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Post by Jaga on Mar 16, 2007 13:41:36 GMT -7
Guys,
I am getting involved in the life of our small community in Idaho Falls. Exactly in a week there would be a Polish dinner for at least 60 people. I am one of the responsible few for it.
The majority are the retired people or people above 50.
What type of music would you recommend to listen during the dinner? I am just listening to some Slask music, it is woderful.
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I am also involved in Polish enrichment class for kids in the beginning of April. Two days ago the kids were dancing to some Irish beats. I am wondering what music would be the best for kids during Polish session - polka, mazurek?
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george
Cosmopolitan
Posts: 568
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Post by george on Mar 16, 2007 16:11:50 GMT -7
Please Jaga not American Polka
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Post by justjohn on Mar 17, 2007 4:55:44 GMT -7
 How about some Johann Strause music. Everything from a Polka to a waltz to a oberek and everything in between
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Post by rdywenur on Mar 17, 2007 6:24:24 GMT -7
Jaga I believe some type of background music that is not so distracting, easy to eat to and easy to carry converstion with. In other words you hear it but are not really aware of it in the background.
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Post by Jaga on Mar 17, 2007 8:11:09 GMT -7
Thanks for your tips. I agree with Chris that for the dinner we nees something which would not distract. Rfeerring to kids enrichment class - during Irish class they were encourage to dance to the music in the beginning, therefore Polka or oberek would be just good for 5-10 minuts of the class to let them jump, twist and dance and make them tired so that they would be ready to sit down and do other things
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Post by kaima on Mar 17, 2007 9:25:55 GMT -7
Do you have any dancers in your group of volunteers? Can they show different steps that may be danced to the polka, or that may have been danced to polka at different times? Then you could also let the kids dance and burn of their energy. Given the number of Mexicans in the US, you might also point out how widespread the polka was, and how it survives in Mexican Mariacha music today. That might involve even more kids.
For the dinner, I presume you cannot pass by some Chopin, and when you reach desert perhaps you can step up to a livelier selection to build up enthusiasm again. Looking at your original posting, you refer to "Slask" music - "Silesian" to us in the US, I believe. Is there some music you can use to point out the breadth of Poland at different times, say extending to Lithuania and on, or a visual display someone can make to show the extent of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth on scale with the American westward expansion? Some of that is getting pretty ambitious and involves a lot fo work, but hopefully you will have an excess of ideas.
Kai
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Post by Jaga on Mar 17, 2007 20:18:36 GMT -7
Kai, good tips. I thought about Chopin, the folk group Slask is my favorite, also. I have also some Mazowsze. I have heard that they have a projector, so we could run the photographs I presented during the 2 hours presentation about Poland three weeks ago. Referring to kids - this dancing was very spontanoeus, just to have something with rhythm. Good point about polka |
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Post by Jaga on Mar 17, 2007 20:19:11 GMT -7
Please Jaga not American Polka George, why you hate polka so much are you a baptist, or you do not like dance? ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by pieter on Mar 18, 2007 20:46:06 GMT -7
Please Jaga not American Polka George, why you hate polka so much are you a baptist, or you do not like dance? ;D ;D ;D Jaga, Maybe, because Polka sometimes sounds a little bit like German humpa music? I don't like Polka either, but love to dance. It is just a matter of personal taste. Much Americans (Polish and Non-Polish) like Polka, that is OK with me. Most important is the fact that people have the freedom to listen to the music they like and can go to parties with music of their taste to listen and/or dance to the music. I have to admid that I have learned about modern Polish music via the Polish Pop-music topic and through Youtube, and I have to say I like it although I do not understand a word of Polish. Why? Because Poland is part of the Western musical heritage, and the country has very good composers and musicians. Pieter |
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zooba
Full Pole
Posts: 369
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Post by zooba on Mar 19, 2007 2:22:11 GMT -7
Isn't it that polka is actually not a Polish but a Czech dance? I've always thought so.
I'd go for Chopin.
Jaga, you're genius that you know how to dance oberek, I can only dance polonez, but that's way too slow for children.
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Post by Jaga on Mar 19, 2007 16:18:18 GMT -7
Guys, thanks for your tips. Chopin will be of course great. I do not know how to dance oberek, but with the kids like that it does not really matter  As for Polka - its origin in the US is mixed - it is German/Czech/Polish/American. Still, even in Polish enrichment class we can probably use it since it is Central European and we do not need to be strictly Polish all the time |
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Post by bescheid on Mar 19, 2007 16:42:43 GMT -7
Jaga
I am late with catching up, sorry. Just wish only to add with others a bit of input for additional resources to draw upon.
In consideration to the audience you have, I do agree as with others of Chopin. Should be lovely music for the folks as to provide a European atmosphere.
What of visual aids? These folks are Polish and assuming many youngsters will be in attendance. It would so seem that remembrance of the home land in the form of some photos, crafts {if available} or perhaps {and again if available}decorated clothing for display a subtle display for colour.
Not sure of the conditions or expectations would be commensurate with your audience.
I do trust this intrusion has given for additional idea resources and not give for cause for confusion.
Charles
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