Udade se Zivka Sirinićka
Ballad from Prizren – Kosovo and Metohia, SERBJIA
Sung by Belo Platno (White Linen)
Female children used to be married off very young in the past. In the past, female children were married very young. Parents tried to provide a better life for them by marrying them into known families, on time, as early as possible. The most danger threatened from Moslem neighbors (Albanians and Turks) who frequently kidnapped Christian girls, and even young married women.
This song tells of the great love between Zivka and Mika, who promised themselves to each other. Suddenly, Zivka is marrying another. Mika, upset, seeks an answer, and she replies sadly: “They gave me away, they didn’t ask me!”
Who is Belo Platno
“Belo Platno” means White Linen, in Serbian. White linen is a frequent motive in Serbian folk songs. As a symbol of purity, white linen follows a man through life: at birth, he is swaddled in it; at his baptism — wrapped in it; at his wedding — bound by it; as a wedding guest — presented with it; during his life he wears it, and is finally shrouded in it.
Musical origins of Belo Platno can be found in Balkan folk music and in Byzantine church music.
The main characteristics of the music of Belo Platno are the Balkan modal style, striking female voices and the playing of authentic traditional instruments. The modal style consists of singing and playing according to modes. The musical arrangements for group performances are based on field and other sound recordings. The songs are sung in local slavic dialects.
The group Belo Platno was founded in Belgrade (Serbia) in 1997 through the engagement and effort of people brought together by their love for folk culture and joint need to preserve and bring back to life, through songs and playing.
Belo Platno represents a joining of good instrumentalists and singers that perceive traditional music as an endless source of inspiration for the discovery of personal and contemporary musical expression.
The band
Vlada Simich [lute, kaval, tambura, dvoyanka]
Natasha Simich [tambourine, vocals]
Tanja Damnjanovich [tambourine, vocals]
Anastasia Ostojich [vocals]
Akash Bat [daff, tabla, goch, tarabuka]
Milosh Jakovljevich [kaval]
Filip Krumes [violin]
Goran Miloshevich [udu, riqq, tarabuka, daff ]