The Jagiellonian Fair Orchestra’s repertoire consists of polkas, obereks, ride tunes (podróżniaki), marches, waltzes, foxtrots and other melodies that we have picked up from various archival recordings and family traditions, or learned from the oldest generation of musicians and orchestras whose traditions date back to the early 20th century. Traditional music forms and connects communities–of both the musicians who perform it (amateurs and professionals alike) and the recipients, listeners and dancers who enjoy dancing to its tunes. Beyond that, it aims at popularising the traditional culture of the Lublin region.
The project debuted at The Jagiellonian Fair 2014. It came about as a fusion of various educational projects focused on the performing styles of traditional instrumental music of the Lublin region carried out in the years 2007-2013 by Kapela Braci Dziobaków from Wola Destymflandzka (Eng lit. The Dziobak Brothers Band, featuring Ewa Grochowska, Krzysztof Butryn, Edyta Piekarczyk).
In 2021, The Orchestra recorded and released their album – “Open Session”. One of the Orchestra’s leaders, Ewa Grochowska, invites us to unleash our imagination and enjoy the album’s beauty: ‘This album will transport you into another time and place. Imagine it’s July, you’re wearing a stylish hat and are heading out on a trip around the Lublin region. You are accompanied by beautiful music from Roztocze (and other places)”.
Line-up:
Ewa Grochowska – fiddle, artistic inspiration and programme coordination
Marcin Kabat Kowalczuk – trombone, brass section leader, arrangements, and musical direction
Sebastien Beliah – clarinet
Joanna Glińska – fiddle
Tomasz Graczyk – double bass
Magdalena Jakubowska – clarinet
Olga Kozieł – trumpet
Kamil Królik – accordion, clarinet
Eliasz Kuśmierz – saxophone
Edyta Piekarczyk – tuba
Grażyna Pluta – flute
Ewelina Prokopiuk – saxophone
Milena Siczek – fiddle
Julia Szafraniec – cello
Katarzyna Zedel – Bilgoraj suka
Special guest appearances: Dorota Murzynowska – baraban and Szczepan Pospieszalski – trumpet.