Great Balkan music from a Pennsylvania villageLIKE HARMONIA last December, this is a band you'll want to dance to as well as listen to, so we've scheduled both a dance and a concert. (For details on the dance, choose 'calendar', be sure you've got all events chosen, and scroll down to June 6th.)SVIRAJ--THE NAME (pronounced svee-rye, with a rolled 'r') means 'Play!' in Serbian and Croatian-- is a group of ethnic Balkan musicians who preserve their heritage through performances that celebrate the music of Eastern Europe.SVIRAJ'S PERFORMANCES evoke passion, fire, sadness, joy, melancholy. The music has its roots in Serbia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Dalmatia and Romania, but it also flourishes in the tamburitza music among the Balkan communities of North America. Sviraj preserves both traditions because both nurtured them.SVIRAJ'S REPERTOIRE extends from a Serbian kolo to a Croatian love song, to a Macedonian lesnoto in 7/8 time, to a whimsical Dalmatian song about the sea, to a Bosnian song of unrequited love with its clear Turkish influences, to a lilting waltz from Slovenia, to the rich music of the Banat region of Romania, and to the dances of the Greek islands. Sviraj has performed together since 1988.THE MEMBERS OF SVIRAJ are life-long friends who grew up together in an ethnically diverse steel town in Pennsylvania. They learned the music of their culture and others through many, many performances, jam sessions and encounters with folk musicians from the ethnic communities in the United States and the Balkans.R.E. (Raczar) LOPATIC (Violin, Prim, Vocals) of Croatian and Slovenian descent, is a former member of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. A classically trained violinist, he has been performing for over 20 years with groups such as Jorgovan, Trick Bag & Tzigantzi at Epcot Center.LENNY TEPSICH (Bass, Cello, Vocals) of Serbian and Croatian heritage, has performed for over 20 years. He has been featured at Balkan music and dance camps and international folk festivals. Also an accomplished tamburitza cello player, he adds the counter-melodies that give the music richness and texture. Lenny is also nationally-known as 'Mr. Music,' performing songs for children.DANILO YANICH (Bugarija, Accordion, Vocals) of Serbian descent, has performed for over 25 years. He is on the teaching staff of Balkan Music and Dance Camps and past president of the national board of the East European Folklife Center. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Affairs & Public Policy and has published articles on Balkan politics. He is an Associate Professor at the Graduate School of Urban Affairs & Public Policy, University of Delaware.
