The Jagiellonian Fair Orchestra
The Jagiellonian Fair Orchestra is an educational and artistic project based on the belief that 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.
The project is an invitation to make music together, addressed to all enthusiasts of pure traditional music. It aims at popularising the traditional culture of the Lublin region and promotes learning from village masters. It is an opportunity for those who want to develop their musical ability and fluency with instruments, to get acquainted with the rich repertoire from the Lublin region and the cultural contexts that accompanied the performance of the songs.
The Orchestra’s year-round work culminates in the performance at The Jagiellonian Fair nighttime dance parties. During these events, the musicians play a variety of tunes, including polkas, obereks, ride tunes, marches, waltzes, and foxtrots. These tunes are selected from the repertoires of traditional musicians from the Lublin region, such as Stanisław Głaz, Bronisław Bida, Orkiestra Dętra ze Zdziłowic (the Brass Orchestra from Zdziłowice), and Kapela Bednarzy from Tomaszów Lubelski.
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).