Performing and preserving Central and Eastern European folk music
EuroFolkTunes
Mazurka Wojciechowska was born in Chicago and, since she was 14, has been researching, performing and preserving Slavic folk music. Mazurka has traveled to Poland, the Czech and Slovak Republics and Romania extensively to research folk music, record native artists, collaborate with other musicians and give concert tours.
One of her passions is introducing children to Slavic folk music. Mazurka has been a singing teacher for the dance schools of the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America, and since 1994 she has been an outreach artist with the famous Old Town School of Folk Music's Global Roots program, bringing Slavic music to inner-city Chicago youth.
Mazurka earned her undergraduate degree in vocal performance from the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, graduating cum laude. In addition to singing in over a dozen languages, Mazurka is proficient in accordion and hammer dulcimer.
She has performed with several professional groups: The Lira Ensemble, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Slavic Projection Folk Ensemble and the Herz Cimbal Band. At present she is performing solo, giving shows all over the greater Chicago area. She is available to perform for church events, parties, anniversaries, birthdays, Oktoberfests, etc.
Mazurka’s repertoire consists of folk songs and dance tunes from Bohemia, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Lusatia, Macedonia, Moravia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine.
Specialized 1-hour programs available (time can be adjusted according to need):
A Bird's Eye View of Poland
From a Land of Old Souls: Czech and Slovak Folk Songs
Beautiful Romania, A Joint Program with Visual Artist Elisabeta Pod (For more information about Romania and Romanian culture, visit Elisabeta Pod's informative web site www.romanianmuseum.com.)
Balkan Beat (songs and dance tunes of Bulgaria, former Yugoslavia and Romania)
Stranger in a Strange Land: Songs of Immigration
From Oom-Pah to O-paa! Folk music of Europe from Germany to Bulgaria
School programs available! A 40-minute interactive show for children (grades 2 and up) teaches simple phrases in Slavic languages, geography, basic vocabulary of music and includes a sing-along. Teacher and student guides provided.
Special programs for seniors! 1-hour shows of polkas, waltzes, standards and more from the '40's, '50's and '60's. General interest or tailored specifically for Polish, Czech/Slovak or Jewish audiences.
Discounts available! Not-for-profit organizations can apply for a substantial discount by filling out the form available on the Illinois Arts Council’s website. Go to www.state.il.us/agency/iac/roster/includes/AT.htm Mazurka is an Ethnic and Folk Artist in the Illinois Arts Council's Artstour Roster.
Upcoming Performances 2009
Saturday, June 27, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Klas Restaurant, the largest Czech restaurant in the nation! 5734 W. Cermak Road, Cicero, Illinois. Plenty of free parking! Don't bring a wheelbarrow of quarters when you dine out, just come to Klas! Call for reservations, 708-652-0795. Also, see their web site, www.klasrestaurant.com.
Saturday, July 18, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Klas Restaurant
Saturday, July 25, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m., Klas Restaurant
"Whenever" at Giddings Plaza! Last summer the accordion was rained out 75% of the time at Giddings Plaza (Lincoln & Giddings, one block south of Lawrence and one block east of Western on Chicago's North Side). This year the plan is to sneak in whatever rain-free hours there are between now and the end of September. Therefore, there will not be a concrete schedule. If you are in the neighborhood and not holding an umbrella over your head, you just might hear an accordion! There are many other worthwhile events at the Plaza, including free Thursday evening concerts (sorry, no accordion). Check them out at www.lincolnsquare.org.
Evanston Farmers' Market. University and Oak, Evanston, on Saturday mornings. Scheduled dates: 6/20, 6/27, 7/18, 7/25 and 9/12. Weather permitting!
Now on YouTube: Romanian, Polish, Slovak and Moravian songs. Many thanks to camera operators Robert Hicks and Michelle Leuchtner!
For individuals who are not easily offended (you have been warned!) see this new blog: http://psychicaccordionist.blogspot.com This blog is more geared toward diatribes that the MSM papers don't want to publish, but from time to time there will be items relating to music.
A highly rated YouTube posting with a favorable comment from Cluj, Romania: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuCVAQ0BkVoM-am suit în dealul Clujului (I Climbed the Cluj Hill) from Transylvania. Ai plecat, bade, din sat (You Left the Village, Young Man)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyF86czrhcY also from Transylvania. This song has "attitude" and is featured on the Romanian CD. More links to other YouTube postings on the right side →
Available Recordings
Four solo accordion/vocal recordings:
Czyja to dziewczyna? (Whose Girl is This?) Song texts provided in a separate booklet (mail only). Popular Polish folk songs, including Siwy koń, Zosia izbę zamiatała, Szła dzieweczka, and other favorites. Watch and listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYhuurMxmIE
From a Land of Old Souls: Songs of the Czech and Slovak Republics. Song texts provided in a separate booklet (mail only). This recording includes Pod tým našim okenečkom, Blue Skirt Waltz (Červená sukýnka), Julida, and others.
Bade, pălărie nouă (Mister New Hat) Texts available with CD (mail only). Songs of Romania. Mostly songs from Transylvania with a few from Banat and Moldova. Highlights include Ciobǎnaş cu trei sute de oi, Brâul de la Făget and Hora lui Dobrică. Watch and listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIbzaIvy9O0
For Adults Only! Ethnic songs which became part of mainstream popular music in America during the '40's and '50's, including the Anniversary Waltz and Beer Barrel Polka.
One other recording released in 1998:
Through Mountains and Valleys with Slavic Projection Folk Ensemble. Top-of-the-line CD recorded at WFMT Studios. Slavic Projection Folk Ensemble which burned up stages in Chicago and abroad from 1980 to 2004 was fronted by Elizabeth Steponavicius Halbe, Mazurka Wojciechowska and Peter Gronwold. Instrumentation on this CD includes violin, guitar, hammer dulcimer, tin whistle, bass and even banjo.
At performances CDs are sold at rock bottom prices. Texts available upon request, by e-mail in Microsoft Word format. (Cannot guarrantee correct diacriticals.) By USPS mail: $20 per CD includes song texts, postage/handling. If you buy four or more recordings, price per CD is $15. To order by mail, send an e-mail to cimbalok@eurofolktunes.com.
