Niepraudzivaya

Hajda Banda are one of the best traditional bands to have emerged in Poland in recent years. Led by Belarusian singer and violinist Daria Butskaya, they focus on the music of eastern Poland and the Polesia region of Belarus and Ukraine. Alongside powerful polyphonic vocals, there are violins, cymbały (cimbalom), accordion and frame drums, and they create a real village celebration. The ‘Hajda’ name comes from the same ‘brigand’ word as the Taraf de Haïdouks. Their opening number, ‘Niepraudzivaya Kalina’, a Belarusian wedding song, is about a Viburnum tree saying it will never bloom, like a girl saying she’ll never marry. But then both the Viburnum blooms and the girl gets married. The second track, ‘Od Cymbalistów’, is super lively featuring cimbalom melodies from the archives, pumped up by some added brass. This is where Hajda Banda excel, in taking music from manuscripts or traditional musicians, and making them into a vibrant concert experience. ‘Poleski’ features fast oberek dance melodies from Polesie – a core repertoire for the band. As well as several powerful polyphonic songs, there are solo songs ‘Vierba’, an accordion-led waltz and the lovely ‘Od Słowika’, with lyrics written by band member and singer Nika Jurczuk. Violin and accordion outline a twisting, melancholy melody with Jurczuk’s voice adding a dark, haunting quality. This album is full of gems, and the band is superb live.