Zaspo Janko Pod Jablanom - Virtual Balkan Community Choir
ZADO Eastern European Vocal Ensemble & KITKA Women's Vocal Ensemble co-present:
“Zaspo Janko Pod Jablanom”
International Virtual Balkan Community Choir Project
Arranged and Directed by Michele Simon
Janko fell asleep beneath the poplar tree
The Balkan origins of the folk song, Zaspo Janko Pod Jablanom, remain a mystery, but its beauty and poignancy clearly have continued to captivate listeners, singers, musicians, and historians young and old throughout time. There is a great array of arrangements and variations of the song. This version has its roots from the small village of Tomašica, Croatia, and was recently arranged by California-based Balkan voice instructor, coach, vocalist, and musician, Michele Simon. Michele is well-loved throughout the U.S. and beyond for her singing, teaching, choral directing, and Balkan band performances. Over the last thirty years she has sung with Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble and has sung and played percussion and tambura in several folk dance bands, such as Anoush, Brass Menazeri, Helladelics, and Zabava!. She has performed on recordings, as well as on stage and television in the U.S., Bulgaria, and Serbia. Michele teaches private individuals as well as public groups at workshops and camps. Her website is: https://www.michelesimonsimplyvoice.com
Our virtual choir is honored to sing this beautiful composition as part of our 2020-21 “Artistry of Balkan Singing” project, supported in part by the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and donations. We dedicate this recording to the people of Tomašica, Croatia.
ZASPO JANKO POD JABLANOM (Janko fell asleep beneath the poplar tree)
Traditional, Tomašica, Croatia, arr. Michele Simon
Janko fell asleep beneath the poplar tree
Of his sweet dear.
“My lovely black eyes
Look at me.”
Beneath the golden branched poplar
Of his sweet dear.
“My lovely black eyes
Look at me.”
I break off the golden branch
Of his sweet dear.
“My lovely black eyes
Look at me.”
Video editing by John Nilsen, John Nilsen Studios.
Audio mixing and mastering by Craig Long, Paradise Studios, and Jan Volkoff.
Project direction by Jan Volkoff, Michele Simon, and Shira Cion, with special thanks to Zado and Kitka members and to John Morovich who assisted with song research.
Please help to support Zado’s and Kitka’s work sharing the beauty, complexity, styles, and artistry of Balkan music and cultivating community and cross-cultural understanding through song:
Zado Eastern European Vocal Ensemble
https://www.zadosings.org
Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble
https://www.kitka.org
Watch video Zaspo Janko Pod Jablanom - Virtual Balkan Community Choir online, duration hours minute second in high quality that is uploaded to the channel ZADO Eastern European Vocal Ensemble 07 August 2021. Share the link to the video on social media so that your subscribers and friends will also watch this video. This video clip has been viewed 705 times and liked it 27 visitors.
