General thread

[longee]

Originally Posted by Djuroslav

Longee volunteered;


Yes, but do you have different SUNGLASSES as well?

- How about some information concerning your band? How many members? What's your personnel? Do you guys play much?

I change my sunglasses every now and then.

Some information about my "banda": Tamburaški sastav "Javor" was founded in 1997. in Pula as first TS (not to mention ONLY ONE ) in this area. I took some of my friends and made them tamburaši. That wasn't an easy task, but I've accomplished it and I'm very proud of it. Until few days ago, we were five-member band with prim, two basprims, kontra and bas.
I said "we were" 'cause the company I work for relocated me to Zagreb. I'm going overthere in a few days. I hope boys will continue the work I've started.

Phew...

[Djuroslav]

Do you guys call it a "bugarija", or a "kontra" over there?

[Hrvoje]

Djuro, both terms are used and are "correct"... I personally prefer the term kontra and I guess that's the dominant term throughout Slavonia while in W and NW parts of Croatia people call it bugarija or beglajt... When I was playing a D-tuned Katulic instrument I called it "bugarija", but now I got an E-tuned instrument inspired by tamburas from Vojvodina and I call it kontra...

I once thought that if it's D then it's bugarija, if it's E then it is kontra, but that's an "urban myth"...

Bottom line is - call it "kontra", "bugarija", "beglajt", but don't call it "guitar" That is, explain to the people who are referring to your kontra as a "kinda strange guitar" that it is NOT a guitar...

[Djuroslav]

Thank you for that explanation, Hrvoje. Of course I would NEVER let anyone call my ax a 'guitar', without first explaining the difference to them.

How about you other rhythm players out there? Do you refer to YOUR instrument as a KONTRA, or a BUGARIJA? Is there a geographical preference as Hrvoje suggests? I'd be very interested to know...

[stucz]

I think that in my region (Hrvatsko Zagorje) people like to call it BEGLAJT! My grandfather told me that as long as he remembers they've called it beglajt...

[MaRu]

Even though you might be right about running this English sub-forum, my opinion is: every Croatian-rooted tamburaš from the New World should use his(her) mothertongue, and that is, naturally, Croatian. Or try using it, at least.

Hey to all! Till now I was just reading about things, but here I really have to ask that question: And if your roots are not Croatian and you're still interested? I mean I try to learn Croatian, but that's quite hard if you actually don't have any connection... (I'm from North Germany)

So thanks for this subforum!

[Trabi]

Originally Posted by MaRu

Hey to all! Till now I was just reading about things, but here I really have to ask that question: And if your roots are not Croatian and you're still interested? I mean I try to learn Croatian, but that's quite hard if you actually don't have any connection... (I'm from North Germany)

So thanks for this subforum!

Very good question.

P.S. How are you connected with Croatia and tambura if I may ask?Maybe by marriage?

[dkranjce]

Originally Posted by Trabi

Very good question.

P.S. How are you connected with Croatia and tambura if I may ask?Maybe by marriage?

Sorry, al' I must odgovorit na hrvatskom...

Slučajno znam da se radi o djevojci koja 15-ak godina svira violinu (čini mi se i da je srednju završila), malo je lektorirala njemački prijevod stranice (uglavnom samo članove; odličan posao Danice ) pomalo uči svirat prim, ide joj jaaako dobro i veze nema ni porijeklom niti udajom sa Hrvatskom...
Zanimljivo mi je kad se stranci "navuku" na tambure

p.s. sorry na mom bad English

[longee]

Originally Posted by MaRu

Hey to all! Till now I was just reading about things, but here I really have to ask that question: And if your roots are not Croatian and you're still interested? I mean I try to learn Croatian, but that's quite hard if you actually don't have any connection... (I'm from North Germany)

So thanks for this subforum!

I apologize for that. I assumed (apparently wrong) that Forum's purpose is to gather all Croatian (or at least South Slavic) tambura players that should use Croatian language.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

PS: Even though I have explicitely suggested that

every Croatian-rooted tamburaš from the New World should use his(her) mothertongue, and that is, naturally, Croatian. Or try using it, at least.

and "every Croatian-rooted tamburaš" doesn't mean "every tamburaš", does it?

[Djuroslav]

Longee,

Did you move yet? If so, are you still going to play with your group in Pula? Or are you contemplating joining/starting a 'new' orchestra in Zagreb?

[longee]

Originally Posted by Djuroslav

Longee,

Did you move yet? If so, are you still going to play with your group in Pula? Or are you contemplating joining/starting a 'new' orchestra in Zagreb?

I moved already, thanks for asking. Unfortunately, I quit playing with TS Javor, since it would be very hard to continue managing a band when one has as tight schedule as I have.

Few days ago, I've joined TS Legolas from Zagreb, on everyone's satisfaction, hopefully .

When I grow up, perhaps I could play in a great orchestra such as ZG Tamburaši, but until then, this will do.

Damn, my English is very bad these days, I could actually use some practice.

So long, Djuroslav

[MaRu]

Originally Posted by longee

I apologize for that. I assumed (apparently wrong) that Forum's purpose is to gather all Croatian (or at least South Slavic) tambura players that should use Croatian language.

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

PS: Even though I have explicitely suggested that and "every Croatian-rooted tamburaš" doesn't mean "every tamburaš", does it?

Ok, so there is a point to write some things in English, or at least have the possibility to ask questions...

[Hrvoje]

Originally Posted by MaRu

Ok, so there is a point to write some things in English, or at least have the possibility to ask questions in English...

All you gotta do is ask - and your question will be answered... Or at least I'll try since most of the people aren't to keen to write using the English language.

[MaRu]

There is an announcement for some concert in Zagreb with 100 tamburase or sth. Since I didn't quite understand What exactly is it and who is going to be there?

To Trabi:

How are you connected with Croatia and tambura if I may ask?Maybe by marriage?

Well, I'm here in this nice country for a couple of months (I'll never forget them...) and I will be here for another couple , trying to take everything with me I can and hopefully be able to understand more of your crazy language in the end than I do now (usually I'm missing the most important things in the conversation ).
And no, not by marriage (though I get that question quite often).

[Djuroslav]

Longee or Hrvoje,

Who, or what is ZG Tamburaši?

[Hrvoje]

@Djuroslav - ZG tamburaši (Zagrebački tamburaši) iz a newly formed tambura orchestra which consists of more experienced musicians like Šuša, Miki, Jinx (I hope these names mean something to you, they played (or still play) in Ex Panonia), Miroslav Navračić (accordion) and some talented young blood (some are members of this forum like jaksa, patos, gazy). Oh, yeah, Jerry is also a member of Zagrebački tamburaši.

Interesting thing is that aside of standard tambura instruments they also have a clarinetist, accordionist, sometimes tambura bass and double bass (bowed) together and a cimbalom...

You can check out their website - http://www.zagrebackitamburasi.com/index.html ("O nama" is the "about" section so you can see all the members there).

They appeared at the Hrvoje Majić Memorial Concert that was held a couple days ago and here is their performance - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQjRguHYRDY


@MaRu - The concert with 100 tamburaši is actually officially called "Šokačka rapsodija" and will take place in the Lisinski concert hall in Zagreb on May 22nd. There will be about 130 tamburaši from several Croatian cities performing an interesting program (classical, folk, rock). I didn't quite understand if you are in Croatia (Zagreb?) now (or will you be at the time of the concert), but if you can, I definitely recommend you to go and see the concert...

[MaRu]

Originally Posted by Hrvoje

I didn't quite understand if you are in Croatia (Zagreb?) now (or will you be at the time of the concert), but if you can, I definitely recommend you to go and see the concert...

I'm not in Zagreb, but maybe can arrange to get there... Maaaaaaybe

[longee]

Originally Posted by Hrvoje

All you gotta do is ask - and your question will be answered... Or at least I'll try since most of the people aren't to keen to write using the English language.

I'm here too. Even though my English isn't that good as Hrvoje's .

@ MaRu: So, here's the drill; you ask, we answer. If we know the answer, that is. If we don't, google IS your friend .

Sorry, J/K

[MaRu]

@longee:
Thanks, I will surely ask couple questions... Like that: where do you guys get your strings? Where do tamburasi in Germany get their strings? Well, I know how to get them for a violin, but for a Prim?

[longee]

Originally Posted by MaRu

@longee:
Thanks, I will surely ask couple questions... Like that: where do you guys get your strings? Where do tamburasi in Germany get their strings? Well, I know how to get them for a violin, but for a Prim?

I've tried whole bunch of string brands and for now, I'm stuck with "Franić" strings: relatively inexpensive but pretty darn good ones. "Postonjski" strings are also very good, but much more expensive. These two brands are my favourite string brands for tambura (basprim, that is ).

Other two kinds I dislike are "Rajković" and "Yotke" 'cause of unnatural feel of playing; too sharp for me (not the tone, the feel!), like I'm pressing razor blades . Not very long lasting, too.

This is a big IMHO though , as other may actually like brands I dislike.

Now the question pops up: how the hell will you buy "Franić" strings in Germany? I don't really know . You could try by mail, or find a person who goes to Croatia often or something. I get mine by mail.



Best regards,

longee