ODPOCZNO

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Odpoczno new dimension of Polish traditional music

ODPOCZNO

IN CONCERT AT Auditorio Alfredo Kraus / Twin Stage B (Sala San Borondon) th PM 27 of October 2018 / Saturday 11:15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria — Islas Canarias España

ODPOCZNO

OPOCZNO

If, travelling through central Poland, you find yourself drawn to the small villages near Opoczno where the rhythms, grooves and sounds of traditional music of the region are still played, you’ll probably also find Joanna Gancarczyk, Marcin Lorenc, Marek Kądziela and Piotr Gwadera, trying to blend in with the locals and pick up tunes that would otherwise soon be consigned to oblivion. These four musicians, each having radically different musical experiences, are pupils of Julian Jarząb, who himself was a musical companion of a legendary violinist Stanisław Ksyta. The common ground for the band's members is their admiration to a traditional music, which becomes robustly reinterpreted via the contemporary language of improvisation, alternative music and even hip-hop.

The surroundings of Opoczno and Drzewica in central Poland are referred to by ethnologists as „Opoczynskie” – the Opoczno region. The population here has taken special care to preserve the characteristic folklore of the region.

Formed in 2014, the band gained almost immediate critical acclaim when, in 2015, they won the prestigious Polish Radio Competition for „New Tradition”. Almost three more years of musical experimentation were necessary before the recording of the group’s first album, “Odpoczno”, a well-balanced fusion of old and new, could take place. At that point the band's music has developed organically merging and fusing several musical genres, with an electronic touch added by Paweł Cieślak at the stage of production. The album, released in March 2018 by Audio Cave and with a graphic design by Jakub „Hakobo” Stępień, received a rave review on the day of its release – strong proof that fresh new shoots are still emerging from traditional roots.

The group’s name “Odpoczno” relates directly to the Opoczno region of Poland but at the same time it is a Polish pun which conveys the word “odpoczywać” – “to ease off, relax”. Relax and listen!

ODPOCZNO ARE: Joanna Gancarczyk – voice, cello Marcin Lorenc – violin Marek Kądziela – guitar Piotr Gwadera – drums

The most important elements of this culture are authentic arts and crafts and traditional national costumes produced in the surrounding area as well as a distinct regional variety of music and a lively triple time dance known as the oberek. The music for the oberek is typically performed by a small village band, kapela, dominated by the violin, including also the three-string double bass, large drum and the folk accordion.

Just when you think you’ve seen everything in folk music, you come across a band like Odpoczno.

— Maciej Szajkowski (Warsaw Village Band)

Although the oberek can be described as a national dance that is common all over Poland, the Opoczno region’s oberek has retained its own specific local style and variation. We owe that especially to the work of old masters, such as an accordionist Stanisław Borowiecki and a violinist Stanisław Ksyta. After them the musicians of younger generation: Julian Jarząb, Marian Pabianek, Andrzej Rożej have inherited traditional local melodies and style. In Opoczno's regional variant the oberek is danced traditionally with stamps and shouts, however faster and with more bounce and vigour than in other parts of Poland.

Cut-out — folk art from the Opoczno region

The preserved tradition has its culmination in the biggest cultural event in the region – the “Opoczno – the Oberek Capital of the World” Festival, held annually in late spring. A week-long entertainment of concerts, workshops and music competitions, draws famous and lesser-known folk artists and musicians from around the Opoczno.

We welcome you to the world of trance obereks of the Opoczno region in Poland. www.opoczno.pl

www.odpoczno.pl Stanisław Ksyta — folk musician from the Opoczno region

Cut-out — folk art from the Opoczno region

Folk dance — from the Opoczno region

Odpoczno band — Joanna Gancarczyk, Piotr Gwadera, Marek Kądziela, Marcin Lorenc. photo: Grzegorz Wijata

Folk band Opocznianka — Stanisław Ksyta, Julian Jarząb, Marian Pabianek.

Opoczno — the Oberek Capital of the World Polish booking: Agata Szakiel + 48 697 917 339 agata@helloindygo.com

International booking: Piotr Pucylo + 48 606 457 012 info@piotrpucylo.com

Julian Jarząb — folk musician from the Opoczno region

Opoczno region Cut-out — inspired print by Hakobo

ODPOCZNO.PL