|
"Sounds from Ukrainian steppes"
 "Kolo naszij chaty roste sadowina"  
.
.
.
.
New material based on archaic steppe songs in acoustic, unusual setting. The main idea of steppe singing is simplicity. The song is usually started and leaded by solo voice, which is later joined by another one or by the whole choir. Each voice has its own trail which it follows however it doesn't have to keep to it very closely. What's important it's got to create harmony with other voices. The singers usually improvise and from their creativity depends what the song will be like. Natural steppe acoustics is as important as one of the choir's member; it gives voices power and characteristic echo. This is a very special kind of folklore in which a human life is integral with Universe and the Universe is a part of human life. The ritual songs determine the never-ending ceremony, celebrated in order with the cosmic calendar. The older song is the stranger harmony sounds, the more ornaments it has. Hilka finds and then reproduces true jewels in the steppe folklore. Sometimes they work over one song even up to few years - this time is needed to find the real, unique sound. In order to perform it to audience, a song has to become a part of the artists, it has to run in their veins, they need to feel it in their souls. Hilka was created by people who could not live without folklore. They dedicated their lives and whole artistic potential to it. The material was recorded in natural acoustic environment. According to artists, it imitates echo heard over a steppe river. On CD - 15 minutes of music more. Bon appetite.
|
"Katiuszeczka - duszyczka"
"Oj u Pani za dworem"
spring procession
~~~~~~~~~~koka1@box43.gnet.pl~~~~~~~~~~
.
.
.
.
The material represents the essence of Ukrainian folklore and became the first (but not last) Koka's spiritual feast. Hilka is an exceptional ensemble. The musicians travel from village to village, collect ancient songs and learn the old singing techniques in order to reproduce it in the way it was done in old times. This results in material which is not similar in any way to folk transformed and produced by other bands using folklore only as an influence. "Hilka" doesn't use folklore to adopt it to something else or to make it more melodic, smoother and polished. They don't just reconstruct it, they help this music to survive through the "civilisation process".