“Vershe” is a song that hails from the tradition of the Lemko people – an ethnic group historically inhabiting the Carpathian Mountains along the border of today’s Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia. Having experienced major emigration at the turn of the 20th century, followed by compulsory resettlement after World War II, their rich culture almost disappeared. Fortunately, it endured, lovingly preserved by Lemkos scattered all over the world, who passed their traditions down the generations. The Lemko language, even though uprooted from its natural environment, survived in stories, and songs such as this one. Its ‘soul-pinching’ Slavic wistfulness combines naturally with vocal harmonies characteristic to musical traditions influenced by the Eastern Orthodox Church. ‘The dramatic history of the Lemko language, as well as its endurance against all odds made us think about a very similar lot of the Irish language, hence we decided to juxtapose the two,’

Vershe

An old Russian song that probably comes from Siberian Cossacks. It was traditionally sung to brides-to-be. It depicts the cycles of sunrise and sunsets over forests, paths, bridges and people crossing them as a metaphor indicating that life in general follows a certain pattern.

Baba Yarga

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