Various Artists / Tamburitza! Hot String Band Music From The Balkans To America 1910-1950
Album: Tamburitza! Hot String Band Music From The Balkans To America 1910-1950   Collection:World
Artist:Various Artists   Added:Apr 2007
Label:Arhoolie Records  

Album Review
Professor Barnaby J. Finkerton
Reviewed 2008-04-04
Tamburitza! Hot String Band Music From The Balkans To America: 1910-1950
Various
CD 2

Second CD in the series of staccato string band music from the first half of the 20th century in the Balkans region. Very cheerful, almost ecstatically so. Gives a good indication of historical traditions of the Balkan region. Everything from fast, rousing dance pieces to slow, deliberate chanting set to music. Complex string interplay weaves with multi-part male and female harmony. Somewhat repetitive at times, and many of the tracks are very similar. Overall sound quality is poor, but these are recordings remastered from the first half of the 20th century, so this is to be expected. Nonetheless, makes for authentic feel. Overall an excellent CD, if a little repetitive, but very representative and peculiarly engaging. The following tracks I found to be of note:

1. Fast-paced instrumental with bobbing and weaving melody plucked on steel strings.
3. Another instrumental piece, somewhat slower, with changing tempo
4. Slow, 1-2, 1-2, older men singing in a reminiscing tone. Strings take background to vocals
*5. Two “dueling” strings make for an animated, upbeat instrumental piece with quaint, Eastern-European feel.
7. Pleasant, harmonious plucking precedes all-male trio with older-sounding voices. Mid-tempo
9. Bass keeps a steady 2/4 in the background as steel strings keep the melody and old men reminisce, perhaps holding each other’s shoulders and swaying in ouzo-induced revelry.
10. Pleasant ebb and flow of the strings’ simple melody takes center stage in this piece.
*11. Almost sounds like mariachi—the exception being that these men are speaking Greek. Strumming becomes more distinctly Hispanic.
*12. Complex, engaging melody meanders through the Greek countryside, with accompanying “Eepah!”s. Fast, but relaxing piece.
13. Bow instruments present staggered, break-filled array, with dual tenor male vocal harmonizing
*15. Bouncy piece shows the expressive power of string music, its ability to evoke a feeling through layered melody. Higher bow instruments accentuate lower dulcimer-like ones, and behind it all is a wandering guitar.
16. Four-part male harmony sings repetitive string of short words in rapid succession. Onomatopoeia?
18. Male vocalist sing a part, pause for a time, and resume, in unending cycle. Plucking strings take foreground over very-present bass.
*20. Instrumental, perplexing arrangement of a somewhat dark melody. Primarily plucked, but guitar in background provides strumming accompaniment. Mid-tempo.
21. Light, pleasing melody fit for a bike ride and a picnic in the hills of Czechoslovakia circa 1985. Instrumental piece with predictable but nevertheless enjoyable steel-string plucked melody.
23. Slow, 4/2 piece with old-timey feel. Plucking predominates, perhaps by as many as three instruments at a given time.
*24. Very typical of the genre, beginning slow and speeding up to feverish pitch. High-pitched and enthusiastic bow with plucking in background. Nice way to end the set.

Track Listing
 ArtistTrack Name
1. Jovanovic, Dulsan & His Tamburitza Orch Kockare-Mangupe
2. Adamov, Staich & Co. Dremala, Spavala
3. Verni's Troubadors Mujes Mala
4. Tamburitza Orchestra Ciri Miri Cica
5. Verni's Troubadors Micika Polka
6. Jovanovic, Dulsan & His Tamburitza Orch Ocemo Braco Da Idemo
7. Adamov, Staich & Co. Zenidba Meseca
8. Jovanovic, Dulsan & His Tamburitza Orch Dijpaj Djevojko
9. Kuharacev Mjeslovti Zbor U Osijeku Cuprija
10. Huszar & Miskovic Tamburitza Orch Moj Se Dragi Na Put Sprema
11. Tamburaski Zbor Mladi Doktore
12. Huszar & Miskovic Tamburitza Orch Pred Tvojom Sam
13. Miskovic Tamburitza Orch U Marice Beo Vrat
14. Santic, Paja B Kraj Vardara
15. Mimika, Joca S Ulice U Bastice
16. Mimika, Joca Ide Lola Vija Go Patrola
17. Mimika, Joca Vino Piju Lane
18. Mimika, Joca Majka Me Psuje
19. Tamburica Orchestra Arapsko Kukunjesce
20. Radivojic, Jovan El Meni Kazu Da Sam Prava Lola
21. Royal Serbian Tamburitza Orch Constantinople March
22. Mimika, Joca Kukuruzi Vec Se Beru
23. Tamburitza Orchestra Jeftanovicevo Koko
24. Sofka With Gypsy Orchestra Kolika Je Javorina Planina
25. Tamburitza Ensemble Of Ivan Kovacevic Backo Kolo
26. Stojanovic, Aneta Uranila Lepa Stana
27. Tamburitza Ensemble Of Ivan Kovacevic Koracina Juznigh Slavena
28. Milan Verni's Tamburitza Orchestra Sedam Sati Bije
29. Tamburitza Orchestra Javor Kolo
30. Kuharcev Mjesoviti Hbor Kosovo Waltz
31. Skertich Brothers Tamburitza Orchestra Haj Vinca, Vinca Ca
32. Kuharcev Mjeslovti Zbor Na Zdencu
33. Skertich Brotehrs Tamburitza Orchestra Sve Za Tvoju Ljubav
34. Skertich Brothers Tamburitza Orchestra Udona Sam Mlada
35. Balkan Tamburitza Orchestra La Paloma
36. Balkan Tamburitza Orchestra Erdejanka-Kolo
37. Kapugi Brothers Tamburitza Orch Ponoc Kad Dodje
38. Dave Zupkovich Orchestra Hey Tambu Re-Bop
39. Edo Lubich's Tamburitza Orchestra Sarajevka-Kolo
40. Balkan Recording Tamburitza Orchestra Oj Maricka Peglaj
41. Zupkovich, Dave Kraljevo Kolo
42. Tamburitza Orchestra Mene Majka Dje
43. Popovich Brothers Otvori Mi Mili Pile Vrata
44. Milan Verni Tamburitza Orchestra Vranjanka-Kolo
45. Milan Verni Tamburitza Orchestra Seljancia - Kolo
46. Zupkovich, Dave Tamburaska Potpura
47. Duquesne University Tamburitza Orchestra Worker's Greeting
48. Halik, John Malo Kolo