Targi Kielce full of music

The International Fair of Rural and Agricultural Tourism AGROTRAVEL is a truly exceptional place with its colours and fragrances; these make you think about countryside holidays as well as bring back your childhood memories. However the feature that strikes you long before entering the exhibition halls is the ubiquity of music – the folk ensembles try to outstrip one another in capturing the audiences’ attention. And there are crowds of people standing if front of each exhibition stand which is the stage for artistic performances; not only do they watch the artists singing songs but also join in singing and dancing together with the musicians.

The Castellans of the Kije commune is undoubtedly the most loudly band. The ensemble was founded in 2007 by the initiative of the Kije Voluntary Fire Brigade (OSP) head Jerzy Woźniak; initially it was composed of the OPS members and friends. They all make a living by doing different professions however there is the passion that all of them share; their fascination in fire fighters’ adventure and the desire to keep up the local traditions which are on the verge of extinction. This craving for the old age customs which are now gone has revived the old memories and these were conducive to start the band and to prepare the “We’ve come to sing Christmas Carroll” programme. The initial fire-fighters’ performances were successful enough to attract the ladies form the local Farmers’ Wives’ Association presided by their chairwoman Mrs Helena Ziółkowska. The ladies have enriched the band with new ideas and initiatives as well as with a lot of feminine kindness. They recalled the old stories about the medieval castellany, traditions of knighthood; they also reached for written records. The information they found came handy in preparing new repertoire.

The stories they learnt made them chose the name Castellans. The band’s artistic creation is in line with the medieval tradition of Kije and its neighbourhood. In spite the fact that the band has not been playing long it has already earned accolades at many festivals and artistic contests, including the Voivodeship Competition for Folk Bands, the National Assembly of Polish Rural Theatres, the Regional Contest for Christmas Carroll Bands and the Kije Personality of the Year Holiday.

Yesterday the F Hall was all resounding with the singers’ sonorous voices; the performers compelled the spectators to join in the fun and singing.

Another band that clearly stands alone when compared with the whole array of ensembles which have been providing entertainment is the “Duet Dziewanna” (The Mullein Duo) from Wojciechowice; this one is composed of Anna Grzegorczyk and Leszek Iwaniak. They are exceptional owing to their excellent singing skills and the original instruments Leszek plays on. This is a German accordion dated back for 1938!

Join us for this exceptional and never-ending concert at the AGROTRAVEL trade fair.