Postop'janka z Podljashsha. Ukrainian ethnic music.

There is some general impression of this entire story. A simple impression. Thank God, there still exist people on the earth who in contrast to most of us not only listen to songs. These are the people who sing. These are the people who make recordings.

Pidlyashshya is a south-western region of Ukraine situated at the border, so naturally its culture is influenced by close neighbours – Belarus and Poland. In those parts along with usual songs you may also hear spiritual songs, Russian romances and songs, which once used to be Polish, but now have already become Ukrainian. Besides, at this disc you will hear no musical instruments, only voices. Moreoften, these songs are performed by women who are no longer young. In this connection two ideas comes to my mind. The first idea is that step by step our culture and our traditions disappear, and they disappear together with these people. The second idea is that this is not a usual singing. These are the voices of our mothers – not in terms of physiology, but in general, because only a real mother can sing with such tenderness, kindness and with such unconquerable patience in her voice. And as long as she is a real mother, then she is a mother not only for those to whom she has given life, but also for everybody. In general, for everybody who lives. So, such voices are recorded at this disc.

Anton Jozhik Leyba (Hedgehog)

"Ukrainian Ethnic Music" series came out of many ethnographical expeditions to different region of Ukraine. Compact discs have stylish design. In the colourful booklets you will find information about the places where recordings were made, stories about performers, lyrics of the songs etc. Information is given in Ukrainian and English.