Slovinka zo Sloviniek Rusyn Folk Music

Tetka's House

SLOVINKA zo SLOVINIEK
NEW! Folk Songs recorded in Slovinky located in the eastern region of the Slovak Republic. Gain new insight into our Slovak and Rusyn heritage with 37 folk songs, believed to have originated in Slovinky, Slovakia. Included free with the songs are rather loosely translated English Sing-along versions of the lyrics on the two albums described below. Original lyrics in early 1900's Slovinky "ponasomu" Rusyn dialect are also included.
... more about Slovinka zo Sloviniek and the albums.

SVN-401 Volume I, General Songs

SVN-401 Slovinka zo Sloviniek, Vol.1 contains 15 general songs-- 1-3 address the heartbreak of the emigrant and those he left behind; 4-15 are about village life including curses on a fickle lover.

The song titles are actually the first few words of the song, and are loosely translated into English.
Volume 1

To hear a short sample of the music, click on the titles below. There will be a little wait--please bear with it.
As a SlovakWas Leaving Home
Under a Tall Fir Tree--Vysoka Jedlicka

Ket Se Slovjak do Cudziny Poberal (As a Slovak Was Leaving Home);
Ej Ket Ja Isla Vcera (As I was Going Homeward);
Kanada Je Rozsirena (Canada Is Very Wide);
Vysoka Lisocka (A High Tree);
Vysoka Jedlicka (Under A Tall Fir Tree);
Boze Boze (Lord, Lord);
Zdaleka Ja Poznam (I Can Recognize My Sweetheart From Afar);
Ale Si Muj Mily (Although You Are My Sweetheart);
Titi Lom Bom (Titi Lom Bom);
Ach Hanicko Nase (Ach, Our Annie);
Parubci se Zente (Young Men Get Married);
Spite Lude Spite (Sleep, People, Sleep On);
Poracaska Dolina (The Porac Valley);
Paci Se Mi (My Sweetheart Pleases Me);
Ej Skare Ta (Oh, Curse You);

For your additional enjoyment, free lyrics sheets in both the Slovinky dialect, Rusyn, and the English version are included with each CD or cassette.

This recording is available as
SVN-401 Vol.1 CD
or SVN-401 Vol.1-T Cassette

To Price List and Ordering Info

SVN-402 Volume 2, Wedding, Christmas

SVN-402 Slovinka zo Sloviniek, Vol.2 contains 23 songs.
In the old days wedding guests in the procession to and from the bride's house amused themselves by singing these and other related songs. These were often of the "roasting" kind with the bride and/or groom being the object of their humor.

Songs 1 through 12 deal with wedding traditions beginning with the wedding guests in procession following the groom in search of his bride, through the removing of the bride's "partu," the symbolic headdress of the maiden, to the final song sung by some guests who have had a lovely time and a bit too much and are now ready to head for home.

Volume 2 Folk Art Character Dolls in Slovinky costume, are pictured on the front of the CD.

To hear a short sample of the music, click on the titles below. There will be a little wait--please bear with it.
In Our Meadow--Na Nasej Luky
Old Year Has Passed--Stary Ruk Isol

Songs 1-12 Wedding traditions:
Ked se u Mladoho (When at the Bridegroom's Home);
Puste ze Nas (Invite Us In);
Pomaly Mna Vedte (Lead Me Slowly);
Do Kostela Jedno (To the Church Went One);
Partu Snaty (Removing the Partu);
Nasej Mladej Chyza(At Our Bride's House);
A Ket Mi se Rozletime(If We Rush Off);
Ej na Nasej Luky(In Our Meadow);
Ne Cepte Mna Mamo (Don't "Bonnet" Me, Mama);
Cekaj Ty Marinko (Just You Wait, Marinko);
Us Lem Se Vidala (Now That I Am Married);
Dobri Nam tu Bulo Buty(It Was Great to Be Here);
Song 13 Mnohaja Lita (Many Years)
Songs 14-17 Christmas Eve Caroling and greeting,
Ztamtej Strany Jarka (The Other Side of the Stream);
Lem Jedna Hvizdocka (Only One Star);
Predivna Novina (Amazing News);
Vjincovana (Greetings and Good Wishes);
18,19 New Year's songs ,
Stary Ruk Isol (The Old Year Has Gone);
Pobubnovany (Noise Making);
20-21 include songs for fun--
Pila Palenky (She Drank Spirits);
Hopa Cupa, (Nonsense)
22 A lullabye, Lu Lu Lu,
and 23 another emigrant song, this one tongue-in-cheek sort of --Isol Kohut Z Kraju (Rooster Left the Old Country);
Hopa Cupa and Lullabye were sound enhanced for fun.

The lyrics and catchy melodies really bring to life the old days--making you want to don your "Chizhmi," dancing boots, and join the party.

For your additional enjoyment, free lyrics sheets in both the Slovinky dialect, Rusyn, and the English version are included with each CD or cassette. This recording is available as
SVN-402 Vol.2 CD or
SVN-402 Vol.2-T Cassette

To Price List and Ordering Info

About Slovinka zo Sloviniek

About the Group: Their 30th anniversary was celebrated in the year 2005. The official Folklorna Skupina (folklore group) from Slovinky, Slovakia, is finally available on CD or cassette. These songs (except perhaps the religious songs)originated in the village of Slovinky, according to a Slovinka member, and are among those sung at Festival performances. The Skupina is composed of members ranging in age from teens to sixties who meet weekly for practice. They sing and dance at festivals in Sloviakia and perform for civic and other occasions. Part of the group is pictured in authentic Slovinky costume on the Vol.1 CD insert shown above. Character dolls in the popular amusing folk art style are available--see the Slovinka, Vol.2. CD insert above.

About the songs: The lyrics and melodies of those old songs have been collected from the old folks and brought to life by Slovinka. Some lyrics are startling in their frankness, as in "Ej Skare Ta Boze" (May God Curse You!), some utilize symbolism with sensitivity as in Vysoka Jedlicka (The Tall Tree). The lyrics provide a real glimpse into the hearts of our forbears as they went about their daily life, expressing the anguish of loss as in "Ej Ked Ja Isla" which describes the heartache of a young wife left behind when her husband left for America. There are also the "roasting" songs sung by exuberant wedding guests as in "Just you wait, Marinko"! or simply nonsense songs such as "Titilombom," or seasonal and religious songs. Many of the songs are sad, because as Maria, a member of the group, said, times were often very hard for the people.

The songs are sung in the dialect spoken there around 1900, some call it "ponasomu," others "po Rusnakovy" or "Rusyn." If you do not understand the dialect, the loosely translated English version will enable you to enjoy and appreciate the songs and even sing along with many of them.

The original analog recordings were made informally at practice sessions in Slovinky just to share some of their songs with relatives in the States. There is some distortion due to singing too close to the microphone, and some faint mechanical noises, especially in Volume 2, but all of the songs can easily be understood. Sound editing was kept to a minimum to retain the original flavor. The original lyrics and melodies are just too good not to be shared with others who are eager to get a better "feel" for the real heart of their ancestors who lived, loved and died there in the eastern Slovakia and the Carpatho-Rus area. We feel this is a real collector's item for those who already love our heritage as well as for those who wish to learn more about it. Music reveals the heart of a people.

To Top of Slovinka page