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More than a decade ago...
More than a decade ago, some young people - scientists and students - joined their efforts in order to research the ancient history and culture of our land, experimental research in the realm of archaic singing heritage being a branch of the work. An ethnographic expedition had been launched; in the course of field work direct contacts with living keepers of ancient tradition were made, audio and video recording was performed. Co-operation with ethnic musicologists and folklorists during the decade-long work allowed to single out and to imitate the peculiarities of ancient manner of singing. GUDA performers practice "gîlasny speu" ("vocal singing", the term by ethnic musicologist Mrs. Z. Mazhejka) which has roots in loud singing en plain aire. Basic aesthetic criterion in performing is the ability to "lead out loud" (prolonged singing with deep breath) and "raise up" the song (singing with sonorous thorax lining). Plurality of sounds is characteristic to vocal singing, these sounds are linked in an organic way into melodic line of the tune (glides in ascents and descents, voice trembling, long and short pronouncing of some emphasized phonemes - thus spring -summer cycle songs, majority of wedding and natal songs are performed). The basis of GUDA play-list are ritual songs, most archaic stratum of folk culture. Many songs are out of everyday use already - they have been renewed according to note records. All songs are performed a capella. Conceptual foundation of the band's first CD is traditional calendar. An ancient year used to begin on the 1st of March (old months could disaccord with modern ones). Observation of astronomical phenomena that our forefathers carried out permitted to define precisely the beginning and the end of calendar cycles. Songs linked to ancient holidays are remnants of the old world which lies deep down the consciousness of everyone who originates from this land. |