The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #24242   Message #275408
Posted By: Les B
10-Aug-00 - 07:57 PM
Thread Name: is there traditional music in Prague?
Subject: RE: is there traditional music in Prague?
I would venture to guess there is. But are you talking trad Czech or Czechs doing other countries' trads ??

About five years ago I was visiting some friends in Prague. We were out one night to have Chinese food at a place around the corner from their apartment. On the way back I heard what I thought was live music coming from a little tavern. I insisted we stop, though my friends said it was just music from a "jewel box" - their term for a CD.

When we walked in, however, there were four or five people playing banjo, guitars, fiddle, and mandolin. They seemed to be doing American bluegrass, in Czech (I don't speak it). The songs were very familiar sounding, and every so often an English word would pop up. They also did well-known American instrumentals like "Devil's Dream" The instruments were European. No Martins or Gibsons. The banjo player was the most accomplished and he had some good licks, but in a very oom pah pah, Prussian-like rhythm.

My friends were very surprised to see that kind of music, and said they'd never seen it played there before. I would assume there are groups like that getting together now all over Prague.