DETVA 1998

The greatest "folklore holiday" of Detva is over. I am writing these lines down now, while the memories are still fresh.

Where should I start? At the beginning. When I entered our "Culture House" for the first program which was a children's contest in singing Slovak folk songs on Friday afternoon, in spite of a busy atmosphere I felt, all of a sudden, fantastic peace and relief. This feeling was caused by the play of Jarko Hazlinger's group of musicians. Songs they play are beautiful, clear, and simple. The musicians don't try to-as we say-stylizing the songs, making them more modern and different from original music, they don't harmonize the songs in different, more complicated ways. I think simplicity (but not musical primitivism) of their play is so wonderful that it can really touch your heart. Looking at them I remembered the "old times" when I used to play with Jarko in children's folk band Detvancok. Our director Jozko Mackov, who passed away few years ago, was always telling us: "Stylized songs are very impressive and catchy, but our musical culture of Podpolanie is based on simplicity. Simplicity is what makes the song so beautiful and strong."

Program at the amphitheater started at 8 PM on Friday, as usual. First part of the program is always called WELCOME TO DETVA. Although my job is to write about the festival, not to review programs, I have to say that - in my opinion - the first program was missing its typical liveliness and spontaneity. It seemed to be very serious and maybe too "smooth." I personally missed folk groups and bands from Detva (except one). They can always warm up the public already at the beginning of the festival.

Later that night we saw performances of well known Slovak folk groups from whole Slovakia. I loved the performance of the folk group Turiec from Martin; I have many friends there. Saturday is a very good day for visiting extra activities which "accompany" the main program of the festival. There were a lot of exhibitions opened for the public, we could see many craftsmen, people who make folk instruments, and we could meet old musicians. Of course entertainment with live folk music weren’t missing.

Saturday's program started as always at 4 PM and lasted until midnight. The evening program called AT THE BALL attracted many people. The idea of the authors was to elucidate traditions of folk entertainment (like balls) in the region of Dolne Pohronie. Village folk groups of this region showed us a bit of their culture, songs, and dances. For me as a musician the program AT THE BALL was very inspiring. I recorded the whole program on the tape and I consider this to be a great "musical material" for the folklore of Dolné Pohronie not as well known as for example regions of Podpolanie, Horehronie, Liptov, Zemplin or Saris.

The last Saturday's program was dedicated to one of our folklore legends - singer MILAN KRIZO on the occasion of the anniversary of his 70th birthday. Milan Krizo is a university professor, doctor of science. Beside these titles he has another, not traditional one. It's "Mr. Singer" - Pan Spevak. People call him like this because he loves folklore and folk songs very much and puts this feeling into his singing. The sung words of the song turn into a real life story. Milan Krizo originally comes from Hrochot-it's a village situated on the other side of the mount Polana - and in his songs he always "stays faithful" to his home region. Sunday is a holiday for people all over the world. Second Sunday of July in Detva is a special holiday for all Slovaks. It's a day when Slovaks from all over the world come to perform at our festival. They are usually descendants of those who left their home country a long time ago and found their new homes in all "corners" of the world. Also Slovaks who were born here, in Slovakia, but now live abroad, come here because they feel they would like to see the beauties of Slovakia again and meet their old friends. This year we could see and admire the performance of Slovaks from Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czech Republic, France, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, and USA. For some "foreign Slovaks," as we call them, Detva festival is something like a first touch of their homeland after a long, long time. There are many "foreign Slovaks" who come each year, they either perform or simply watch the program as lovers of folklore.

I still remember the performance of Vladimir Linder and our folk band Valaska from some years ago. Vlado bravely came to stage to sing his favorite songs from Horenhronie. Believe me, my friends, he was absolutely fantastic!!! Why don’t you do it again, Vlado? I'd be pleased to accompany you with my folk group!

But back to Detva 1998. For me the program of "foreign Slovaks" is always very touching. Everybody with no exception sang Slovak songs, danced Slovak dances, and talked to the audience in Slovak. Especially children were very, very cute. For example sisters 6 year old Zuzka and 9 year old Julinka Minova from Prague, Anicka Istvanova from Hungary, Slovenka Caniova and her sister Margaretka from Yugoslavia and Marienka Krajcikova from Romania. 5 year old Mirko Kvasnovsky from Poland even accompanied his song playing a mini-accordion.

So, as you can see, Sunday in Detva is really a holiday for us, Slovaks. It's a day of rest, a perfect day for long talks with our close friends, maybe also relatives who live so far away from Slovakia - our countrymen. They come here to show that they haven't forgotten about traditions, costumes, songs and dances of this small country in the middle of Europe, Slovakia.

Let me tell you, dear Slovaks, my friends, you all are so dear to our hearts. Even if you live in different parts of the world, please, take care of the flowers of our traditions. Keep Slovak folklore alive!

Sunday is the last day of the week (in our country!). The festival ends in the afternoon. In the last program Gala program we could see a short "review" of all previous programs. All performing musicians, dancers and singers showed their best not only to the audience in Detva's amphitheater, this great Finale was also broadcast by Slovak TV. At 4 o'clock everybody was leaving the amphitheater with smile on their faces and a beautiful warm feeling in their hearts. If you come and visit our festival in Detva, you will surely understand what I am talking about.

I hope to meet you next year, dear friends. Many of you sent letters and Emails to me. I would like to say sorry if I didn't manage to answer all of them but I promise to do my best to answer your questions or help in any way, if possible. Feel free to write or call. It’s so nice to know about new and new places where WE-SLOVAKS live.

Lots of love, 

Yours Dana

Dana Hodulova
A. Bernolaka 2
962 12 Detva
Slovakia

All photographs are for sale

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Published in the Slovak Heritage Live newsletter Volume 6, No. 3, Fall 1998
Copyright © Vladimir Linder 1998
3804 Yale Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5C 1P6
The above article and photographs may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or redistributed by any means including electronic, without the express written permission of Vladimir Linder. All rights reserved.