Fiquei surpreso ao ler a história do KITKA: eu, até então, acreditava que o conjunto era búlgaro...De qualquer forma, embora formado por vocalistas norte-americanas, a música do Kitka é mais um daqueles "mistérios das vozes búlgaras", indecifráveis.
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KITKA
Kitka is an American women's vocal arts ensemble inspired by traditional songs and vocal techniques from Eastern Europe. Dedicated to developing new audiences for music rooted in Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian women's vocal traditions, Kitka also strives to expand the boundaries of folk song as a living and evolving expressive art form. Founded in 1979, Kitka began as a grassroots group of amateur singers from diverse backgrounds who met regularly to share their passion for the stunning dissonances, asymmetric rhythms, intricate ornamentation, lush harmonies, and resonant strength of Eastern European women's vocal music. Under the direction of Bon Singer from 1981 to 1996, Kitka blossomed into a refined professional ensemble earning international renown for its artistry, versatility, and mastery of the demanding techniques of traditional and contemporary Balkan, Slavic, and Caucasian vocal styling. Under the co-direction of Shira Cion, Juliana Graffagna, and Janet Kutulas since 1997, Kitka has grown to earn recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts, Chorus America, and the American Choral Directors'; Association as one of this country's premier touring vocal ensembles. In addition, many international musical authorities consider Kitka the foremost interpreter of Balkan and Slavic choral repertoire working in the United States. Kitka has deep ties to Eastern Europe and has traveled there to perform and collect repertoire many times. In 2002, Kitka joined Le Mystere des Voix Bulgares as "international guests of honor". Kitka's unique sound and innovative sense of programming has led to dozens of other fruitful collaborations, ranging from a reconstruction of the medieval Carmina Burana pageant for CalPerformances, (Thomas Binkley, director), to work with Hollywood composers and independent film-makers on motion picture soundtracks. A frequently occurring symbolic word in Balkan women's folksong lyrics, Kitka means "bouquet" in Bulgarian and Macedonian.
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ALBUM REVIEW
The voices of the eight women of KITKA-sometimes earthy, sometimes ethereal, always soulful- shine brilliantly on this much-anticipated collection of 20 seasonal songs gathered from many Eastern European lands and spiritual traditions. Highlights include ritual songs, folk carols and sacred hymns from Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Macedonia, Moravia, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine that celebrate the Winter Solstice, Christmas, Chanukah, St. Basil's Day, Epiphany, and the New Year. These are songs that ring out to warm and brighten cold, dark nights; songs that ward off evil spirits; songs that bestow blessings for health and prosperity; songs that call out "allelujah," and songs that summon peace on earth and good tidings to all. A collection of some of the most beloved songs performed at Wintersongs concerts over the last three years. Wintersongs showcases material ranging from rousing Slavic folk carols and lush, meditative Eastern Orthodox sacred choral works, to pre-Christian incantations for the longest nights of the year and Hebrew folk songs for Chanukah. Highlights include Tec Peleite Zernju Zogtu, an ancient Latgalian (Eastern Latvian) Winter Solstice song invoking the god of the heavens and the goddess of the Sun; Koledni Pesni, a medley of Bulgarian folk carols recalling the nativity sung in the traditional antiphonal village style; and Byla Cesta, a poignant 19th-century Moravian carol. Other pieces include the sublime 12th-century Georgian hymn to the Virgin Shen Khar Venakhi; and a collection of joyful Shchedrivki, songs sung for the traditional Ukrainian New Year festival of Malanka. Wintersongs was recorded in the world-famous acoustic environment of the Skywalker Studios in Marin County by Leslie Ann Jones, and was produced by Grammy-nominated Bay Area vocalist and band leader Linda Tillery. Accompanying KITKA on the Wintersongs CD are guest artists Peter Maund on percussion; Rumen Shopov on tambura (Bulgarian long-necked lute) and bouzouki; and Dan Cantrell on accordion. KITKA singers also accompany themselves on bells, fiddle (Leslie Bonnett); flute (Janet Kutulas); and rhythm tamburas (Juliana Graffagna and Shira Cion).
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MINHA OPINIÃO
Esses "microtons" que o KITKA, a exemplo de outros grupos de "vozes búlgaras" conseguem - inacreditavelmente - produzir, criam uma aura de beleza estranha e indescritível. Como diria Baraka Obama: "awesome"...
(*) Não relacionei as músicas, porque não consegui decifrar os títulos. Além do mais, não ia adiantar nada: é melhor ouvir aleatóriamente.
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KITKA: Wintersongs
KITKA
Caitlin Tabancay Austin
Leslie Bonnett
Briget Boyle
Shira Cion
Catherine Rose Crowther,
Juliana Graffagna
Janet Kutulas
Elizabeth Setzer,
Michele Simon
Corinne Sykes
