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Koka
A small label based in Poland, dedicated to Ukrainian music, new and old. I have selected a few titles shown below that exhibit a high level of musicianship and diversity, from the traditional rural music of the Tafiychuk Family to the minimalist modernism of Svitlana Nianio. If excellent music is not enough (it should be!), these CDs all come in very unique packages, with rough-hewn printed papers with a hand-made feel, artistic gate-fold designs with additional little booklets and inserted art work; a few even have bits of hand embroidery incorporated into the design. You can see an example here
Hutsulshchyna No 2 - Tafiychuk Family
$22.99
(cdRoots# koka-034)
Volume two of the music by this family from the Hutsul village of Bukovets, between Kosiv and Verkhovyna in the Ukrainian part of the Carpathian Mountains focuses on songs and improvisations of traditional melodies performed on violin and instruments such as sopilka, floiara, telenka among others. As with all Koka Records, this is beautifully packaged, and annotated in English.
Ukrainian Lira - Myhailo Hai
$21.99
(cdRoots# koka-031)
Epic dumas, religious psalms, ballads and historic songs such is the very base of repertoire of the Ukrainian lira (hurdy-gurdy) as they reveal the very history and culture of the Carpathian people. Playing the lira was a mission of high rank and value, dating back to Medieval times. Through the centuries it evolved into an elaborate tradition. using both existing source materials and collecting directly, Hai reconstructs the canon of lira.
Songs From Ukraine 2 - Drevo
$20.99
(cdRoots# koka-032)
Led by Yevhen Yefremov, this ensemble was formed in 1979. Its repertoire consists of material collected by its members during ethnographic expeditions, and with special attention and care they have recovered traditional songs of central and eastern Ukraine, discovering and preserving their original charm and power. Lyrical and ritual songs from the Poltava, Rivne, Tcherkasy and Kyiv regions are performed mainly a capella, or with minimal accompaniment. As with all Koka Records, this is beautifully packaged.
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