PRODOR NAŠEG KLAPSKOG PJEVANJA U ITALIJU I EUROPU

JOSIP GANZA

Naše dalmatinsko klapsko pjevanje je dio našeg identiteta i kao takvo nam je svima (komu više komu manje) drago i blisko.

Strani turisti koji dođu kod nas i čuju to pjevanje uglavnom su ugodno iznenađeni, što znači da "ulazi u uho" i širem europskom puku.

Već petnaest godina sam u pečalbi u sjevernoj Italiji, a kako mi je drago pivat, počeo sam se uključivati u talijansko zborno pjevanje njihovih "narodnih" zborova. Pivanje je slično, u četiri glasa, s tim što Talijani pjevaju o ljubavi i planinama, a naši o ljubavi i moru (jer su, asti Gospe, blizu mora) i drugim sličnim istovrsnim temama.

Ubrzo sam uočio da naše klape ništa ne znaju o talijanskim narodnim zborovima, Talijani  još manje o našim klapama. To je za mene bila nedozvoljena ¨buža¨ koja me  zaintrigirala i koju sam se osjetio ponukanim popuniti.

Uporno, već dvanaest godina, isključivo kao amater-volonter, ostvarujem svoju zamisao, a zacrtani cilj mi je bio kulturno upoznavanje zbornog pjevanja između Italije i Hrvatske.

U početku sam u Italiji nailazio na priličnu nezainteresiranost i otpor, premda su me svugdje lijepo i s respektom primali. Problem je bio u tome što je jedna ovakva novost u talijanskoj ¨uhodanosti¨  bila teško prihvatljiva. U početku im je naša dalmatinska pisma djelovala dosadno i pospano, jer su njihove življe i brže. Mnogim maestrima talijanskih zborova davao sam na slušanje po više kazeta naših klapa i poslije ih pitao za mišljenje. Reakcije su bile razne, od indiferentnih i nepovoljnih do oduševljenih. Naravno, presudni su bili obrazovanje, ali nadasve karakter pojedinog maestra u smislu njegove "otvorenosti" ili "ušančenosti" u uhodanost, kao i vrijeme koje je uz sve svoje obaveze mogao posvetiti tome. Maestri su ovdje radni ljudi, a zborove vode u svoje slobodno vrijeme – nema profesionalaca.

Naravno, trebalo je pogoditi i pravu mjeru informacija koje sam im davao, jer mlitavost ne daje rezultate, a prejako navaljivanje odbija ljude. To je bio dugotrajan i uporan rad. Neaktivnost od dva-tri mjeseca mogla je upropastiti sav prethodni angažman, a pogreške ostaviti dugotrajne posljedice.

Već prije jedanaest godina kontaktirao sam sa Mihovilom  Popovcem tadašnjim organizacionim direktorom Omiškog festivala, a radi nabavke partitura dalmatinskih pisama za neke talijanske maestre. Naša suradnja je pošla u dobrom smjeru i premda sam slijedeće godine bio i djelomično gost Omiškog festivala, suradnja je prekinuta radi nesuglasica.

Okrenuo sam se drugoj strani, samim izvođačima. Na "Omišu" sam razgovarao sa Mojmirom Čačijom, maestrom klape "Sinj" pobjednikom festivala te godine i upoznao ga se održavanjem  Međunarodnog festivala klapa u Veroni u Italiji. Predložio sam mu nastup na tom festivalu. To je bio odlučujući moment. Uz njegovu i odvažnu suradnju njegove supruge Ive okrenuli smo novu međunarodnu stranicu našeg klapskog pivanja.

Da se malo vratim festivalu u Veroni.

Festival ima međunarodni karakter i ima međunarodni žiri od sedam članova. Četiri člana su Talijani, po jedan iz Njemačke, Češke i Belgije (nije obavezno tako), a  prema pravilniku Centrale Europskih festivala koja sa nalazi u Njemačkoj. Osim predsjednika žirija Talijana Crocia, koji se ne mijenja, ostali članovi su promjenjivi.

Direktor Veronskog festivala g. Lino Pasetto kojeg poznajem već dvanaest godina je krasan i plemenit čovjek, nadasve human i kulturan. U suradnji i dogovoru sa mnom odobrio je da Talijani već drugu godinu za redom velikodušno prepuštaju jedno mjesto od "svoje" kvote četiri člana žirija našem predstavniku. Veroneži su sa svoje strane "prevarili" Centralu festivala u Njemačkoj i našeg člana žirija podveli pod svoju kvotu, tako da je naš pod kvotom "Talijan", ali uz puno priznanje da je Hrvat.

Dakle, 1999.g. član Međunarodnog žirija bio je Splićanin maestro Vlado Sunko, a 2000. kao i 2002.g. Bojan Pogrmilović iz Zagreba. Obojica su bila primljena jako dobro i kao punopravni članovi. Osvjetlali su nam obraz, a za našu zemlju je važno da su se izmijenile dvije vrlo stručne osobe što pokazuje našu kulturnu širinu. Takvoj suradnji sam se nadao i 2003.g., kad sam nastojao ubaciti maestra Kraljevića u žiri. Na sveopće veliko zadovoljstvo to mi je uspjelo tek 2004.g.

Prvi dio mog projekta upoznavanja i obostrane razmjene Hrvatske i Italije bila je pomoć oko organizacije dolaska i sudjelovanja naših klapa na Međunarodnom festivalu u Veroni.

Eto, prvi pravi plodovi moga rada počeli su prije devet godina.

1997.

U travnju 1997.g. na Međunarodni festival zborova u Veronu su došle

muška klapa "Sinj" iz Sinja i

ženska klapa "Baklje" iz Rijeke.

Učestvovali su i predstavnici desetak zemalja Europe i SAD s oko tridesetak zborova.

Natjecalo se u četiri kategorije: polifonija bez obaveznog dijela, polifonija s obaveznim dijelom, narodna i jazz.

"Sinj" je zasjao u punom sjaju, a efekt su pojačale i alkarske nošnje u kojima su nastupili i koje su svi oduševljeno fotografirali. Dobili su zlatni pehar i prvo mjesto, te još specijalnu nagradu s peharom za folklor.

U ženskoj konkurenciji "Baklje" su dobile zlatni pehar i prvo mjesto.

Za vrijeme trajanja festivala održavaju se i koncerti petkom i subotom navečer u kazalištima i crkvama u Veroni i okolici. Kao gosti domaćih veronskih klapa, besplatno, sudjelovali su i naši i ti su koncerti bili  jako posjećeni. Ti su koncerti već devetu godinu pravi trijumf i puna afirmacija naše pisme. Narod već zna da je kvaliteta izvođenja visoka, a pomalo je i navikao na naš melos, pa je oduševljenje veliko, a pljesci gromoglasni i dugotrajni (neću govoriti o delirijumu publike da se ne kaže da pretjerujem). Na tim koncertima obavezno nastupa domaćin  Italija i još jedan do dva zbora gostiju od ostalih naroda sa festivala.

Najprestižniji veronski zborovi već imaju "privilegij" da na gostovanje kod sebe dobiju naše klape umjesto Nizozemaca ili Nijemaca, a za ostale termine naših, veronski zborovi vode "bitke" tko će ih dobiti. Pa kud ćete većeg zadovoljstva. Da vam srce raste!

1998.

U Veroni su bile:

muška klapa "Cambi" iz Kaštel Kambelovca s maestrom Rajmirom Kraljevićem,

ženska klapa "Cesarice" sa maestrom Bojanom Pogrmilovićem iz Zagreba,

ženska klapa "Luka" iz Rijeke sa maestrom Ninom Načinovićem

dječja klapa "Bepo" iz Omiša sa maestricom Terezom Čečuk sada Kosanović.

Sve tri odrasle klape su osvojile zlatne pehare i prva mjesta, a klapa "Cambi" i specijalni pehar koji se dodjeljuje za folklornu interpretaciju. U dječjoj konkurenciji klapa "Bepo" koja je bila "stara" tek godinu dana osvojila je srebrni pehar.

1999.

Ova godina je donijela nove uspjehe i tri zlatna pehara i prva mjesta. Sudjelovale su

muška klapa "Kumpanji" iz Blata na Korčuli sa maestrom Janesom Vlašićem,

muška klapa "Kamen" iz Kamena (Split) sa maestrom Vinkom Lesićem i

ženska klapa "Viole" iz Svetog Filipa i Jakova kojima je pomoćni maestro bio Bojan Pogrmilović, a predsjednik i osnivač klape Mirko Đinđić.

2000.

Travanj 2000.g. nam je opet donio pobjednike i četiri zlatna pehara. Ovog puta je jedna domaća veronska klapa dijelila prvo mjesto s našom najboljom muškom klapom, dok su svi drugi – Talijani, Nijemci i Švicarci ostali iza naših. Pehare su kući ponijeli:

muška klapa "Luka" iz Ploča sa maestrom Ivicom Kalebom

muška klapa "Vokalisti Saloneť" iz Solina sa maestrom Vladanom Vuletinom,

ženska klapa "Dalmatinke" iz Splita sa maestrom Vinkom Lesićem i

ženska klapa "Blajke" iz Blata na Korčuli sa maestrom Janesom Vlašićem.

"Vokalisti Salone" i klapa "Luka" su kao posebnu privilegiju i  dodatak izvan konkurencije i službenog vremena zapjevali i po jedan-dva komada iz "polifonije" tako da ih međunarodni žiri "odvagne". I jedni i drugi su mislili možda ući i u tu kategoriju, no za sada im bolje "leži" narodna dalmatinska pisma. A u budućnosti - nikad se ne zna!

2001.

Ova je godina bila posebno napučena. Sudjelovalo je čak 6 naših klapa. To su        

klapa "Adrion" iz Makarske sa maestrom Franom Kaštelanom,

klapa "Vinčace" iz Novog Vinodolskog sa maestrom Kobol Pavom  (jedini koje nisam ja organizirao, ali su i oni imali moju pomoć)

klapa "Vela Luka" (bila je malo brojnija jer je u sastavu imala pjevače iz 2 Velalučke klape) sa maestrom Janesom Vlašićem,

ženska klapa "Teha" sa Cresa sa maestricom Mirjanom Flego - Mikičić

ženska klapa "Lanterne" iz Vela Luke sa maestrom J. Vlašićem.

Ovih pet klapa su pokupile pet zlatnih pehara i jednu specijalnu. Posebna zanimljivost je bila pojava "Starih pučkih pjevača" iz Kamena sa maestrom Sinišom Vukovićem koja je festivalu predstavila aspekt prethodnika klapskog pjevanja, te su oni osvojili prestižni i nimalo laki srebrni pehar.

2002.

Ova je godina donila tri naše klape s krajnjeg juga Dalmacije. To su:

"Subrenum" iz Mlina niže Dubrovnika sa maestrom Ivanom Vlašićem i

Dvije ženske klape s godinu-dvi života

klapa "Fa Linđo" iz Dubrovnika sa maestrom Vedranom Ivankovićem i

klapa "Revelin" iz Korčule sa maestrom Velebitom Veršićem.

Opet su pala tri zlatna pehara.

2003.

I 2003. g. nije mogla proći bez naših klapa u Veroni.

Klapa "Kadena" iz Zadra je ovaj put pobrala samo srebrno, ali ipak dobro odličje.

Jedna se bitna novost  dogodila ove godine. Došla su čak 3 zbora polifoničara za što sam se ja već zalagao, ali je tek Pogrmilović uspio da ih dovede pošto se više kreće u tim krugovima. Riječani i Zabočani su osvojili srebrna odličja u jakoj konkurenciji.

Zagrebački zbor "Goran Filipović" ne samo da je osvojio  zlato i specijalnu nagradu najboljeg izvođača obavezne skladbe nego je osvojio i nevjerojatnih  97 od ukupno 100 bodova, te je time bio ne samo apsolutni pobjednik ovog, nego i svih dosadašnjih 14 Festivala.

Ističem to zbog toga što Talijani poslije 7 godina vrlo uspješnih pohoda naših klapa u kategoriji narodne pisme, sada imaju i jake naše  predstavnike i u "jačoj" polifoničnoj kategoriji. To je još jedan dokaz naše širine i bogatstva u vokalnoj glazbi.

Poslije završnice Festivala, kada se u Areni pjeva uobičajena "Va' Pensiero" još se pjeva i po grupama. Već na kraju je naišao i moj talijanski maestro Dante Savoja za kojeg sam ih zamolio da ponove "Ćaće moj" od Matetića Ronjgova. Iako su bili već poprilično iscrpljeni uslišali su molbu, a g. Savoia je bio  osupnut savršenošću i snagom izvođenja.

2004.

Naravno ni 2004.g. nije mogla bez nas.

Odlična ženska klapa "Filip Dević" sa maestrom Duškom Tambačom je osvojila zlatni pehar.

Osim uobičajenog koncerta u Veroni, zajedno s domaćim zborom "Cittŕ di Ala" održali su koncert u kazalištu mjesta Ala u kojem i ja stanujem.To ističem jer smo time odlučnije krenuli u osvajanje provincije Trento koja je inače malo "tvrd orah" za to. To "osvajanje" su "Devićke" izvrsno obavile. Financijsku potporu pružila je općina, a svoje oduševljenje iskazala je i predsjednica općine.

U kategoriji polifoničara nastupili su "Carolsadien" iz Karlovca i osvojili su srebrni pehar.

Zbor Pavla Markovca iz Zagreba osvojio je zlatno odličje.

Zbor "Izvor" sa maestricom Ivanom Surinom, vrlo simpatični predstavnici Zagreba otvorili su sudjelovanje u nama novoj,  jazz kategoriji . Osvojili su zlatni pehar.

2005.

Na XVI Festival  u travnju 2005.g.  prijavljeni su jedni polifoničari iz Varaždina,  naša muška klapa "Volat" sa maestricom Vesnom Vladislavić iz Pučišća na Braču i ženska klapa "Putalj" sa maestrom Rajmirom Kraljevićem iz Kaštel Sućurca.

Kao što sam i najavio, bili su polifoničari, ali ne iz Varaždina nego iz Rijeke "Coro licei di Rijeka" sa maestricom Ljerkom Zic. To su bili učenici muzičke škole i polučili su srebrno odličje.

U mojoj organizaciji su došli muška klapa "Volat" iz Pučišća na Braču sa maestricom Vesnom Vladislavić i ženska klapa "Putalj" iz Kaštel Sućurca sa maestrom Rajmirom Kraljevićem. Obje su zasluženo dobile zlatne pehare.

Ove godine po treći put u žiriju, nenadano je bio i naš Bojan Pogrmilović kojeg su kooptirali kada je jedan Talijan morao otkazati.

Moram istaknuti, što sam bio zaboravio, da je 2003. i  2004. g. koncert otvorenja za sve učesnike Festivala održao zbor "AGC Verona" koji se sastoji od maestara i najboljih pjevača skoro svih veronskih zborova sa oko 70 ljudi, a maestro tog zbora bio je Bojan Pogrmilović. E pa kud ćete veće časti. Ovim zborom su dirigirali razni maestri i zadržali se pola do godinu dana, a Pogrmilović je vodstvo zadržao 2 godine s jednim koncertom za Božić u trećoj godini. To se nikada prije nije dogodilo. Tajna je u tome što je uz  veliku stručnost Pogrmilović uspio objediniti razne stilove svih maestara i Talijani su njime bili jako zadovoljni.

Pogrmilović je u Trentinu (Italija) u jesen 2004. Veronskim meaestrima održao seminar za pjevanje.

Dodajem, prije nekoliko godina, (mislim 2002) sa svojim cijenjenim i zapaženim zborom"INA"  iz Zagreba održao je koncert otvorenja, Aprilskog festivala.

Sada su u pregovorima maestro Vlado Sunko i Lino Pasetto direktor Veronskog festivala da Sunko sa svojim "Brodosplitom" održi koncert otvorenja Festivala u Veroni 2008.g.

Klapa "Putalj" je preko mene dogovorila međunarodnu razmjenu sa jednim  zborom iz Italije (Marche) čiji me je maestro telefonski kontaktirao. One u Italiji nastupaju 28.-30.9.2007., a talijanski će im polifoničari uzvratiti posjet u Kaštelima 2008.g. Sve ovo se odvija u režiji maestra Rajmira Kraljevića s kojim sve ove godine odlično surađujem i koga ću opet dogodine, po drugi put, nastojati ubaciti u žiri u Veroni.

2006.

Opet naši. Ženska klapa "Orsulice" iz Vodica sa maestrom Antom Barbačom zastupale su narodne dobivši zlatni pehar.

U polifoniji su bili "Postirski sklad" iz Postira na Braču sa maestricom Vesnom Vladislavić. Kao iznenađenje uvrstili su i jednu tal. narodnu od De Marzia "Signore delle cime", ali kako ta pjesma mora biti savršena, što im baš nije uspjelo, zadržali su se na srebrnom peharu. Druga talijanska isto od De Marzia "Benia Calastoria" im je na koncertima kada su bili opušteniji daleko bolje uspjela.

Drugi polifoničari su bili "SPD Kolo", mješoviti iz Šibenika sa maestricom Mirom Gruić. Snažnom izvedbom zaradili su zlatni pehar. Svi "zlatni" na proglašenju pivaju 2 pisme, a "Kolo" je na strance  ostale učesnike pri tom ostavilo snažan utisak.

Okušali smo se, po drugi put, i u jazzu. Nastupio je"Ansambl Elektrodalmacija" iz Splita pod dirigentskom palicom Rajmira Kraljevića. Očekivano sigurno zlatno odličje im je izmaklo radi izuzetno kvalitetne konkurencije i nekog vlastitog "krivog računa",  pa su se morali zadovoljiti srebrnim odličjem.

2007.

Kao prvo, nakon što sam se 3 godine borio za njega, u žiri nam se , po drugi put, vratio Vlado Sunko. I opet zadovoljstvo i slaganje s ostalim članovima žirija savršeno, a nivo visok.

Iako uvršten u program, zbor "Kralj Slavac" iz Omiša nije došao, što je ostavilo loš dojam. Srećom, nisu išli preko mene.

Svoj "kolač" slave imali smo i ovaj put.

Ženska klapa "Volosko" iz Opatije s maestrom Darkom Majstorovićem je dobila srebrni pehar.

Muška klapa "Braciera" iz Bola na Braču s maestrom Juricom Boškovićem je zaslužila zlatni pehar. Odličje je to vrjednije jer su tri nova člana  u klapi samo 3 mjeseca.

Pravo iznenađenje je bila ženska klapa "Dišpet" iz Zagreba pod ravnanjem Jurice Boškovića koja je  zlatni pehar zaradila s nevjerojatnih 95 bodova od 100 mogućih i time nadmašila sve dosadašnje klape. Bravo klapo! Bravo Jurice!

Moram napomenuti da su ove dvije klape trebale doći 2006.g., ali su u dogovoru s predsjednicom općine i uz sufinanciranje čekale dodatni nastup u kazalištu u Ali (TN). No taj je nastup i uz čvrsto obećanje gradonačelnice Guliane propao zbog "rezanja" budžeta (a prvo strada kultura - zvuči vam poznato?).

Nivo i kvalitete Festivala je u zadnje 2 - 3 godine jako porastao. Kvaliteta brojnih američkih zborova je na jako visokom nivou jer su mnogi od njih u vrhunskim muzičkim školama. Prošle je godine bilo vrlo dirljivo kada je kao najbolji maestro Festivala nagrađen maestro  crnac koji je dirigirao zboru kojeg su činili bijelci i još ga je pozvao predsjednik Festivala da cijelom kazalištu sa 1500 sudionika dirigira dvije općepoznate skladbe. A on, skroman, jedva je na to, uz veliki uspjeh pristao.

O financijskim problemima pri realizaciji gostovanja mogao bih puno pisati, ali o tom drugom prigodom. Naime, kao i drugi u inozemstvu, veronski se festival samofinancira. Uglavnom, našima sam uspio dogovoriti troškove koji su tri-četiri puta manji nego za ostale Europljane, a i znatno su jeftinije od cijena u Hrvatskoj.

Drugi dio mog projekta kulturne razmjene obuhvaća predstavljanje talijanskih zborova našoj publici.

2000.

2000-te godine za Sv. Duju u Splitskom kazalištu zajedno s našim klapama trebao je nastupiti zbor "Coro Scaligero delle Alpi" s maestrom Pierom Zamboniem . Radi kašnjenja fax-a potvrde kojeg je ipak poslala gđa. Vesna Podlipec zamjenica gradonačelnika Splita i predsjednica Odbora za proslavu Sv Duje ovaj već postignuti dogovor je pao u vodu. Poziv i dogovor je važio za slijedeću godinu. Talijani su trebali  osim dvi svoje pjesme zapivati i našu dalmatinsku pismu "Sutra će te ponit", na našem jeziku. U gradu su trebali održati i još dva kompletna koncerta. ("Zvizde mi kažu" je već prije 12 godina javno izvedena u Milanu, a u Veroni i Bieli već više zborova uče po neku našu pismu u originalu).

Tako su sezonu otvorenja gostovanja Talijana kod nas imali za Sv. Roka 16.8.2000.g. u Sv. Filip i Jakovu kod Biograda zbor "Vestenanova" kod Verone. Eto tako je radi birokracije Splitu "utekao" primat ( a ja sam ka za pegulu baš iz Splita i to sam žarko želia svom gradu).

2001.

Sa zborom "Corom Scaligero delle alpi" iz Verone već je bilo dogovoreno gostovanje za Sv. Duju. Ovog puta s novim dogradonačelnikom Veljkom Radojkovićem. U zadnji tren je iskrslo njihovo gostovanje u Puli. Radi "arenskih" gradova prijatelja (naime Verona, Pula i jedan francuski grad su radi svojih arena povezani), a gradski oci su stajali iza toga,  pa su morali  odustati od Splita. Pri tome se i "terenski" organizator susreta Mate Barić, nadasve sposoban i entuzijastičan volonter malo naljutija, iako sam odmah ponudio u zamjenu drugu veronsku klapu "Monti Lessini" sa maestrom Danteom Savoiom.

Sad je trebalo spašavati što se može (pri tom su se telefoni "usijali") pa sam izmislio alternativni program  za 1. maj.

Ukratko: u subotu, u podne, sa Starim pučkim pjevačima održali su koncert na Pjaci u Splitu. Publiku su posebno oduševili kad su na kraju prvo sami, a posli zajedno s domaćinima zapivali našu dalmatinsku pismu "U poju se mala" s točnim izgovorom što Talijanima nije lako.

Istu večer su u crkvi u Vela Luci na Korčuli održali još jedan koncert sa domaćim klapama "Vela Luka" i "Lanterna". Koncertu je prisustvovao i gradonačelnik. Kad je došla na red "U poju se mala" u prepunoj crkvi ljudi su ustali na noge od oduševljenja.

U nedjelju ujutro su otpjevali i misu sa domaćim crkvenim zborom, a ispred crkve su i paru koji se vjenčavao podarili prigodnu pismu.

Iste je večeri održan još jedan koncert, u crkvi u Blatu sa domaćim klapama "Kumpanji" i "Blajke". Malo hladan doček u prepunoj crkvi brzo se "otopio" pa je publika i tu na kraju ustala na noge od oduševljenja. Pozdravio ih je i gradonačelnik, a večera i veselica je potrajala do dugo u noć.

Ovaj zbor nikada do tada nije doživio da mu se publika ustane od oduševljenja, pa to posebno cijene. To im se ponovilo iste godine u studenom u Njemačkoj.

U ponedjeljak "Monti Lessini" su osvanuli na Braču gdje ih je dočekao autobus za obilazak otoka. Na pastirski stanovima pod Vidovom gorom su bili počašćeni sa tri pečena janjca i vitalcem, naravno uz sve ostalo što ide – pršut, sir, mlada kapula i potoci vina.

U 15,30 je u Sutivanu održan koncert sa domaćom klapom "Kadulje" u Kavanjinovim dvorima. Poslije koncerta seljani su ih počastili domaćim kolačima i vinom.

2002.

Kao gosti domaće klape "Subrenum" u Dubrovnik  i Mline  20.-24. rujna došla je još jedna talijanska klapa "El Castel" iz Sanguinetta kod Verone sa maestrom Morettiem.

U petak 20.9. popodne su  u prolazu održali koncert na Pjaci u Splitu. Tu su se u organizaciji Mate Barića i u suradnji s njegovom klapom "Stari pučki pjevači" Kamen predstavili publici Splita, sada kao već drugi talijanski zbor. Uz svoje narodne, otpjevali su u originalu i našu dalmatinsku pismu "Ribar plete mrižu svoju".

U Dubrovniku su koncert trebali održati u Dominikanskom samostanu, ali je radi gromoglasne muzike iz luke premješten pokraj Fontane na Stradunu.

Održan je i koncert u hotelu u Mlinima (radi kiše nije bio na bazenu).

Posebno dirljiv bio je koncert poslije mise u Mlinima kada im je jedan mještanin iz publike "dodao" svoj glas, a uz "Ribara" drugi zaplakao od navale emocija što je posebno ganulo talijanskog maestra Morettia.

BREAK-OUT OF OUR CROATIAN FOLKLORE (KLAPA) SINGING TO ITALY AND EUROPE

JOSIP GANZA

Our Dalmatian folklore singing ("klapa") is part of our identity and being such is dear and near to us all (to whom more to whom less).

The foreign tourists who come and have the opportunity to hear this singing are mostly pleasantly surprised, which means it "enters the ear" even to all European people.

Already for fifteen years I go around Northern Italy, and being as I like singing, I started involving in Italian chorus singing of their people's choirs. The singing is similar, four vocals, but the Italians sing about love and mountains, and Croatians (Dalmatians) about love and sea (because, for the love of God, they live near the sea) and other similar themes.

Soon I noticed that our "klapas" (folklore groups) know nothing about Italian people's choirs, Italians even less about our klapas. That was unallowable hole in my opinion that I was intrigued by and felt the urge to fill in.

Persistently, for twelve years now, exclusively as an amateur volunteer, I'm getting to realise my idea, and my goal was the cultural familiarising of choir singing between Italy and Croatia.

When I first started, I encountered quite big indifference and resistance, even though people admitted me with respect everywhere. The problem was that such a novelty within the Italian smooth going routine was hard to accept. Initially our Dalmatian song sounded boring and sleepy because theirs are more lively and faster. I gave a few audio tapes of our "klapas" to many maestros and asked them for an opinion. The reactions were different, from indifferent and untowardly to enthusiastic. Of course, the crucial were education, but most of all the personality of each maestro in sense of his being open minded, and of course, the time he could spare with all the obligations to listen to the tapes. Maestros here are working people, they lead the choirs in their free time - there are no professionals.

Sorely, I had to guess the right measure of information to give them, because flatness brings no results, and pushing to hard putts people off. That was a long-lasting and determined work. Inactivity of two or three months could ruin all the past engagement, and the mistakes could leave long consequences.

Eleven years ago, I contacted Mihovil Popovac, the leading director of Omis festival at the time, about getting the lyrics of Dalmatian songs for some of Italian maestros. Our collaboration started well and even though I was partly a guest at the Omis festival, our cooperation ended because of dissidences.

I turned to the other side, the performers themselves. At the Omis festival, I spoke with Mojmir Cacija, maestro of klapa "Sinj", the winner of the festival that year and told him about the International folklore festival that takes place in Verona in Italy. I suggested him to perform at the festival.  That was the crucial moment. With his and his wife Iva's bold collaboration, we turned a new international page of our klapa singing.

Let me come back to the Verona festival for a little bit.

The festival has an international character and an international jury of seven members. Four members are Italian, one each from Germany, Czech Republic and Belgium (not necessarily so) and according the regulations of the European Central of festivals in Germany. Beside the president of the jury, Italian Croce who is permanent, other members can change.

The director of Verona festival, Mr. Lino Pasetto, whom I know for twelve years already, is a wonderful and noble man, above all humane and sophisticated. With my collaboration and with mutual arrangement he approved that the Italians generously give over one of their four places in the jury to our representative.  They kind of "cheated" the Central of festivals in Germany putting our representative on the list of Italian jury members but with full acknowledgement of being Croatian.

Therefore, in 1999, one of the members of the international jury was maestro Vlado Sunko from Split, and in 2000 and 2002, Mr. Bojan Pogrmilović from Zagreb. Both of them were accepted well, as if being full members. They did us credit and it is important for our country that there were two very competent people, which shows our cultural wideness. I was hoping for such cooperation in 2003 also, when I tried to get maestro Kraljević in. It was a great pleasure for everyone when it happened in 2004.

The first part of my project of presenting and mutual exchange between Croatia and Italy was help with organizing the arrival and participating of our klapas to the International festival at Verona.

There, the first real fruits of my work started nine years ago.

1997.

In April 1997, the following came to the International festival in Verona:

male klapa "Sinj" from Sinj and

female klapa "Baklje", from Rijeka.

About ten representatives from Europe and USA, and about ten choirs participated.

There were four categories of competition: polyphony without mandatory part, polyphony with mandatory part, popular folk songs and jazz.

"Sinj" shined up in full brilliance and the effect was stronger because of "Alka" costumes they performed in, which everybody photographed lustily. They gained the golden cup and the first place, plus a special reward with a cup for folklore.

In female competition, "Baklje" won a gold cup and the first place.

During the festival, on Fridays and Saturdays are being held concerts in the theatres and churches in Verona and surroundings. Our representatives participated too, as guests of Verona klapas, free of charge, and many people attended those concerts. These concerts are a real triumph for the ninth year already and full of affirmations for our song. The people already knows that the quality of performing is high and are used to our melos little by little so they are very delighted and the applauses are huge and long lasting. On those concerts the hosts, Italians, perform for sore, plus one or two choirs among the other nations from the festival.

Verona choirs with most prestige have bean "privileged" to have our performers as their guests instead of others and there are real battles between other Verona choirs for the other free terms of our performers. A bigger satisfaction does not exist! Makes your hart grow!

1998.

The following performed in Verona:

male klapa "Cambi" from Kastel Kambelovac with maestro Rajmir Kraljević,

female klapa "Cesarice" from Zagreb with maestro Bojan Pogrmilović,

female klapa "Luka" from Rijeka with maestro Nino Načinović and

children's klapa "Bepo" from Omiš with maestro Mrs. Tereza Čečuk, now Kosanović.

All three adult klapas won gold cups and first places, and klapa "Cambi" got also a special cup for folklore interpretation. In children's competition klapa "Bepo", which existed only for a year, won a silver cup.

1999.

This year brought new successes and three gold cups and first places.

The participants were

male klapa "Kumpanji" from Blato on Island of Korčula with maestro Janes Vlašić,

male klapa "Kamen" from Kamen near Split with maestro Vinko Lesic and

female klapa "Viole" from St. Filip and Jakov with assistant maestro Bojan Pogrmilović, and president and founder, Mirko Đinđić.

2000.

The April of 2000 brought winners again and four gold cups. This time one of Verona klapas shared the first place with our best male klapa, while all the others – Italians, Germans and Swiss were behind ours. These took the cups home:

male klapa "Luka" from Ploče with maestro Ivica Kaleb,

male klapa "Vokalisti Salone" from Solin with maestro Vladan Vuletin,

female klapa "Dalmatinke" from Split with maestro Vinko Lešić and

female klapa "Blajke" from Blato on Korčula with maestro Janes Vlašić.

"Vokalisti Salone" and klapa "Luka", as a special permission and bonus out of the competition performed each one or two songs from "polyphony" so the jury "weighs" them. Bought considered entering that category but for now they are better off with Dalmatian national songs. However, in future - one never knows!

2001.

This year was especially crowded. Even six of our klapas took part. These were:

klapa "Adrion" from Makarska with maestro Frane Kaštelan,

klapa "Vincace" from Novi Vinodolski with maestro Kobol Pave (which only I didn't organize, but helped a little),

klapa "Vela Luka" (it was in a bigger number than usually because they included some singers from another klapa from Vela Luka) with maestro Janes Vlašić,

female klapa "Teha" from Cres with maestro Mrs. Mirjana Flego ' Mikičić and

female klapa "Lanterne" from Vela Luka with maestro Janes Vlašić.

These five klapas got five gold cups and one special. A particular curiosity was the apparition of "Stari pučki pjevači" from Kamen with maestro Siniša Vuković that presented an aspect of predecessor to the festival and they won a prestigious and not at all easy silver cup.

2002.

This year brought three klapas from very south of Dalmatia. These were:

"Subrenum" from Mlin, south from Dubrovnik with maestro Vedran Vlašić and

two female klapas that existed only for year or two,

klapa "Fa Linđo" from Dubrovnik with maestro Vedran Ivanković and

klapa "Revelin" from Korčula, with maestro Velebit Veršić.

Once again three gold cups.

2003.

Year 2003 also could not pass without our klapas in Verona.

Klapa "Kadena" from Zadar this time took only silver, but still a good price.

There was an important novelty this year.

No less than three choirs of polyphonists came, I interceded about that before, but only Pogrmilović succeeded to bring them, because he moves in those circles. The choirs from Rijeka and Zabok won silver medals in a very strong competition.

Choir "Goran Filipović" from Zagreb not only won the gold and a special price for the best performer of a mandatory composition but they won the incredible 97 points out of 100 and with this score, they were the absolute winners of this one and all the previous fourteen festivals.

I point this out because the Italians now have, after seven years of very successful campaign of our klapas in the category of folk songs, strong representatives in the "stronger" category of polyphony. That is another proof of our wideness and richness in vocal music.

After the finals of the festival, when in Arena is sung the usual "Va Pensiero", also singing in groups takes place. Almost at the end, my Italian maestro, Dante Savoia came and I asked them to repeat "Cace moj" from Matetic Ronjgov. Even though they were exhausted, they did that, and Mr. Savoia remained astonished by the perfection and strength of the performance.

2004.

Of course, not even year 2004 could be without us.

The excellent female klapa "Filip Devic"with maestro Duško Tambača won a gold cup.

Beside the customary concert in Verona, together with a domestic choir "Citŕ di Ala" they kept a concert in Ala theatre, where I live too. I underline this because with that we started conquering the province of Trento, which is somewhat hard for that more decidedly. Moreover, the "Filip Devic" did that conquering excellently. The county provided financial support and the county president has shown thrill.

In the polyphony category performed "Carolsadien" from Karlovac and won the silver cup.

Pavao Markovac's choir from Zagreb won gold award.

choir "Izvor" with maestro Mrs. Ivana Surina, very likeable representatives of Zagreb, opened the participation in a new category for us, jazz. They won a gold cup.

2005.

For the fifteenth Festival in April 2005, there were registered polyphony choir from Varazdin, our male klapa "Volat" with maestro Mrs. Vesna Vladislavić from Pučišća on the island of Brač and female klapa "Putalj" with maestro Rajmir Kraljević from Kaštel Sućurac.

As I announced, there were polyphony choirs, only not from Varazdin but from Rijeka, "Coro licei di Rijeka" with maestro Mrs. Ljerka Zic. These were the pupils from music school and they got a silver price.

With my help came male klapa "Volat" from Pucisca on island of Brac with maestro Mrs. Vesna Vladislavić and female klapa "Putalj" from Kastel Sucurac with maestro Rajmir Kraljevic. Both were given a deserved gold cups.

This year, the third year in the jury already, was unexpectedly our Bojan Pogrmilovic, which they called when one of Italians had to cancel.

I have to accent something I forgot, in 2003 and 2004, the opening concert for all the participants of the festival was kept by the choir "AGC Verona" that comprises maestros and the best singers of almost all the Verona choirs with about seventy people, and the maestro of this choir was Bojan Pogrmilović. There is no bigger honour. Many maestros directed this choir and stayed such for half of year or a year, while Pogrmilovic kept the place for two years with one Christmas concert in the third year. That never happened before. The secret is in his great expertise, Pogrmilovic managed to unite different styles of all the maestros and the Italians were very satisfied with him.

In fall, 2004 Pogrmilović kept a singing seminar to Verona maestros in Trentino.

I would like to add that, a few years ago (I think in 2002) he held the opening concert of the April festival with his highly respected choir "INA" from Zagreb.

Maestro Vlado Sunko and Lino Pasetto, the director of Verona festival are negotiating that Sunko with his "Brodosplit" holds the opening concert for the Festival in Verona in 2008.

Klapa "Putalj" arranged with my help, an international exchange with an Italian choir "Marche" whose maestro contacted me by telephone. "Putalj" performed in Italy from 28-30.09.2007, and the Italian polyphony choir is returning their visit in Kastela in 2008. All this conducts with direction of maestro Rajmir Kraljevic with whom I've been cooperating excellently all these years, and whom I'll try to get in jury again next year, for the second time.

2006.

Our representatives perform again. Female klapa "Orsulice" from Vodice with maestro Ante Barbaca represented folk singing obtaining golden cup.

In polyphony category, there was "Postirski Sklad" from Postira on the island of Brac with maestro Mrs. Vesna Vladislavić. They have put in an Italian folk song from De Marzio, "Signore delle cime" as a surprise, but being as it has to be perfect, which they didn't really succeed in, they remained with a silver cup. They performed much better with another Italian song from De Marzio, "Benia Castoria", on the concerts when they were more relaxed.

Other polyphonists were "SPD Kolo", the mixed group from Sibenik with maestro Mrs. Mira Gruić. They earned a golden cup with a strong performance. All the gold ones sing two songs at the award announce, and "Kolo" left a strong impression on other foreigners that performed.

We attempted in jazz again, for the second time. "Ansambl Elektrodalmacija" from Split performed under Rajmir Kraljevic's baton. The certainly expected golden price slipped away because of a remarkably good performance of other competitors and their own wrong reckoning, so they had to satisfy with a silver price.

2007.

To begin with, after I fought for him for three years, Vlado Sunko returned to the jury for the second time. One more time satisfaction and getting along with other members of the jury were perfect, and the level very high.

Even though it was listed in the program, the choir "Kralj Slavac" from Omiš did not show up, which left a bad impression. Luckily, it was not I who arranged their coming.

We had our peace of glory this time too.

Female klapa "Volosko" from Opatija with maestro Darko Majstorovic obtained a silver cup.

Male klapa "Braciera" from Bol, island of Brac, with maestro Jurica Boskovic earned a gold cup. The price is more valuable with the fact that klapa had three new members for three months only.

Female klapa "Dispet" from Zagreb under leadership of maestro Jurica Bošković was a real surprise, they earned the incredible 95 points out of 100, and with that outmatched all the previous klapas. Way to go, klapa! Way to go, Jurica.

I have to notice that these two klapas were supposed to come in 2006 as well, but in accordance with the president of commune and co financing, they were waiting for an extra performance in Ala theatre in Trentino. However, that concert, even with a strong Mayor Giuliana's promise went down the drain dew to the budget cut (and the culture takes it first - sounds familiar?).

The level and quality of the Festival in last two or three years increased greatly. The quality of numerous American choirs is at a very high level being as many of them attend majestic music schools. It was very touching when last year an African American maestro got the award as the best Festival maestro conducting a Caucasian choir, and the festival's president asked him to conduct two well-known compositions to the whole theatre with 1500 participants. Nevertheless, he, humble, barely accepted, and succeeded greatly.

I could say a lot about financial problems with realisation of guest performance, but that is another story. In fact, as many other ones in other countries, the Verona festival finances itself. Mostly I managed to arrange the expenses covered to our participants, which are three or four times smaller then other European's, and much cheaper from the prices in Croatia, too.

Another part of my project of cultural exchange consists in presenting the Italian choirs to Croatian audience.

2000.

In year 2000 for the holiday of St. Duje, together with our klapas was supposed to perform choir "Coro Scagliero delle Alpi" with maestro Piero Zamboni, at the theatre of Split. However, the fax of confirmation was late, even though Mrs. Vesna Podlipec - mayor's deputy and the president of celebration of St. Duje, sent it and this arrangement went down the drain. The invitation and arrangement was now for the next year. The Italians were supposed to sing not only two of their songs but also one of our Dalmatian songs - "Sutra ce te ponit" - "Tomorrow they'll carry you" in Croatian language. There were supposed to be other two full concerts in the city. ("Zvizde mi kazu" - "The stars tell me" was performed twelve years ago in public in Milano, and in Verona and Biela quite a few choirs are learning some of our songs in original).

The beginning of guest performances of the Italians was for St. Roko, 16.08.2000. in St. Filip i Jakov near Biograd and the first was choir "Vestenanova" from Verona. Because of the bureaucracy, Split lost the primacy (and I come from Split so I strongly wished it for my hometown).

2001.

Guest performance was already arranged with the choir "Coro Scagliero delle Alpi" from Verona for St. Duje. This time, with a new mayor's deputy, Veljko Radojkovic. The last minute turned up their guest performance in Pula. Because of them being amphitheatre cities friends (Verona, Pula and one French city are connected) and the city leaders were behind that arrangement, they had to give Split up. Being as, the "field" organizer, very capable and enthusiastic, got a little angry, I offered as an alternative another Verona's choir, "Monti Lessini" with maestro Dante Savoia.

Now had to be saved what could be saved (the phones were "hot" from calling) so I came up with an alternative program for the First of May.

In short: Saturday afternoon they held a concert on Pjaca in Split (The Square) together with "Stari Pučki Pjevači". The audience was thrilled when in the end of the concert they performed, first on their own and then together with the host, our Dalmatian song "U poju se mala" with a correct pronunciation, which is not at all easy for the Italians.

The same evening they had another concert at the church of Vela Luka on the island of Korcula with the local klapas "Vela Luka" and "Lanterna". The mayor was at the concert too. When it came to "U poju se mala" people in church stood up on their feet from the enchantment.

On Sunday morning, they sang the mass with the local church choir, and in front of the church they gave an appropriate song to a couple that was getting married.

The same evening there was another concert, at the church of Blato with the local klapas "Kumpanji" and "Blajke". The reception that was a little cold at the beginning, melted down so the audience stood up thrilled here as well. The mayor greeted them, and the dinner and party went on until the late hour of the night.

This choir never before experienced the audience standing up from the enchantment so they appreciated it strongly. That happened to them again, the same year in November in Germany.

On Monday, "Monti Lessini" came to the island of Brac where a bus for the island tour met them. Under the mount of Vidova Gora, they were given three lambs on the roasting spit and traditional lamb "vitalac", with all that goes with that – prosciutto, cheese, stone leek and lots of wine.

At 3.30 P.M, they had a concert with the local klapa "Kaduje" at "Kavanjinovi Dvori" in Sutivan. After the concert, the villagers offered them home - made cakes and wine.

2002.

From 20 - 24th of September another Italian choir came as guests to the local klapa "Subrenum" to Dubrovnik and Mline, choir "El Castel" from Sanguinetto near Verona with maestro Moretti.

On Friday, 20th of September, they held a passing by concert on Split Pjaca in the afternoon. They presented themselves to Split audience, now as the second Italian choir, in the organisation of Mate Barić and his klapa "Stari pucki pjevaci" from Kamen. Together with their popular folk songs, they sang one of our Dalmatian songs, "Ribar plete mrižu svoju" in original.

They were supposed to have a concert in Dominican monastery in Dubrovnik, but because of a very loud music coming from the see port, it was moved near the Fontana on Stradun, a historical monument of Dubrovnik.

They had another concert in a hotel in Mlini (it was raining so it could not be kept by the outdoor swimming pool).

The concert after the mass in Mlini church was especially touching, when one of the villagers from the audience sang with them, and another one cried from emotion while they sang the Dalmatian "Ribar", which especially moved their maestro Moretti.