Tamburitza Anyone?

Subject: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Áine
Date: 24 Mar 04 - 04:12 PM

I found out about this wonderful style of music and family of instruments from a discussion on the Mandolin Café forum. Do any of you Mudcatters play a tamburitza/tambura? Is anyone familiar with this style of music?

For an answer to the inevitable ˜what is a tamburitza˜ question, check out this site, Instruments Comprising the Tamburitza Family. And have a listen to the music by going to Tamburaland.

Great stuff. Enjoy!

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: LadyJean
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 12:44 AM

I don't, but I'm from the home of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. If the Tammies come to your town with their marvellous program of Eastern European songs and dances, go and see them.
Oh, if you're living outside the U.S. they do leave the country now and then. When they do, the first half of their performance is Eastern European. The second half is all American. It's a pretty good show.

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Áine
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 09:39 AM

Thankd for the response, LadyJean! I was beginning to think my thread had fallen into the void. I'll keep an eye out for the Tammies -- do they ever make it down Texas way? ;-)

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 25 Mar 04 - 11:01 PM

I play tamborica/tamboritza, or at least did. It's been more than fifteen years since I have performed, and probably seven or eight years since I have tuned my Brac and prim. I was never an A-list player, but used to have a lot of fun, first, playing for international folkdancers, and then, after recruiting some real ethnic musicians, playing at parties, weddings, and for banquets on Saints days--

There are a lot of tamboritza groups around the country, wherever there are Serbian or Croatian communities(as well as in a few Rumanian communities)--the interesting thing is that playing traditions, including songs and dances, that had disappeared in the old country were carried on here--Chicago is a big place for it, and there is a lot in Ohio, as well as Western PA--There used to be some good groups down in Texas, as well--if I remember correctly--

It is really fun to play Tamboritza music, but you have to be clean, precise, and fast--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 02:54 AM

It might help if you explain what (the hell) it is.
Anything like a balalaika?

Johnny

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 04:01 AM

Looks more like a bouzouki?

RtS

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Áine
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 09:31 AM

Johnny and Roger,

You can go to this site, Instruments Comprising the Tamburitza Family, to find out about the instruments. They've even got pictures. ;-)

And M. Ted, can you recommend any recordings for me to get? I've found a few things on the Net, but I'd love some suggestions.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 11:41 AM

The tamburica/tamburitza really is a family of instruments--they sound a bit like Balalaikas, especially when they are used in a tamburitza orchestra(in fact, in the movie Dr. Zhivago, the most famous Balalaika tune ever, Lara's Theme, was actually played on Tamburitzas) but they look completely different, have a whole different sound, different number of strings, and different tuning system.

The instruments are the PRIM, which is about the size of a soprano ukulele and plays the melody or a high countermelody part, the BRAC, which usually looks just like the prim but is about the size of a baritone uke, and plays a melody or harmony part, the BUGARIJA, which is like a four stringed guitar and is used for rhythm, the CELLO, which is also like a four string guitar, but has heavy gauge strings and plays continuous single note runs, and the BERDE, which is a two stringed, fretted bass--

The PRIM and BRAC usually have a thin almost teardrop shaped body, with a flat, frying pan like bottom--usually no more than two or three inches deep--and the bottom tends to be carved from a single piece of wood--the top is usually made from two pieces of wood, with a dozen or so pencil-point sound holes spread across the lower part--they tend to have four courses of strings--the lower two are single, the higher two are double, and tuned in fourths--

The instruments tended to be made by folk artisans(usually other players) rather than trained luthiers, and they generally had a very raw sound(but loud), with rough action--as a guitarist, you discover very quickly that there is no point in trying to "squeeze" the strings to sweeten the sound--and for the mandolinist, the complex overtones don't ring out at all--

I played before "the golden age of Luthiery" had started, so probably by now the better players have started having their instruments made by real instrument makers--

As to recommendations, when I was playing, it was really hard to find recordings--best sources tended to be looking through old record bins for Monitor, Topic, Folkways, and Nonesuch collections--as often as not, the names of the musicians were not even listed. Nowdays, there are a lot of artists out there who have released their own stuff--unfortunately, I haven't kept up--
My old favorites though, were "Teddy and the Popovich Brothers", also worth checking out is Jerry Grcevich, who was the first to do multitrack recordings---

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Áine
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 12:49 PM

Thank you so much, M. Ted!! I found Jerry Grcevich here on the Tamburaland site. I found a video about the Popovich Brothers here on the Folkstream site. Is this the same group that you mentioned? Even if it isn't, I might get the video anyway, just to see them play the instruments.

I'm definitely going to get a Jerry Grcevich CD. If you can think of anyone else to recommend, please let me know.

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: LadyJean
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 11:29 PM

I'm sure the Tammies go to Texas. They travel a lot. I know Duqesne University has a web page. I'm sure the Tamburitzand do too.

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Alice
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 12:09 PM

The Duqesne University Tamburitza group came to Bozeman a few years ago, and they are awesome! This is a must-see performance if you get the chance.

I learned of the tamburitza when I got to know another folk music family in Montana during Allan C. and Bill Sables Mudcat Adventure road trip. When Bill and Allan came to Montana, I took them down to a spot on the border of Yellowstone where one of our local session members was raised. Zondra Skertich was a college student when I first met her at our session, going to Montana State U. here in Bozeman. Her dad, Wayne Skertich, had a tamburitza in the corner of his living room, an inheritance of his family band, the Skertich Brothers Tamburitza Orchestra, formed by his father and uncles. We played music late into the night and the next day. Zondra has since traveled to the midwest where the Skertich Brothers performed and wrote a book about them. (She is now down in Antarctica on a research project.)

------------
From the Tamburitza.org web site hall of fame:
        The Skertich Brothers were at the peak of their popularity following the end of World War II and made many hits under the banner of the Columbia recording label.         

        Leaving the entertainment scene after two decades of solid bookings, the Skertich Brothers left a huge void, but they did in effect leave us a legacy.  Their successful stint with Columbia records, their showmanship, goodwill and the many benefit performances leave all those who were fortunate to be associated with them with many pleasant memories.         

        Characters above reproach, these gentlemen should be an inspiring example to all youngsters who choose the tamburitza line of entertaining.  Pride in their orchestra and heritage, ever mindful of their self-respect, coupled with musical goodwill and an abundance of friendship, qualify this group of entertainers to be honored and enshrined in the Tamburitza Hall of Fame.

-------
I used to have a web site bookmarked that had photos of the Skertich Tamburitza Orchestra, but can no longer find it on the web.

alice

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 02:29 PM

Thanks for posting that about the Skertich Bros, Alice--I used to have a tape with some of their tunes-sadly stolen from my car many years ago--it is good to hear of them again--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Áine
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 02:49 PM

That's a great story, Alice. Wish I could have heard them.

M. Ted, I've ordered one of Jerry Grcevich's CDs. I'm looking forward to hearing him. Thanks again for the headsup!

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 03:35 PM

Just to show how well known the tamburitza once was, Louis Jordan and others recorded "The Tamburitza Boogie"--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Johnny in OKC
Date: 27 Mar 04 - 08:12 PM

A band called "Harmonia" visited Oklahoma City
a few months ago, excellent music. Evidently one of the fellows was
playing a tambouritza, which I thought was some kind of guitar.
Their flute player and violin player were so fantastic, you hardly
noticed the band, which included a hammer-dulcimer and accordion.

Love, Johnny

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 28 Mar 04 - 10:06 PM

The accordion player in Harmonia, Walt Mahovlich, used to play with my band from time to time--he is a great musician, and he seemed to know every Balkan and Eastern European tune--I haven't seen him in years, but I do have the last Harmonia album, and I am not a bit surprised that they put on an excellent show--He is at his best about 1o'clock in the morning in a room full of tipsy Serbs or Croats or Macedonians--every one wants to sing, and he rolls out an endless number of these beautiful, wistful songs--

The Tamburica player, Marko Dreher, also plays with Jerry Grcevich--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,DF of DUT
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 02:29 PM

Greetings everyone from "The Bluff" -- overlooking the mighty Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, PA ....

Just on a quest for tambura info, and found yinz (that's Pittsburghese for "you all") on a Netscape search.

THANKS all for the kudos for the DUT ("Tammies") ...
I work at Duquesne University for the Tamburitzans, and have the pleasure of talking to people all over the country to let them know what we do over here, and have been doing for the past 67 years!

We WILL be in Texas on Thursday May 13 at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio. Our schedule is posted on our web site, www.tamburitzans.duq.edu. (We'll be undergoing a design and content change soon, but the current site is still up and running.)

We're extremely proud of our ensemble, and likewise of our alumni ... many of the names and groups mentioned in this forum strand are quite familiar to us, as they have at one time shared their outstanding talents as members of the DU Tamburitzans, or as music arrangers, such as Jerry Grcevich, who by the standards of many is considered to be a legend in the field of tamburitza or tamburica music and musicianship.

You may want to search for another outstanding tamburitza talent, Peter Kosovec, who spent four seasons with the DUT. He composed, arranged, and played some of the finest and most intricate selections ever presented in a Tamburitzans production. I know that he has recorded several CDs, which have both instrumental and vocal pieces, many composed by the artist as well.

The tamburaland.com site is an excellent resource for finding these unique artists. The webmaster himself, Vjeko Dimter, is a brilliant musician and composer of tambura music, and has received accolades both here and abroad for his work.

I can go on and on! But I'll leave that up to you ... there is a wealth of wonderful information about the tamburitza out there. Glad to have found yet more inquisitive string lovers with whom to share the passion.

Hope to see you at a Duquesne University Tamburitzans show sometime.

D. Fejka
DU Tamburitzans

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Áine
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 02:37 PM

Hello, hello, DF of DUT! ;-)

I just wish I could go to the concert in San Antonio. Unfortunately, I live in North Texas. Does the group ever get up to the Dallas/Fort Worth area?

I've already ordered a CD by Jerry Grcevich, and I'm going to search now for one by Peter Kosovec. Thanks so much for finding this forum and this thread . . . talk about the wonders of technology!

Can you please direct me to other artists/groups that emphasis the instrument itself in their performance? I found many wonderful singing groups on the Tamburaland site and they're wonderful; but, I'm interested in hearing the instrument(s) over the voices. Most of the folks here on the Mudcat know that I play the mandolin, and I would like to someday take up the tamburitza (probably the brac).

So, please, please, do go on and on!!

All the best, Áine

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Alice
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 02:55 PM

The Tamuritza that Wayne Skertich owns is big, looks like an upright bass, but has a circular sound hole instead of S sound holes.

alice

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 04:36 PM

D. Fejka--thank you for finding us, and taking the time to post! I have seen the Tammies many times, and have even been up on "The Bluff" a time or two. Does the Tammie sight offer those instruction books that Walter Kolar wrote?


That's called a Berde--it probably has frets, and two sets of double strings--

Here is a list of all the bands associated with Tamburitza Association of America some include photos, some have phone numbers, and some even have sound files--one nice thing about tamburica bands--the musicians are usually listed in the phone book--call and ask if they have recordings available, and find out about when they are playing--another nice thing is that the folks are usually very friendly, and their is often plenty to eat and drink wherever they are playing--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Burke
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 06:56 PM

Recordings of the Skertich Brothers are at Balkan Records

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 30 Mar 04 - 08:53 PM

Thanks for thank link, Burke--some great old stuff there!--I am particularly eager to get the Dusan Jovanovich, as I used to listen to tapes of some of their old 78's--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,Zlatoje Pajcic
Date: 22 Jun 06 - 07:19 AM

For people who are interested in tamburitza music:

www.tamburitzapublications.com

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,Jim G
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 10:06 AM

Hi everyone,
I am of Croatian decent,I have been reading all the comments and it is rereshing to know there are people out there interested in our heritage. I am a Tambura musician and live in the midwest. I live in Illinois about half way between St. Louis, MO. & Springfield, IL. I have been playing Tambura since I was a child and my brother and I still have a tamburitza band.

The commonality of Tambura music is nothing like it use to be, when the Skertich Brother, Popovich brothers, and many others use to perform. When I was a kid every wedding, aneversary party,or town celebration included Tambura music. However, there are still several bands around today trying to keep this wonderfull music alive, and we welcome everyone interested to join in.

My band memebers are members of the CFU Lodge 217 in Benld, IL.( Croatian Fraternal Union ). We have annual picnics usually the first weekend in september and several Tamburitza bands from the area and some from St. Louis, Mo. including The Junior Tamburitzans ( kids )of St. Louis put on a program complete with traditional costumes worn in Yugoslavia displaying a true folklore experience. There is tambura music all day long, also plenty of good ethinic foods such as babecue lamb, cabbage rolls, and of course plenty of music and dancing.

The CFU has lodges all over the U.S. Canada and Croatia. The CFU has a web site full of links to resources including music, bands and picnics like the one I described above related to our heritage. This is a good place to start for anyone interested.

Tambura music is a big part of our heritage and who we are. Croatian & Serbian people are very deeply pasionate about our families, friends, music and are very proud of who we are and where we came from. Tambura music is a bond that keeps us in touch with our heritage.

I hope this helps bring a perspective on how it's not just about the music, its about the people, their families, friends and, preserving a beatiful heritage.

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Alice
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 10:12 AM

I saw the Duquesne University Tamburitzans when they came to our town years back. It was a fantastic performance! See it if you can.
Alice

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 10:18 AM

You forgot to mention the pastries! and the Slivovitz!

JimG's post should prove that there are living folk music and dance traditions that are being kept alive in the community--

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,Greg H
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 10:30 AM

I recently checked out a great film by Les Blank from our library. It is called "Ziveli! Medicine for the Heart". It deals with Serbian-American communities in Chicago & California and includes lots of great Tamburitza music and dancing. Also check out the 2 CD set on Arhoolie, "Tamburitza! From the Balkans to America 1910 - 1950" Lots of great music form the very early days up till the 50's

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,jimG
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 04:54 PM

That's right M.Ted I did forget to mention the pastries ( more commonly know as (Povitza)(SP) and the Slivovitz! I guess over the years I has too much Slivovitz ! Ha, ha

I am fortunate that Duquesne University Tamburitzans will be in Granote City, IL. later this month, They are without a doubt a not to miss performance. I am lokking forward to seeing them again !

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: M.Ted
Date: 04 Nov 07 - 11:45 PM

The Tammies are great--and I've never been able to figure out how you can go to school and play the schedule that they play! And, of course, after school, they go out into the world and start tamburitza ensembles, which is probably why there are so many around--

I started playing this sort of music for Int'l folk dancers and thought I was doing all right, but then I ran into a brac player who'd been with the Tammies, and we started to play a few things, and I got a quick wake up call!

Anyway, few people outside of the Serbian/Croatian/Romania communities know about this music(I used to play from time to time in an American community that had a lot of folks from Banat--Romanian and Serbian, but they all knew the same music), and it is too bad, because it is great stuff.

GregH--thanks for the tip on the video and the dvd--I am a big Les Blank fan, and a big Arhoolie fan--I've already ordered them!

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,Jim G.
Date: 07 Nov 07 - 08:29 AM

Has anyone discovered any lyric web sites for older / traditional
tambura music. Tamburaland , Cro Music,and Stari Grad are the three I know about, however they mostly have only newer (now popular)music (except for Stari Grad) which is a smaller site and only has a few of the older traditional songs?

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,letitia
Date: 25 Jul 10 - 07:36 PM

was on this site for my father who is sitting next to me now.he is one of the original 12 who started in 1937. he is now 96 and really going strong. he knows all the names of people who were mentioned. all his instruments were hand made by nick orehovic. he also made albums the name of his group was called KOSOVO they were 4 men. we are croation and were brought up in this strong heritage. he loves talking about all these things. he was inducted into the hall of fame in 1995 in florida. we now reside in mesa az. my fathers name is Matthew Pericak thanks for the memories.
                                        letitia

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: Jack Campin
Date: 26 Jul 10 - 05:24 PM

Letitia - welcome, it's not often we get somebody joining who connects to so far in the past.

Are your dad's albums still available in some form?

Subject: RE: Tamburitza Anyone?
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 29 Jul 10 - 10:17 AM

I think I heard/saw Bill Vanaver play tambura many years ago; he probably still plays it