The Session: Tunes - Vo Vel'basi (jig)

Slovak folk tune

This is a traditional Slovak tune I learnt while playing with the Slovak group Keltieg. You have to imagine it with a driving fiddle & viola rhythm and lots of slapping of the thighs!

# Posted on June 19th 2007 by cferrie

So what is its' relevance to an Irish music website ?

# Posted on June 19th 2007 by Kenny

To second generation Irish-Slovaks? :-/

Sorry Kenny, a peculiar experiment in mixing took place tonight ~ Breton cider and Austrian rum ~ Whew!!!

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Note: it didn't cure the hayfever or asthma, except that at this moment I couldn't give a damn that I'm suffocating... ;-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Variety is the spice of life so bring these tunes on. Perhaps, broadening the scope of the tunes in here a little (not too much) might give folk ideas for their own music. We already have in the database, along with the Irish music, Scottish, Welsh, English, Breton, Cape Breton, American, Galician, Israeli, Scandinavian (of all hues) and, of course, a sizeable amount of original Italian tunes from Gian Marco, and that is just for starters. Slovakian tunes are a welcome addition in my mind. Thank you cferrie.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm

There's nothing worse than a meal with too much spice.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by slainte

No real relevance for hard core Irish trad players indeed, but a nice tune anyway. Gypsie music?
Can you give us a source for a recording, or at least some hints on rythm and speed?

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by swisspiper

"Keltieg" ~ Traditional celtic music in Slovakia

http://www.keltieg.sk/
http://worldmusiccentral.org/artists/artist_page.php?id=1228

~ & the band is:
Iveta Vojtušová & Zuzana Došeková ~ fiddles
Barbora Kolářová ~ flute
Michal Tőlgyessy ~ guitar & bodhran
Roman Kozák ~ bodhrans, tamboril, pandeireta, pandeiro ~ various percussion
Thomas Neďelka (CZ) - whistle, flute, bombarde & highland bagpipes

3 recordings, but from1999 & 2002 ~ availability?

What do you mean no relevance to Irish music? Look at those Irish names, and this is what we keep going on about with regards to pan-Celtic ~ it exists... There are pockets of it all over the place. I mean, if you're a member here it should be obvious by now shouldn't it? 8-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

"This Slovak band, known for European traditional folk music was created in 1998 as an international association of musicians from Great Britain, France, Brittany and Slovakia. These musicians, in an open musical association, played together first as a band in Slovakia. Inspiration came by way of Celtic traditions and Slovakian traditional music. Their repertoire includes not only their own compositions, but also tunes and songs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Brittany, Galicia, Asturia, Italy, Sweden, Macedonia, Czech Republic, Moravia and arrangements of Slovak popular songs. ~ "

The above is from the second link given above... I forgot to add it... :-/

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Recording: "Keltieg"

http://www.thesession.org/recordings/display.php/403

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

"The Slovak Spectator: Slovak News you can Trust"

Slovakia's English Language Newspaper...

"Steering Celtic revival away from Disneyland: Promotion of Celtic heritage in Slovakia seeks e nthusiasm, not craze"

By Zuzana Habšudová, Culture Editor

THE WARLIKE Celts are the oldest known nation in central Europe. From their original homeland, bordered by the Rhine river, the Alps and the Czech Šumava region, they spread to Ireland in the west, Ukraine and Poland in the east, and Spain and Italy in the south. During the first wave of expansion, in the 5th century BC, they settled in the Carpathian basin, which forms part of modern-day Slovakia.

These 'eastern Celts', moving from today's Czech Republic, concentrated around Slovakia's current capital, Bratislava. There they forged silver coins emblazoned with the portraits of their rulers, which are among the most beautiful works of the historic Celtic world, says archaeologist Karol Pieta.

"Even though we cannot directly link modern Slovakia with the Celtic world from two millenniums ago, because there were other nations [Germans, later Slavs] living on this territory in between, the developed Celtic culture is part of our historical heritage, a message we have to protect and continue," says Pieta.

Until recently, those interested in learning about local Celtic history had to dig out the facts from museums, while those interested in modern Celtic culture had to travel abroad.

But that is no longer the case. In 1998, local Celtic enthusiasts formed the Keltieg band, which performs traditional Celtic music in Slovakia.

~ etc., etc., etc...

Archaeologist Pieta agrees that the promotion of Celtic culture should be improved around the country, but at the same time warns of enthusiastic extremes.

"Celt-mania is 'in', people around the world are going crazy about it. While it's good that there's somebody promoting it, we also need to restrain the enthusiasts who seem to be more Celtic than Slovak.

"However, it's not just Celtic culture that lacks historical consciousness. It's also Slovak culture. We don't yet have the right attitude to historical memorials. We either destroy them with concrete or turn them into Disneyland."

What's wrong with Disneyland? ;-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Rinceoirí ~ more of those inscrutable aliens stealing our culture ~

http://www.rinceoiri.cz/cz/ ~ CZ!!! There is no escaping it.

I can't stop lauging that Hiro worries about too much spice. Maybe we should purge it of all foreign influences, especially from those really alien places the big three 'As' ~ Africa, Asia and America? We could have bouncers at the door ~ "I'm sorry sir, you are obviously Japanese, we don't serve Japanese here, and we definitely don't let them play Irish music, besides, anyone that eats raw fish and ginger shouldn't play a mouth blown instrument anyway ~ so buzz off..." ;-)

Too spicy, that from someone from Japan... I can't stop, my sides are splitting... :-D

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Song air

This sparks the memory and the senses as a song air, not a dance tune... Swisspipers reference to Gypsy is close to my sense of it, and/or Klezmer, but I'm not going to make a major search for it, that is for cferrie to do...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

I'm still waiting for an answer to my question, and I was asking cferrie.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Kenny

Kenny...

...sorry, I've been offline since I posted the tune. I didn't expect to get so many responses so quickly.
I'm an Irish expat living in Slovakia and I've been playing with these guys for the last year. Their commitment to the music and culture of the "Celtic" nations is incredible and has afforded me the opportunity to continue playing the music I love during my (partially) self-imposed exile.
It has also been a huge learning experience and has broadened my view of the links between the different folk musics of Europe.
Whether you subscribe to the pan-Celtic idea or not there is a long tradition of interaction and borrowing between different musical traditions.
Keltieg's rendition of this tune moves away from the traditional Slovak dance rhythm and turns it into something more closely resembling an Irish or Scottish tune complete with fiddles, flute, bodhran and now, my banjo. Unfortunately they haven't recorded this yet but if you find yourself in Bratislava on a Wednesday night make your way to the Dubliner pub and you might hear this and more.
More up to date info on the band is available at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=161968963

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by cferrie

Rhythm

swisspiper - the speed of the midi file is probably a bit fast. Imagine it a bit slower but with a viola playing chords at double time behind the fiddle melody.
ceolachan - the tune is both a song and a dance - the two go together in Slovak folk music. Typically the group is a four piece of fiddles, viola and a cello type instrument which is strapped on and played standing up. Sometimes there is a gajda (pipes) as well. The melody will be played through a couple of times and then a verse will be sung, by one or more of the musicians before continuing with the melody.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by cferrie

I like the tune - and even if it doesn't conform to the norms of ITM, it wouldn't be out of place as a snippet in Riverdance.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by nicholas

Thank you for your reply cferrie. I'll leave it at that. Good luck to you and your band.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Kenny

Yes, ditto, a lovely tune!!!

Thanks cferrie, I see you got my email. Is there a recording? I trawled your website but didn't find an MP3, but I did find some bad recordings, rough on the ears, on YouTube, but because the audio quality was so poor didn't add them here.

Sorry Kenny, the only answer to your comment was the cheeky one under the influence of hayfever medication and alcohol last night, when I was suffocating and coudn't sleep or even lie down, not that I need an excuse... I had also asked cferrie about this tune but via email...

With the rest of the comment above I wasn't even thinking about you Kenny, sorry, but I wasn't answering your question specifically...or at least didn't really have it in mind, but now that I look back over it all, I guess some might see a connection? C'est la vie...so much connection and yet so much confusion... :-/

I was thinking wasabi, dark soy, pickled ginger, go figure, can't see a direct connection to you there Kenny, but sorry if I upset your request... It was not my intention...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

More than just a shallow interest ~

Relevant? ~ I spent some time recently in Austria, where I was very pleasantly surprised by their awareness and respect for strong 'Celtic' ties, and ALSO ~ with regards to Slovenia and Slovakia, and I visited some of the digs and walked and explored areas considered 'Celtic', including past religiously and politically significant areas... I was also supposed to make a very long trip to a festival in Slovakia, music and dance, but the hours involved we decided to put that trip on hold for another time.

So, this connection, this tune, particularly interested me, and is familiar. My curiosity in history and music is not limited to these isles...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

"What do you mean no relevance to Irish music?" ~ Oops,! cheek again. I only just looked back and saw I'd said that, but really, I was thinking Japanese, honest, wasabi on the brain and tongue. I wasn't going to say anymore at all after that first flippant response, waiting to hear back from cferrie, until 'spice' came into the discussion, via 'slainte', not you, but I guess some of the cheek and state of mind last night, spilled over.

It still wasn't about you, but I know what it is to take things personally... Again, apologies... I usually only tease people I like, or who I suspect can take it. Sometimes I get it horribly wrong, not new eh... :-/

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

No apologies necessary at all, ceolachan. It's just that I believe Jeremy's purpose in setting up this website was to allow people to share traditional music from Ireland.
"wouldn't be out of place as a snippet in "Riverdance" ! - not much of a recommendation that, I would have thought.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Kenny

Now Kenny, you have posted more Scottish tunes than me (Including John Morrison of Assynt House fairly recently). Why should Scottish stuff be included but Slovak stuff not? I understand that there are greater ties between Scotland and Ireland than either has with Slovakia but Scottish is still not Irish. Surely it is just limited to music that you might hear in a session and you might hear this tune in a session, particularly if you go to Slovakia! I might try to introduce it to Dundee in order to 'legitimise' it!

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm

I haven't found any reference on the website limiting it to Irish tunes but I did find this on the homepage...

"The exchange of tunes is what keeps traditional Irish music alive. This website is one way of passing on jigs, reels and other dance tunes.

Some of the tunes are well known, and some are more obscure. It's this mixture of the familiar and the new that makes for a good session"

If it makes you feel any better, before we play our Slovak set we play a rousing set of Morning Star/John Brennan's/Star of Munster which goes down very well with the audience here.

(btw I wasn't too impressed with the Riverdance comment either :-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by cferrie

"RIVERDANCE" ~ AAAAAAA!!!

OUCH! You know obviously know me better than I know you, just the mention of "Riverdance" has my stomach in a knot and beads of sweat rising from the start of an anxiety attack as my body goes overload into flight mode... AAAAA!!! :-(

But, I have to admit a slight smile rises when I see the Eastern side of Europe making contribution here, maybe it's all that slivovic, good and bad, I've drank, or being spit on in Kosovo, or the great cheeses and wines in Llubljana or just Macedonian in general, and the food, or those Russians that keep raising their head here ~ Nah, it's the people, and all the smiles I've had because of their good humour. I love it that they play Irish and Scottish music and the like, 'Celtic', and to see a little bit of their own presence show here in a tune, well, it makes me smile. I don't think they've a hope of swamping the site. Jeremy slapped my hand when I had a week of Welsh tunes. I had to explain there was a purpose and a limit on what I'd amassed to share...

Even so Kenny, I favour your contributions more than the Eastern stuff. Damn, you're from Aberdeen, your stuff is Eastern too, damn... ;-)

cferrie, I have it on good authority, Kenny's a whoos, or in other words, a really sweet and generous guy... He probably doesn't want anyone to know, so keep it to yourself...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Oh yeah, maybe this will make him blush ~ I've also been told he's a damn fine musician too, and that's before you add up all the hard work he puts into supporting tradition in his community... Even mentioning "Riverdance", and consequently making me wretch, won't get him on my bad books...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Alarum ~ take it to Aberdeen...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

6/8?

Is this tune really in duple 6/8? The way the notes are grouped is strange. I'm not really sure how to approach it.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by muspc

Sorry about this, but.............

Sorry to go off-topic here, but I’ve just about had enough of “No Cause For Alarm”.
You take me to task because I’ve posted more Scottish tunes than you ? Let’s have a closer look at that.
Here are the Scottish tunes I posted and the reasons for posting them:

“John Morrison Of Assynt House” – posted by me because the original poster had a wildly incorrect version of it.

“Nana’s Walkabout” & “Linden Rise” – both posted in memory of Johnny Cunningham.

“Dr. McInnes’ Fancy” – posted in memory of Tony Cuffe.

“Scalloway Lasses” – in answer to a request.

“Alex Campbell’s” – a Dougie McLean reel posted after identifying another of Dougie’s tunes posted by “The Phantom Button”.

“Tom Clark’s Trip To Russia” – the only Scottish tune I’ve posted for no other reason than it’s tune I like.

I’ve posted a total of 7 Scottish tunes, apart from the various corrections I’ve made in “Comments” to inaccurate transcriptions mainly of Scottish pipe-tunes.

I posted 1 definitely non-Irish tune – “Aires De Pontevedra”, again in answer to a request. I could also point out that it’s been recorded by Sharon Shannon, Pat Kilbride & John Williams [“Kips Bay Ceili Band”], and “Lunasa”. 2 tunes I posted came from the playing of the Belfast group “Curlew” – they are possibly Galician/Asturian but no-one has been able to identify them.

That makes a total of a maximum of 10 non-Irish tunes out of 237. In every single case, I’ve detailed the source of the tune, and as much as I know about it, that’s 227 from Irish musicians or recordings of Irish players.

“No Cause For Alarm” has posted 9 tunes, 6 of them are Scottish, and the other 3 are recent compositions by Irish musicians living in Scotland.

In absolute terms, yes, I have posted more Scottish tunes than you – 7 to 6, but I’ve also posted 227 Irish-sourced tunes to your 3. Work out the percentages for yourself.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Kenny

Respect!

Are you having a bad day? You don't need to defend yourself, there are plenty of us willing to voice our appreciation, respect and support ~ and with an awareness of how ready you are to help if someone needs it... I hope you realize that and don't take any of my cheekiness or ribbing to heart, as once happened. (I promise you, I felt worse about the repercussions of that 'Southpark' reference than you did... :-( )

Oh yeah, with regards to me, if you want to really stick in the knife and give it a good ol' twist ~ and this is going to hurt, but here's the ammunition to send me into fits ~ mention "Lord of the Dance" or "Celtic Tiger".... Unnnh!

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

I have a bunch of folk songs from Okinawa I'd like to post. I know they play Irish music in Okinawa because I went to an Irish session there once. That obviously means that their music has a connection to the music that's played in sessions in Ireland. There's a bit of a problem in that the tunes don't fit into a regular time signature, but I'm sure I'll get round that. Wish me luck!

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Dow

I've already done that, you just haven't found them yet, maybe it was the wrong dialect or I didn't get the spelling in English right? So, if you still want to you're welcome, you could add them in the 'comments'... :-/

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

I dare you!!! 8-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

And before you tell me that Okinawans aren't Celtic, they are. I read that we're basically all the same, and every single one of us is descended from like Africans or something. I think this site needs more World Music, not less. Has anyone got "Boheme" by Deep Forest? Brilliant album.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Dow

And I was afraid that adding Orange tunes would get me in trouble...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

~ Tuvan anybody?

I think I've got a few hundred Playford tunes, 1500s to 1800s, and there's all those others, and we haven't nearly tapped out the 1800s, and then there's all those lovely Praetorius and Susato dance tunes,etc... Oh yeah, there are a few of those floating about on site here aren't there...

Nah, something new and fresh that nobody's done yet? Damn, I've got it. I've a whole album of Tuvan music, that'd make a big splash, just the inspiration for new forms that Irish sessions are always looking for. I can see it now... You do the Okinawan and I'll do the Tuvan... Nah, I can't, I've got all these requests I have to do, all sadly Irish, well, mostly Irish... :-(

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Yeah, Irish music is boring. Can someone transcribe some Indian ragas, please? They might not be played in sessions, but they *could* be, and that's the thing - they could *potentially* be played in sessions. I hate all these snobs who are against different kinds of music. They're obviously racist. Maybe it's because they're so crap at music that all they can play is Irish tunes, and they don't even have the skill to play the Slovak stuff.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Dow

Nah, they tried that, remember, Jeremy axed it because it was too long...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

That was last month wasn't it, this year anyway, remember, the site went down... ;-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Pity the abc on this site doesn't allow for multiple staves. I want to submit Carl Orff's Carmina Burana. We play that in sessions I go to, and we sing along to it as we play. The punters love it! I thought that people here might appreciate a transcription so that they, too, can enjoy playing it at their session.

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Dow

Yeah, and that all time old favourite Pachelbel's Canon...

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Easy to transpose to a good key for all session instruments too, much better for that than the Orff piece of the Ragas..

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Na, Pachelbel is too trad-sounding. You might be accused of duplication, as there is already a very similar tune in the database http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/487.

What about some U2 songs? Can't say that's not Irish. I'll do "An Cat Dubh".

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by Dow

SUBVERSIVE ELEMENTS AT THE SESH ~

Back to this concern, which rises up every once in awhile. I think this small approachable melody is the only Slovak one on site at the moment, and the Russians, the usual suspects, have been quite lately. The Swiss haven't been too bad either, but there is that fiel and his Klezmer contributions, but I'm not worried, if it gets out of hand Jeremy is no fool and has dropped the sword before, but, there are more insidious problems on TheSesh, and as they say, the real worry is always closer to home, the enemy within, and the following is proof of that, a growing presence larger and more pervasive than anything from the East ~

http://www.thesession.org/members/display/4763

I mean, isn't that English diddly stuff? That is truly scary. I bet they even play English Concertina and live in Australia. What is happening? Are we all doomed? Is there any hope?

8-) ~ you wouldn't punch a weakling asthmatic wearing glasses would you? Come on folks, it's a joke... Don't be so serious... Uh oh, I think I'd better run off and hide with the Russians and other Easterners...

http://eng.davno.ru/cards/

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

I still like this tune! It would segue quite naturally into song tunes like "Master McGrath" and "All Things Were Quite Silent". It's modally kosher.

But yes, the English concertinas are coming! Those who ridicule them will be put to confusion by those who can actually play them!

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by nicholas

Ah yes, nicholas, Psalm 70, verse 2:

"Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul; let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt."

The english concertina as a metaphor for one's *soul* is going a bit far, though, isn't it?

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by benhall.1

It had better not be identical with the soul, because that would mean I possess neither..

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by nicholas

You mean you have no English Concertina, nicholas?! Did you sell it to the Devil? Or swap it for a golden fiddle perhaps?

Mmmmm?

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by benhall.1

Damn (I've got to give up the swearing), I just realized ~ Northumberland ~ it's in the East... :-/

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

Psalms 70: 4 ~ Let those who say "Aha!" turn back in their shame.

New American Bible ~ 8-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by ceolachan

SUFI

I have some very elegant turkish sufis,-if you like? ;-]

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by fiel

Sufi 2

Would Ross Daly be considered "salonfähig" [persona Grata], here? He's Irish isn't he?
He has recorded beautiful turkish stuff with a touch of Celtic in http://cretashop.gr/br/productsbr/cdbr/aeradaly.htm
I HAVE IT IN ABC!!!!

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by fiel

some of it anyway! I have a beautiful Beyati semai, And only post it here after much and deebfelt attemts to persuade me to do so. ;-)

# Posted on June 20th 2007 by fiel

Cferrie ~ Dow has put his case very eloquently here ~

http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7382/comments

# Posted on June 21st 2007 by ceolachan

What no Northumbrians

I wish to protest in the strongest possible way that in the list of Non-Irish nations listed as having music on this site, the Northumnbrians were not listed.

genetic research has shown that they are most definitely NOT celtic but they still have many excellent tunes which I am pleased to say this site has consistently recognized.

Noel
Angels of the North

# Posted on June 24th 2007 by noelbats

My apologies Noel - I guess I lumped you in with the English - a most grievous crime for which I will self-administer a flogging forthwith.

There have been a number of strong cultural links between Scotland and Northumbria throughout history however, be you Celtic or not, such as the links/' philosophical wars' between the monasteries of Iona and Lindisfarne (was it Lindisfarne?) (e.g. Synod of Whitby). I am sure the music has had many cross influences too.

Anyway, no need to get in a tizz when this thread is about a Slovak tune which is outside the British Isles altogether.

:-D

# Posted on June 25th 2007 by No Cause For Alarm

Viva la Northumbrians! 8-)

# Posted on June 25th 2007 by ceolachan

The offspring of invading hordes...

# Posted on June 25th 2007 by ceolachan