Folk-group "D r e v A"
Folk group "DrevA" was found in 1989 as a branch of the theatre "Perekriostok" and specialised in Russian folk and urban songs and music up to this time. Repertoire of the group is built on the materials of the expeditions in the different regions of Russia: Belgorod, Voronezh, Briansk regions and also in the Cossak stanitsas of Don and Kuban.
The group members learn the songs using expedition records and also in the direct contact with country singers and musicians. The folk group doesn’t use the songs from the note editions, the performance of the group is based on improvisation as it is usual in traditional country singing. The members of the group aspire to authentic manner of singing without some kinds of arrangement. The important part of this manner is keeping the nature sound of each singer voice.
The actors themselves take part in the expeditions, master the instruments, design and make costumes.
The songs of above-mentioned regions of Russia are marked differ from each other. The group masters the manners of singing of the few regions therefor it has the opportunity to make bright and interesting performances. For example, Bryansk tradition of singing is mainly female. This region is the place where the most old pagan songs are still kept. Belgorod tradition is mainly female too, but there exists archaic male wind-instrument, in Russian "caluka". It is made from dry stalk and the sound of this pipe instrument remind of wind howl.
The Don and Kuban tradition of singing is the male as a rule. These songs are not so old as Southern and Western and singing is often accompanied by playing on Russian accordion, balalaika, guitar, drums, wheel-lyre, tambourine. The wonderful feature of Cossak songs is upper soaring treble voice. Repertoire of "DrevA" includes unique Cossak romances recorded in stanitsa Oust-Buzulook of Don region.
So far as the group includes both the women and the men, it can perform the songs of different traditions.
The repertoire of the group contains:
- stage concert;
- winter, spring, summer open-air performances (on the square, in the street), such as: "Christmas", "Maslennitsa", "Ivan Kupala";
- tradition instrumental music;
- old country games;
- ritual, lingering, dance songs, drinking-songs.
"Christmas" — open-air performance. From Christmas to Epiphany people went around the village and sing especial Christmas songs "coliadki". Text of these songs contains praise to hosts and request to endow singers in order to make the coming year successful. Actors performed tradition Christmas amusement "Vertep" which was two-floor box with puppets for playing of the history of Jesus Christ birth and of cruel tzar Irod.
"Maslennitsa" — the seeing off of the winter and celebration of the life revival accompanied with burning down of the Maslennitsa scarecrow, the symbol of the cold, dark, death. During this celebration people baked pancakes (Solar symbol), had fun, said good-buy to the winter, went for a drive on troikas, ate a lot and drank a lot.
Folk group "DrevA" was the participant of the International festivals of the street theatres and folk festivals, such as:
"Caravan Mir", Moscow, 1989; "Pacing snail", Archangelsk, 1991; The 2-nd All-Russian Folk Festival, Voronezh reg., 1995; The 2-nd Russian "Artiada", Moscow, 1996; "The golden microphone", Tirana, Albania, 2002.
Folk group "DrevA" participated in different European Festivals for the last years:
- (in Spain)
Viladecans Al Carrer; (Barselona) (1-4 July 2004);
- (in Switzerland)
Buskers Bern Festival (Bern), (5-7 August 2004);
Neuchatel buskers Festival (Neuchatel), (9-15 August 2004);
Murten Festrilax (Murten), (8 August 2004);
- (in England)
The New Inn (Pub) (Buckingham), (10 June 2005);
Bath Fringe Festival (Bath), (4-6 June 2005);
- (in Croatia)
Zagreb Folk Festival (Zagreb), (20-24 July 2005);
- (in Sweden)
"International music festival" (Kristianstadt), (15-18 June 2006);
Concert in Hjortnas (Leksand), (24 June 2006 );
- (in Belgium)
"Paulusfeesten" (Oostende), (10-11 August 2006);
- (in Germany)
"Folklorefest" (Krefeld), (19-21 August 2005);
"TFF Rudolstadt" (Rudolstadt), (7-8 July 2006);
- (in Danmark)
Uldum Streetmusic Festival (Uldum), (2 July 2005);
"Nakkefestival" (Rorvik), (19-22 July 2006);
- (in France)
Festival International de Musique Universitaire (FIMU), (BELFORT), (26-28 Mai 2007);
- (in Macedonia)
Second International Street Festival (Skopje), (31-3 June 2007);
- (in Finland)
40 Kaustinen Folk Festival (Kaustinen),(07-15 July 2007);
- (in Serbia)
International Street Festival (Novi Sad),(5-9 September 2007);
- (in Italy)
"Ferrara buskers Festival" (Ferrara), (21-30 August 2004);
"Teramo Street Animation Festival" (Teramo), (4-9 July 2005);
Ischia Cinema Festival (Napoly), (10 July 2005);
"Santa Sofia buskers Festival" (Santa Sofia), (13-15 August 2005);
"Martisana in Piazza Festival" (Milano), (2-10 September 2005);
Concert Torino folk club (Torino), (1 December 2005);
Concert Trieste Slovenski Kulturni Dom (Trieste), (6 December 2005);
Concert Gavardo theatre festival (Gavardo), (7 December 2005);
"Artisti in Piazza" (Pennabilli), (1-4 June 2006);
"Val Tidone competition" (Val Tidone), (5 June 2006);
"Colmurano Buskers Festival - Festival Artistrada" (Colmurano), (13-16 July 2006);
"La Ghironda – Artisti perivicoli" (Monopoli), (27-30 July 2006);
"Musicastrada" (Terricciola), (4 August 2006);
"Spirit of Woodstock festival" (Coiromonte, Novara), (6-7 August 2006);
"Orvieto folk festival" (Orvieto), (18-20 August 2006);
Veregra Street Festival (Montegranaro), 2007;
The group brought out the first CD "Russian tradition music of Western and Southern regions of Russia" in 1994 and the second CD "Jolly talking" in 2001.
The group can perform both on the open-air squares and in the concert halls, clubs, restaurants.
The amount of participants depends on the length of the performance and financial conditions: from 4 to 8 members. The length of performans are: on the stage - in two parts of 40-50 min with fifteen minute break or one part of 60 min; in the street - of 60 min.
The group can sing without microphones in the halls up to 100 people spaciousness.
Folk group "DrevA" will consider with interest the suggestions about concerts and tours and also about the participation in festivals.
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