The New Traditional Polish Folk Music Revival
The last decade has seen a revival of interest in traditional Polish Folk music amongst the younger, post-communist generation of Poles. Turning against the blandness of mass market pop music and the horrors of "Disco Polo" and the like, talented musicians have mined the veins of Polish traditional music and have revived this genre, imbuing it with a new verve and energy.
Perhaps the best known of these bands is Kroke, who are featured in their own right in the Music Room at the Bigos Bar.
Here, we will feature three more bands, three of the best "New" Traditional Polish Folk Music ensembles.
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Chudoba (Meager Possessions) was formed in 1993 by students from Wrocław who search for the musical cross-roads at which Polish, Lemkish, Slovakian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian music might meet. The eight members of Chudoba try to update this music for younger generations with fresh and sometimes surprising arrangements. They use only acoustic instruments (accordeon, flute, mandolin, dulcimer and guitars), and some of them work at a research center for the traditional arts at the University of Wrocław. |
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Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa (Warsaw Village Band) was founded in 1997 by six young people who play violin, suka (the ancient Polish fiddle), cello, and traditional Polish drums. The band digs deep into folklore and into the archaic sounds of their ancestors. They travel to small villages and visit old musicians to learn about traditions and habits. They select folk dance melodies, ballads and rural songs and perform them in a unique manner. |
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Muzykanci (Musicians) was founded in 1996. They say of their music, "Our repertoire is made up of songs and dance tunes that individual members found fascinating and introduced to the group. After playing each for some time in dances, parties and weddings to find its natural taste, we chose those that we became closest to to make our concert programs". Their first recording won the Grand Prix at Eurofolk 1999, the "Nowa Tradycja" ("New Tradition") Grand Prix 1999 and was the Folk Music Record of the Year 1999. |
Enjoy listening to some songs by these bands. Information on where you may buy their music follows.
Chudoba - Hajdukujemy
From the CD "Nasza Muzyka", 1998
Kamahuk Records
Chudoba -
Chudobnom Mnie Mama Miała
From the CD "Nasza Muzyka", 1998
Folktime EMI Records
Kapela ze Wsi
Warszawa - Ober Jasionowy
From the CD "Hopsasa Classic Polo", 1998
Kamahuk Records
Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa - Do Ciebie Kasiuniu
From the CD "Wiosna Ludu", 2001
Orange World Records OWCD 006
Kapela ze
Wsi Warszawa - Kto Się Zani
From the CD "Wiosna Ludu"2001
Orange World Records OWCD 006
Muzykanci - Polka Bez Nogę
From the CD "Muzykanci", 1999
Mediastat Poland
Muzykanci - Czekaj Janku
From the CD "Muzykanci", 1999
Mediastat Poland
More information about these Bands and the New Traditional Polish Folk:
Chudoba - Muzyka Ziemi Słowianskich (Flash)
Kapela ze Wsi Warszawa (Official Site)
Orange World Records - Label Site
Muzykanci at the Respect World Music Festival, Prague, 2002
Klub Gaia - Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczno-Kulturalne
Travellin' Companion - A Musical Journey to Poland (Weltwunder Records)
An A to Z of What's Happening on the Polish Folk Scene
You can buy these CD's at:
Terra Soundtralis Incognita (Lublin, Poland)