7.4 SINGERS AND RITUAL BANDS
7.4.1 FOLKLORISTIC GROUP FOLUSZ FROM GIEDLAROWA
The folklore group "Folusz" from Giedlarowa was established in 1995 at the GOK of the Leżajsk commune on the initiative of Małgorzata Kula. Its activity is based on the elaboration, presentation of rituals and folk traditions occurring in the village of Leżajsk and their documentation.
Małgorzata Kula was the founder of the band, the author of shows and a long-term tutor. Currently, the group's guardian and choreographer is - Jadwiga Kula - Romanek, the musical director and accompanist - Stanisław Osip, and the screenwriter and director IS Małgorzata Kula.
Their repertoire includes several ritual performances - related to life in the countryside and farming, many archaic songs and dances from the vicinity of Leżajsk. These include, among others: Christmas carol shows, "Wedding in Giedlarowa", harvest shows, shows related to religious worship and other annual ceremonies.
Scenarios for these performances are based on oral accounts collected in the community, from the oldest members of the group and other villages living in Leżajsk. The reliability of these messages is confirmed by the use of research conducted in the past in this area by the Ethnographic Museum in Rzeszów. For these rituals, appropriate costumes for performers and props, appropriate to the time presented, are collected; utensils, farm tools, etc. They are often original items, "saved" from burning or destroying. Sometimes they have to be reconstructed, fortunately under the supervision of experts, ie the oldest members of the team. The shows serve authentic, traditional dishes, characteristic of this region, e.g. cabbage with peas, dumplings, stuffed cabbage, millet and buckwheat porridges, wholemeal bread, „korowol”, pancakes, sour soup and others.
Thanks to carefully recreated costumes and accurately staged ritual performances, „Folusz” belongs to the team of authentic groups. The ensemble has a dance group whose repertoire includes dances from the vicinity of Przeworsk, Rzeszów, and Lasowiackie.
"Folusz" takes an active part in reviews and competitions, both provincial, national and international - winning prestigious awards. Moreover, in 2010, "Folusz" received the Award of the Board of the Podkarpackie Province and the Award of the Leżajski County for the promotion of tradition and cultivation of folk rituals. In 2016, the "Folusz" Folk Group from Giedlarowa was awarded the honorable Oskar Kolberg "For contributions to folk culture".
The group has also recorded some shows and songs in cooperation with editor Jerzy Dynia (TVP Rzeszów S.A.). They were published as integral parts of the albums: „Giedlar wedding", „At St. Michael", „Straw in human life yesterday and today", „This magic linen", „Folusz Giedlar caroling". Several of them were presented by TVP Rzeszów in the programs "Meeting with folklore".
7.4.2 SONG AND DANCE ENSEMBLE „KAMIEŃ”
The beginnings of the Song and Dance Ensemble „KAMIEŃ” from Kamień date back to the 1960s. It was in 1967 that the first cultural social movements appeared - vocal and dance, deeply rooted in the culture of the region. In 1971, a dance group was separated, which lasted until 1998 under the watchful eye of excellent instructors. The group's most dynamic activity was recorded at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s, when the group performed not only on the municipal and provincial forums, but also on the international arena: France, Hungary, Germany, Ukraine. Unfortunately, due to the migration of a large part of the group abroad in search of work, the team suspended its activities in 1998. On the initiative of its long-term members, in 2012 ZPiT KAMIEŃ resumed its activity. Since then, it has been attracting young people from Kamień and the surrounding area with enthusiasm and love for folklore. Recalling the beginnings of their dance career, the older part of the group is eager to present regional and national dances. The group tries to recreate the dance habits traditionally, without unnecessary styling on the stage.
In its painted chest, the ensemble has mainly regional and national dances: Rzeszów, Lasowiackie, Przeworsk, Old Warsaw dances, a polonaise and performances of the „kujawiak”, „oberek” and „krakowiak”, folk songs, carols, Christmas carols and ritual performances.
The group has had several successes in both the field of dance and rituals. The group's instructor and choreographer is Jadwiga Kula-Romanek.
7.4.3 SINGERS BAND „KAMIENIACY” FROM KAMIEŃ
The "KAMIENIACY" singing group was established in 1970 at the Municipal Public Library. The accompanist of the group was Mr. Mieczysław Koziarz, who for several years led the Singing Ensemble consisting of 34 ladies. The guiding principle behind the creation of the team was the desire to continue and cultivate local traditions and folk customs after previous activists and instructors (social activists) in the field of culture. After Mr. Koziarz left, the role of accompanist was taken over by Mr. Kassak from Nisko, later by Mr. Józef Pałka from Stalowa Wola, and then Mr. Jan Babula and Mr. Józef Sypko. At that time, all rehearsals, meetings and artistic events took place in the Commune Public Library, which served as a cultural center in the commune.
In 1976 the Municipal Cultural Center is established, the director of which is Mr. Edward Konior. Since then, GOK has become a place of meetings and concerts. The singers band "Kamienianki" performed at all local celebrations (academies and municipal harvest festivals) and at county and provincial harvest festivals. In 1993, he gave a guest concert abroad in France. Participation in reviews and competitions also often resulted in successes and prizes.
In 1997, Mr. Edward Piróg becomes the manager of the "Kamienianki" Singing Group. The ladies are joined by the gentlemen and the band takes the name "Kamieniacy". Intensive rehearsals under the watchful eye of a new instructor meant that the team began to achieve further successes. He sang third place at the National Review of KGW in Kielce.
7.4.4 "LASOWIACZKI" RITUAL ENSEMBLE FROM BARANÓW SANDOMIERSKI
This ensemble, highly deserved in promoting traditional culture, was established in 1976 on the initiative of Maria Kozłowa - the first and longest-serving team leader. Its successor, for several years, was the then director of MGOK in Baranów Sandomierski, Alina Szymczyk. The current manager is Anna Rzeszutek. An important aspect of the team's activity is the ability to use the Lasowiak dialect.
Their repertoire includes, among others: a Saturday night spectacle, a spectacle about reviving charms, "Birth", "From Stephen to Shrovetide", performances of Easter rituals.
In addition to many awards won at various competitions and reviews, "LASOWIACZKI" can boast of special awards for artistic achievements and overall activity:
- Award of the Minister of Culture and Art (1983)
- 2nd degree Award. Franciszek Kotula (1999)
- Award of the Board of the Podkarpackie Province for achievements in the field of folk culture and art (1999)
- Award them. Oskar Kolberg (2003).
7.4.5 THE "GÓRNIACY" ENSEMBLE FROM KOLBUSZOWA GÓRNA
The ensemble was founded in 1982 on the initiative of Piotr Szalach, Maks Starc, Maria Chruściel and Edward Augustyn. Soon after, a folk band was formed alongside the operating ensemble. Old rituals and customs of Lasowiak were added to the singing repertoire. Much of it was recorded and broadcast on TV by Rzeszów Television. Currently, the team manager is Elżbieta Czachor.
The traditions, manners and customs played by the Górniaks were noticed and distinguished in 1996 by the Minister of Culture and Art, who awarded the Górniaks with a special Diploma for merits in promoting folk culture. Five years later, the Marshal of the Podkarpackie Province presented a similar award to the members of the People's Group from Kolbuszowa Górna. In addition, the team is the winner of many other awards and distinctions, which it brings from various performances and reviews both in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and outside it.
7.4.6 "MAZURZANIE" RITUAL GROUP FROM MASURIA
The ritual group "Mazurzanie" from Masuria has been operating under the patronage of the Municipal Center for Culture, Sports and Recreation in Raniżów since May 1997. The members of the team want to save from oblivion the old customs and rituals of Lasowiackie villages, especially from their native village, as well as in the immediate vicinity. Their repertoire includes ritual performances related to Christmas (Christmas Eve, Christmas Carol) with Palm Sunday, Midsummer customs, harvest and late autumn customs (pickling cabbage, processing flax).
The band wears characteristic costumes from Lasowiaks. They are made in imitation of the old clothes in which their great-grandfathers wore. They are distinguished by simplicity and modesty. Dialogues and songs are presented in the dialect typical of our region.
The team is a laureate of many awards won at regional and national competitions.
7.4.7 "CYGANIANKI" GROUP FROM CYGANY, NOWA DĘBA COMMUNE
The team has been under the patronage of the Town and Commune Office in Nowa Dęba since its inception. Since 1997, thanks to the dedicated work of Zofia Sędyka and the current manager, Maria Ordon, the ensemble has been constantly expanding its repertoire, focusing on the folklore of Lasowiak.
Their repertoire includes, among others "Lent customs and rites - Good Friday", "Lasowiaks Wedding", "Jasełka", "Saturdays at Lasowiaks".
The team has repeatedly won awards and distinctions at various competitions and reviews organized in the voivodeship, concerning rituals and regional culture.
7.4.8 „ ZPiT LASOWIACY” from Stalowa Wola
The Song and Dance Ensemble "Lasowiacy" was established in the Factory House of Culture in Stalowa Wola in 1956. It consisted of a vocal, dance and instrumental section. The name of the band "Lasowiacy" is obviously related to the ethnographic region in which Stalowa Wola is located.
From the very beginning of the group's existence, its goal is to save the folk dances and songs of the Lasowiaks region from oblivion by creating lasowiackie and grębowo suites in an artistic arrangement. These beautiful dance pictures allow you to preserve Lasowiaks songs and dances for contemporary folklore lovers.
In 2000, on the initiative of the artistic director Marek Zaremba, the Association of Sympathizers of the Song and Dance Ensemble "Lasowiacy" was established. The aim of the association is to support ZPiT "Lasowiacy" and "Mali Lasowiacy" operating at the Municipal Cultural Center in Stalowa Wola.
The repertoire of the ensemble also includes songs and dances from other regions of Poland, as well as many thematic items, contemporary in content and form, which link the past with the present, with new life and customs, with music, song and dance, encouraging young people to experience tradition.
