48TH INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL IN ZAGREB, CROATIA

CHURCH FOLK SINGING: Slatko ime Jezuševo – the Concert of Traditional Church Singing in Međimurje Region
St. Catherine’s Church, Sunday 20.07.2014. at 19:30

The concert of traditional church singing presents a very interesting and lively tradition of the church (folk) music-making of Međimurje, a tradition that has to this day remained unique and peculiar. According to the basic idea and concept, the concert will showcase the diversity of performing approaches and musical stylistic characteristics of the different parts of the Međimurje region. Among the many excellent choirs and singing groups of the three Međimurje deaneries, we selected the singers from Sveta Marija, Podturen, Čakovec, Štrigova and the Horvat family from Sv. Juraj na Bregu. The concert repertoire

will demonstrate the singing of archaic layers of liturgical and paraliturgical songs through the church year. Most of the songs may experience various musical and cultural influences of the neighboring countries which throughout history the Međimurje region has been exposed to. Although the majority of songs are labeled as traditional, some of the author’s names are preserved, thanks to the centuries-old tradition of collecting and publishing church songs and hymns of the Međimurje region, but also in other Croatian kaikavian regions.

Specifying the names of song collectors and musicians (organists) in Medjimurje parishes usually is related to the term kantor (cantor) – školnik(schoolmaster). The first official mention (the beginning of the 18th century) describes kantor as a teacher or educator that besides teaching reading, writing and catechism, most often led the church singing and playing of the organ in the areas of service. Hence, the name kantor or školnik in the Medjimurje Catholic parishes stands for the person who played the

harmonium or organ involved in the ministry of the liturgy. The kantor also followed the pastors blessing of the houses and the parish burials. Besides the mentioned duties, the role of the kantorregularly included the composing, arranging and conducting of what is recorded in many church song collections and hymnals. Kantor’s also played an important role in the adaptation and translation of the Latin (the official language of worship) to the kaikavian dialect, in that time the only allowed local language. The collected songs of Florijan Andrašec and Ivan Mustač, the most known kantor’s of the last century, are still on the repertoire of many Međimurje church choirs.