Bystrican balances 2017

Januar 6 was a real festive day for the choir. In the morning, the „Bystricans“ sang in St. Peter and Paul´s local church on the mass served in honour of the Epiphany. At noon, they were guests of the choirmaster JUDr. Stefan Martinkovic and his wife, who served their own hand – made festive cabbage soup in the rehearsal room of Ludovy dom (Public House).
The „Bystricans“ made use of the festive party in order to balance the choir activities in the foregon year. The choirmaster also informed the members about his imaginations of the way, the choir should wend in 2018. The bearing activity should be oriented to the preparation of the third CD recording, contain of which will be the folk songs from Zahorie. Early in 2017, all the members received aprx. 50 songs, from which aprx. 20 songs would be selected to be the subject of the CD recording.
Concurrently to this, the singers rehearsed and sang the sacral songs during the holly masses in St. Michael, Archangel church in Cunovo, three times in the parish church of St. Jesus´Heart in Most by Bratislava, St. Spirit church in Katlovce and St. Peter and Paul´s church in Zahorska Bystrica.

In February, 19 Bystrican took part at the folk costume baal in Brumovice, Czech Republic. The singers attended the folk costume parade in their costumes and sang several merry songs from Zahorie.

May, 22 – Bystrican performed in the Zohor church on the occasion of the 25th anniversary concert of GLORIA Choir from Zohor. Our repertory was created from „Dona nobis pacem“, „Laudate Dominum“, “Surexit (F)”, “Tebe poem” and, together with GLORIA we sang “Oslavujme, poďakujme” (let us celebrate and thank).

August, 13 – We gave a concert in the local summer altheneum by the local library. These concerts used to be given in the summer time. In the past, there was not a library, but the local Municipality settle. It was the librarian, Mrs. Viera Marosova on who´s impulse was this pleasant tradition renewed. Bystrican, who´s domicil is in Zahorska Bystrica was addressed to perform as the first. The choirmaster Stefan Martinkovic was thankfull for the invitation and at the performance he expressed the idea of founding the children choir in Zahorska Bystrica. „We need the young conductor and the young singers“, he said. In summer altheneum met not only the Bystrican choir fans, but also the local inhabitants, who stopped over, as they were passing by. „ From our rich repertory we have prepared for you the songs we love to sing and we are convinced, they will please your soles and your hearts“, said the moderator. It was nice to see, that there were more and more people comming and singing good-tempered songs from Zahorie along with us.

September, 1 – Zahorska Bystrica annually commemorates two significant days from the history of the Slovak Republic: The Anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising, 29.8.1944 and the Day of the Slovak Republic Constitution , 1.9.1992. The areal „Placek“ on Tesedikova street was the scene of the Souvereignity Bonfire ignition after the ceremonial speeches. Our choir sang the National Anthem and the Slovak patriotic song „Kto za pravdu hori“.

September, 2 – we sang severall folk songs for the visitors of Hrube hody (Big Kermess) at the main square of Zahorska Bystrica.

September, 24 – We sang the sacral compositions during the holly mass in the parish church of St. Jesus´Heart in Most by Bratislava
October 7 – We sang several songs at the little local market in Ludovy dom (The Public House)
October, 15 – Our choir was invited by profesor Pavol Zemko, the priest from Katlovce to sing during the holly mass in the church of Holly Spirit in Katlovce served on the occassion of 182. anniversary of the church sanctification. At that very day, there was a so called small kermess in Katlovce and the local housewifes brought their home made goodies to the church, in order to have them sanctificated. Bystrican, being led by it´s choirmaster Stefan Martinkovic sang severall beautifull sacral compositions, such as „Tebe poem“,“ Laudate Dominum“ and „ Dona Nobis Pacem“. The present church-goers recognized our singing mastership by presenting us with the sanctificated „goodies“. Professor Zemko, as well as Daniel Capkovic, the soloist of the Slovak National Opera, who was also present on the mass have also expressed their recognition.

November 30, – Bystrican members realised the „voice testing“ in the ancient mill in Dolany.
As mentioned before, the flashpoint of Bystrican choir´s singing activities will be the recording of the third CD containing songs from Zahorie. This endeavour, however, must be supported by the reinforcement of soprano part, which was weakened by three singers going off.
The perseverance, resolution and vehemence of all the „Bystricans“ however, guarranties, that the choir being expertly conducted by Dr. Martinkovic will reach the stated goal and please the hearts of their favourers.
Eva Frtalova