of April, 1867.
The song „Rado ide Srbin u vojnike“ (or „Graničarska pesma“) was written by Serbian prota Vasilije Vasa Živković (1819-1891). The music was based on an instrumental medley of folk motifs called „Barona Jovića marš“, composed by Antonije Jahimek of Pančevo. It was from this medley that Serbian composer Nikola Đurković (1812-1875) drew the melody for „Rado ide Srbin u vojnike“ and harmonized it for male chorus. The song was first performed in 1844 in the Pančevo theater where Đurković worked as manager, director, actor, singer, interpreter and composer. Tchaikovsky used this melody in his „Slavonic March in B-flat minor, Op. 31″, also commonly known by it’s French title „Marche Slave“. This recording was made in America, circa 1930, by Vlado Konstantinović and the „Banat“ tamburica orchestra.
The great Serbian baritone Rasha Radenkovich accompanied by the Popovich Brothers Tamburitza Orchestra.
A beautiful rendition of „Ђурђевска кишица“ (St. George’s Day Rain), a famous song by renowned Serbian composer and tambura musician Marko Nešić (1873-1938). This recording was made in New York, on October 18, 1926, by Dušan Jovanović and his „Orao“ tamburica orchestra.
This beautiful old song „Ој, чићи, опанчићи“ („Геџо, Србине“) was recorded between the World Wars by vocalist Dobrica Grozdanović of Leskovac, Serbia.
This great old number ends with a beautiful kokonješte. It was recorded in New York, in 1925, by legendary primaš, vocalist and band leader Dušan Jovanović and his „Orao“ tamburica orchestra. Today the song is more commonly titled „Kapetan Koča putuje“.
This beautiful old folk song is known in one form or another throughout the Balkans. This particular version (also known as „Savila se bela loza vinova“) comes from Serbia and is usually played with a steady tempo for dancing. Variations of the song can also be found in areas of Bosnia, Croatia, Montenegro, Macedonia (FYROM), and Bulgaria. This was recorded in France, in the 1920s, by Serbian baritone Božidar Mitrović accompanied by legendary Roma violinist Paja Nikolić and his orchestra.
A beautiful rendition of „Crnogorac, Crnogorki“ („The Montenegrin Man to the Montenegrin Woman“)
by tenor Josip Batistić, with orchestral accompaniment conducted by Charles Adams Prince. This was recorded in Camden, New Jersey, on May 1st, 1924. This famous old song (also known by the title „U boj,
u boj, Crnogorko“) was composed in the 1870’s by renowned Croatian composer, conductor, director, and teacher Ivan Zajc. The lyrics are from a poem of the same name („Crnogorac, Crnogorki“, Danica, 1862)
by Serbian poet Đura Jakšić (Ђура Јакшић).
An amazing rendition of the famous old Bosnian folk song „Srdo moja, ne srdi se na me“, recorded
circa 1913 by the Serbian folk orchestra of Boža Stojanović (Srpska narodna kapela Bože Stojanovića).
The earliest known lyrics of this song were collected and published in 1824 by Serbian philologist and linguist Vuk Stefanović Karadžić (1787—1864), who’s collections of folk songs, poetry, and fairy tales were very popular and widely read both at home and abroad. Renowned Serbian poet Jovan Ilić (1824—1901) was greatly inspired by Karadžić’s work in this field and even quoted lines from „Srdo moja“ in his poem „Sonet“ (1895). The song has only grown in popularity since the turn of the 20th century, and today it can still be heard being performed in virtually the same manner that Boža Stojanović recorded it over a century ago.