I wish I was overwhelmed by this year’s contest section of New Tradition Festival. The Grand Prix I cannot question. Agata Siemaszko and Kuba "Bobas" Wilk indeed proved outstanding artistry. The twenty five year old singer conjoined forceful voice with playful interpretation of lyrics and unusual body talk. The repertoire selected for the final concert resonated with the artists’ image.
Watch, listen and judge for yourself.
Yet most stunning were the root performances by countryside musicians invited by Andrzej Bieńkowski, painter and author of “Music Rediscovered”, short programmes cycle showcasing forgotten music culture of Polish countryside. The concert’s main theme was wedding with all its rituality. Bieńkowski managed to revive traditions slowly taken over by modern living. I listened to wedding compositions, while mourning over something inevitably passing away. At least in everyday agenda music becomes less and less a communal activity.
Choirs of singers from Polesie in Ukraine and Gałki Rusinowskie in Radomskie voivodeship guided the audience through interesting moments of wedding ceremonial. Song sung when the bride is an orphan was very moving. The lyrics are simple. The whole community is your family.
Franciszek Racis, born in 1923, was awarded with Roots Phonogram Award. He slowly approached the scene to receive his prize, accompanied by two younger musicians offering their arms. The more surprising was the energy he shared with the audience as soon as he started playing the violin. Gladly youngsters offering their arms were also fellow musicians of Franciszek Racis. The tradition will hopefully be preserved. Let’s not make the mistake of forgetting it, as our cover alarms.
Biweekly#19. Editor: Agnieszka Słodownik. Cover by surdabs. Published 13 May, 2011 at 16:59.
