War, as well as love, accompanies mankind since time immemorial and after the part dedicated to love songs, there comes another part of the Anthology of Moravian Folk Music which introduces less joyful songs. Songs about leaving to military service and war are in their lyrics full of defiance and sadness, they have mostly gloomy mood but sometimes a bit mischievous too. This selection offers listeners instrumental, solo and chorus sung “verbuňks“ and recruiting (“rekrutské/regrútské/legrútské”) songs. This is the seventh part of the reflection on the contemporary form of folk music-making both in small and large Moravian folk regions.



„Slovácko region “verbuňk” (recruitment song) is one of the most elaborate (and most variable) male solo dances of Southeast Moravia, also known far beyond the borders of the original region; its popularity (sparked off by many years of competing for the best dancer of Slovácko verbuňk in regional qualifying rounds, which traditionally culminate at the Strážnice festival) made it a phenomenon which reached the top when this dance was written in the UNESCO list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity UNESCO in 2005; in Bohemia and Moravia, it was the first award of this kind. Since 2008, Slovácko verbuňk is also introduced in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.“



The Anthology of Moravian Folk Music is an extensive project which has presented in previous six parts already over 180 tracks the contemporary form of Moravian folk music. The seventh part adds another thirty pieces of this vast mosaic. In the 24 page booklet in Czech and English, you can find basic characteristics and history of recruiting in our country. There is also an explanation of why “verbuňk” is such a unique dance that it was included in the UNESCO list, as well as notes on sele.......
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