ABM -- Belarusian Recordings - Folk & Traditional Music

This File Last Updated: 2001/10/13

Belarusian Recordings: Folk & Traditional Music

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Kalyadi Songs traditional, pre-Christian, winter holiday songs
A large range of types of performances: from traditional unaccompanied voices to contemporary rock 'n roll groups. Performers include (not all are named in liner notes): Belarus State Chamber Choir (I. Matzukhova), Ensemble "Nerush," Ensemble "Pesnayarni," "Kryvi," Ensemble "Syabri," Irina Kurapatkina, "Novaye Neba," and "Palatz."
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (No. 08397) Source: Mensk, Belarus Kovcheg, Ltd., 1997

Khoroshky Byelorussian (Khoroshki; Belarusian) State Dance Ensemble
"The Company made its debut in 1974 with a programme incuding folk tunes and dances popular in Khoroshky. . . . " All tunes are traditional. Artistic Director: Valentina Gayevaya; Music Director: Iouri Pshenitchny. Instruments include the traditional Belarusian xylophone [tzimbali], dulcimer, violin, and bagpipes, as well as a few modern (electric) instruments. [from liner notes that are in Russian and English]
Format(s) Available: CD-ROM (ADD - No. K-097003) Source: Mensk, Belarus
Music on CD-ROM includes:
- Pages from Polatsk Manuscript 16th C. music, manuscript found hidden in wall of St. Sophia Cathedral, Polotsk
- Traditional Byelorussian Musik
Produced by: Kovcheg, Ltd. no production date noted

Note: They are performing in the western USA in January, 2002. See the calendar section for details (though the information there is not complete).

Kriwi - Hei - Loli - 1997
Kriwi - For the Fog - (Za Tumanam) - 1998
From the liner notes (Belarusian, English, & Russian): "Kriwi is an ancient tribe who came to the territory of Belarus from India thousands of years ago. It is a bearer of unique culture, some of which has been kept in some regions of Belarus to the present. From the old Indian language, Kriwi means a spring, or a sack of water. . . . The style of the music is art-folk, the ancient traditions of the guttural voice combined with a modern sound with elements of improvisation and the avant garde.. . . ."
Format(s) Available:
- Hei - Loli: CD-ROM & cassette tape (No. 06297; 1997) Source: Berlin Germany (see below) & Mensk, Belarus, Kovcheg, Ltd.; also available from Belarus Music Source and Belarusian Music Alternative.
- For the Fog (1998): cassette tape; Source: Berlin Germany (see below) & Mensk, Belarus, Kovcheg, Ltd.; also available from Belarus Music Source and Belarusian Music Alternative.
  Contact Information (Mensk):

Kupalinka: Folk Music of Belarus
15 tunes. Group is directed by A. Tzyal'kova.
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (No. 11298) Source: Mensk, Belarus Kovcheg, Ltd., 1998

Made in Belarus self-labeled as "Belarusian Disco"
Traditional folk music in Belarusian with electronic instrument accompaniment. Singers: Sophia and Ales' Loika; Oleg Ivanuga (tracks 6 and 12).
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (Vigma No. 1051); Dolby stereo (better quality material than the norm) Source: Mensk, Belarus
Produced by:

Musical Salon: Folk Music, First Release
17 tunes by the following groups: Kharoshky, Kypalinka, Cvyata, & the Belarus State Dance Ensemble.
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (No. 05597) Source: Mensk, Belarus; Copyright, Ministry of Culture, Republic of Belarus, and Kovcheg, Ltd., 1997

Nataliya Romanskaya & Kirmash
Arc Music Item Code: EUCD1504
Title: Nataliya Romanskaya & Kirmash - Songs & Dances from Belorussia
"Nataliya Romanskaya, a breathtaking vocalist, is one of the top singers in Belorussia and has been honoured as such with the "Award of Merit of Belorussia". Together with the folk music group Kirmash including the cimbalom-star Olga Mischula, all from Minsk, she presents a beautiful variety of the best-loved folk songs and dances from Belorussia. A very refreshing and entertaining CD indeed!"
"Tracklisting: 1. Kaljᠭaig㠺鲡ma (Near my House) - 4:17 2. ɨal J᳧ na kan頨Jaska's Ride) - 1:46 3. Vals }"{\b Solotyje g㲹 (Waltz "Golden Mountains") - 2:58 4. Oi, tam na gar頨There on the mountain) - 3:09 5. U l곥 kal� (There is a Kalina-tree in the meadow) - 2:23 6. Pastush㣫 (Shephard dance) (instrumental) - 2:26 7. Oi, szei ta kon'? (Who's is that horse?) - 1:51 8. Sv㮳zyki (Tinkling Bells) - 2:12 9. Sht㩠na n᳣haj na vꬩze (In our Street) - 1:50 10. Polka-tr㩫a (instrumental) - 4:23 11. Szym salj㮡e j� jᴩ (How Shall We Harvest the Wheat?) 12. T㮫aja sasj㮫a (Young Pine) 13. Fantasie (Fantasy about Belorussian themes) - 3:52 14. V鳺ar zj㭮y (Dark Evening) - 1:50 15. Jak hat鬡 mjan頭at' (Mother Wants to Get Me Married) - 2:32 16. Oi, k㴪atza dwa j᢬yszki (Two Rolling Apples) - 2:53 17. Sh鲡ja lashᤡszka (Gray Horse) - 2:51"
Link to Arc Music's Web site, including RealAudio excerpt from album. Note: The preceding comments and album notes come from the Arc Music Web site.

Nerush
Folk songs from the different regions of Belarus. 21 tunes.
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (No. 04797) Source: Mensk, Belarus; Copyright, Nerush, and Kovcheg, Ltd., 1997

Olga Mischula and Kermash
Arc Music Item Code: EUCD1477
Title: Olga Mischula and Kermash - The Art of the Belorussian Dulcimer
"Olga Mischula is an internationally acclaimed virtuoso of the Belorussian dulcimer (tsﭢal﩮 Together with Elena Govorko, violin, Pjotr Gloushtchouk, bayan (Russian accordion), Sergej Onishtchenko, double bass and Gennadij Stelmach, clarinet, jaleika and flute of the folk music group Kermash from Minsk she's created a lively and refreshing album of Belorussian folk music plus a couple of excursions to Cuba and into classical music. The booklet gives information about the musicians and their instruments in English, German, French and Spanish. Enjoy!"
"Tracklisting: 1. Belor곫ije tᮺi - Belorussian Dances 2. Gorjᣨaja p㬫a - Fast Polka 3. Derev鮳kij vals I p㬫a - Village Waltz and Polka 3. Brᴫa-belorus - Belorussian Brother 5. Polka "Dedauskaja" 6. Variations of a Folk Tune 7. Polka 8. Polka "D餵chka" (Trad.) - Polka "Grandfather" 9. Korobeiniki 10. Czardas 11. Ves鮮ajaja hora - Spring Hora 12. Carnival in Venice 13. "Kaljᠭaig㠣erama ..." - Near my House 14. Musical Pictures of Cuba 15. Introduction and Czardas 16. Polka"

Link to Arc Music's Web site, including RealAudio excerpt from album. Note: The preceding comments and album notes come from the Arc Music Web site.

Link to brief album review of CD on the Belarusians in Great Britain Web site.

Pesnyarok
A wide selection of Belarusian Rock groups, each one performs one tune from the repertoire of "Pesnary," one of the most popular groups that sang popular versions of Belarusian folk songs, usually in the style of harmony. Groups include: Lyapis Trubetzkoi, Pani Khida, N.R.M., Troitza, Tornado, Valik Grishko, Neiro Dubel', Otrazheniye, Hasta La Fillsta, Aleksei Shed'ko & Piit Pavlov, The Cranks, The Stokes, and Krama.
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (P R No. 0001); Dolby stereo (better quality material than the norm) Source: Mensk, Belarus
Produced by:

State Dance Company of Belarus
Ten tunes (names listed are in both Belarusian and English): Ternica, Country Games, Leafy Grove's Song, Two Quadrille-dance with Stools, Russian Dance, Jewish Dance, Swing, Ladies and Hussars, Vecharyna, and Lyavonikha.
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (No. 05197) Source: Mensk, Belarus, Kovcheg, Ltd., 1997

Sviata
National folk music and songs of Belarus, Palessya region. Artistic Director: Vasil' Kupriyanenka
Format(s) Available: cassette tape (No. 08698) Source: Mensk, Belarus, Kovcheg, Ltd., 1998

Syabry "is the most popular music group in Belarus performing Belarusian folk and contemporary music. The group formed in 1974 and today has transformed into Studio "Syabry." The task of the Studio lies in funding young talents, educating them with a high criteria of musical culture and giving them a possibility to reveal their talents. For this noble goal the Studio needs some sophisticated modern equipment, especially an Apple Power Mac computer and special software for music programming."
List of equipment they need Last Updated: April 9, 1995
For further information please contact:

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