Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed

Subject: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 06:35 PM

This is an 11th hour request. We have a wedding ceilidh on Saturday 6th June (yes day after tomorrow) and we have just been asked if we could play a few popular Polish folk tunes as the bride is Polish. The person asking wants it to be a surprise for the bride's family but this person doing the asking is not Polish.

Does anyone know names of any POPULAR tunes and a link to where we can find the dots online. We have found tunes but don't know how well known they are. We can sight read so its not a problem with learning them.

If anyone can help that would be brilliant

Many thanks

Sarah

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:11 PM

I grew up in an american city with a lot of Polish culture about. It seems to me that an American family is far more likely to recognize old Polish music, such as great polkas, before they recognize current Polish hits.

I went on Youtube and searched for Polish popular hits. It brought up a bunch of weird-looking covers with dangling breasts and beefcake. I wouldn't click on that.

Why don't you go to the ingeb site, look under "Poland", and see if you can use 3-4 of those tunes? Let me get the link.

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:12 PM

http://ingeb.org/home.html

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 04 Jun 15 - 11:38 PM

oops. I'm assuming somebody in the band can download a MIDI file.

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: bubblyrat
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 07:22 AM

I play "Varsoviana" , a Polish (I am pretty certain !) waltz which came from a Nick Barber tune-book. Bits of it sound like "Babes In The Wood", but that's "folk" for you !

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Will Fly
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 07:28 AM

"Pije Juba Do Jakuba" is a popular Polish drinking song.

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Will Fly
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 07:29 AM

Whoops - "Pije KUBA" - not "Pije JUBA"!

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: GUEST,Bob_Kowalski
Date: 05 Jun 15 - 12:26 PM

I lived in Poland for 3 years. My first wife was Polish and from the countryside. It seemed that EVERY gathering, parties, weddings, birthday parties, etc. People sang "Sto Lat". It is an old very traditonal song. The melody is simple the words are easy. It means "One Hundred" and the gist of the song is wishing for the recipient to live 100 years. This a must play for any band at a Polish wedding.

From Wikipedia, "Sto Lat":

    Sto lat, sto lat,
    Niech żyje, żyje nam.
    Sto lat, sto lat,
    Niech żyje, żyje nam,
    Jeszcze raz, jeszcze raz,
    Niech żyje, żyje nam,
    Niech żyje nam!

This translates roughly into English as:

    100 years, 100 years,
    Let him/her live, live just for us.
    100 years, 100 years,
    Let him/her live, live just for us.
    Once again, once again,
    Let him/her live, live just for us,
    Let him/her live just for us!

Quick phonetics lesson:

ż is pronounced like the s "pleasure" or "measure"
sz is pronounced like "sh"
cz is pronounced like "ch"
j is pronounced like "y"
ch is pronounced something between "k" and "h". It is the same sound as the initial Ch/H in "Chunukah" or "Hanukah"

The song is easy to find on youtube, so you can hear the melody. It really is a simple song. It ought to be very, very easy to learn. You should be able to pick it up almost immediately.

If you want to surprise the bride, this ought to do it.

tim

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Mr Red
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 04:51 AM

Skoda Lasky originally Czech (1934) but it would appear the tune is Europe-wide. We know it as "Roll Out the Barrel" or the "Beer Barrel Polka"

Varsoviana sounds a lot like Varsovienne a French dance (known to old Cajuns) that can be seen in Germany, so another Euro-tune IMHO. The Irish version is "Shoe the Donkey", the Irish & French dances are recognisably similar but the German version is more a display dance and more varied, though the tune is recognisable in all. Mexico & Hispanic US know the tune apparently. Shoe the Donkey is referred to as a Mazurka, which is still 3/4 time. Sheet music search (some see the two spellings as the same tune) specifically Varsoviana

Are we too late? I expect the wedding is today. I am sure if you see this "Roll Out the Barrel" will roll off your flute.

Best of Luck

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 06:05 AM

I can confirm the above. My Dad was Polish and his favourite songs to play on his guitar at gatherings were "Roll out the barrel" and, oddly enough "Goodnight Irene" :-) Sto Lat, as suggested. Polish relatives over in Gdynia tell me that there is a very strong sea shanty culture!

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 06 Jun 15 - 06:11 AM

Thanks so much
Have downloaded appropriate music based on the suggestions - its tunes rather than songs but we will play and see what they sing along to it!

Not until this evening so we have lots of time so busy emailing round other musicians

Mudcat to the rescue again

Cheers

Sarah

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 07:16 AM

Just an update in case it is useful for any future queries on Mudcat.

All went really well and I compiled sheet music for the following tunes after all the advice I managed to collate. When we did the first tune they all joined in singing the words and it continued through the others. They all asked how we had managed to get such a good collection and were convinced we must have someone Polish in the band.

Tunes were
Sto Lat
Hej Sokoly
Poszla Karolinka
Szla Dzieweczka
Plonie Ognisko w Lesie
Czerwone Jabulszko

Hope this will be useful

Sarah

Subject: RE: Popular Polish Tunes Quick Answer Needed
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Jun 15 - 11:28 AM

Excellent!

Mudcat saves the day, again :)