1 00:00:08,090 --> 00:00:09,970 My name is Ján Jony. 2 00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:12,020 I come from a city near Michalovce. 3 00:00:13,530 --> 00:00:16,520 My hometown is Strážske. 4 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,080 But I am now staying in Michalovce, 5 00:00:19,330 --> 00:00:23,210 where I work with young children. 6 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:25,860 Basically, I am a music teacher. 7 00:00:26,340 --> 00:00:31,060 I try to educate our young musicians there. 8 00:00:31,630 --> 00:00:35,850 And I've been playing music all my life. 9 00:00:36,110 --> 00:00:41,180 My family was all so musical. 10 00:00:41,420 --> 00:00:43,630 I was introduced to the violin by my father. 11 00:00:43,630 --> 00:00:47,890 I was always listening to him when I was little, I remember that. 12 00:00:47,890 --> 00:00:52,040 From the time I was five years old, I listened to him play the violin 13 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:54,620 and I liked it. 14 00:00:54,650 --> 00:00:59,150 And one day my father brought me this little violin 15 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,760 and he started teaching me songs on that violin 16 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,780 and it's stayed with me ever since. 17 00:01:07,860 --> 00:01:12,350 Since then I've been basically involved in music 18 00:01:12,350 --> 00:01:15,000 and I've lived with music all my life. 19 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:22,200 I studied in the Czech Republic at the military conservatory 20 00:01:22,970 --> 00:01:28,750 and later I continued my studies in Košice, 21 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:33,800 but by then I was already working in the Garrison Music Band Košice, 22 00:01:34,270 --> 00:01:36,660 so I was a military musician. 23 00:01:37,180 --> 00:01:43,870 And then later on I worked in Bratislava. 24 00:01:44,430 --> 00:01:45,960 In the Garrison Music Band in Bratislava, 25 00:01:45,960 --> 00:01:51,320 where I played for various state officials. 26 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,640 One of the main ones was the president. 27 00:01:54,640 --> 00:02:01,340 And basically we were the military music of the President of the Slovak Republic. 28 00:02:01,700 --> 00:02:08,570 I experienced them, starting with Kováč, Schuster and Gašparovič. 29 00:02:09,370 --> 00:02:12,920 I have experienced those three. 30 00:02:14,270 --> 00:02:16,650 While they were presidents, while they were in office. 31 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:23,210 I remember when Mr. Schuster came up to us and came to greet us. 32 00:02:23,210 --> 00:02:29,540 And he was very happy and he praised us as well. 33 00:02:29,540 --> 00:02:32,940 And it was such a nice meeting. 34 00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:41,130 Also Mr. Gašparovič, he wanted to blow a trumpet. 35 00:02:41,130 --> 00:02:45,980 So I remember that my colleagues lent him a trumpet 36 00:02:45,980 --> 00:02:48,260 and he blew a few notes. 37 00:02:48,260 --> 00:02:53,610 So there was definitely a positive attitude towards music. 38 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:56,820 There were more of us Roma there, of course. 39 00:02:57,300 --> 00:03:00,990 I got there after I finished school. 40 00:03:00,990 --> 00:03:04,840 First I joined the Garrison Music Band in Košice, 41 00:03:04,990 --> 00:03:06,580 where I played the tuba. 42 00:03:07,650 --> 00:03:12,760 And then, as various changes arose in the organization of the army, 43 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:17,940 some went into civilian life and some continued. 44 00:03:17,940 --> 00:03:25,020 As I was still young, I was transferred to Bratislava. 45 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:27,380 To this military band. 46 00:03:27,380 --> 00:03:31,130 And there I met a whole series 47 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:37,690 of leaders in politics. 48 00:03:40,090 --> 00:03:46,120 The last one, I remember, during my time, it was G. Bush. 49 00:03:46,880 --> 00:03:54,120 One year I played, I think, for Bush, Putin, and the Pope. 50 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:00,760 John Paul II, when he was in Košice, I played for him at mass. 51 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,440 That was still the Garrison Music Band Košice. 52 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,570 There at that airport. 53 00:04:06,570 --> 00:04:11,690 And then in Bratislava, when he was a little bit older, sicker. 54 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:13,730 I played the tuba, 55 00:04:14,030 --> 00:04:18,270 because in a military band, it's usually the brass instruments that dominate. 56 00:04:18,270 --> 00:04:22,170 So that's why I studied tuba in school. 57 00:04:22,750 --> 00:04:27,060 But from early childhood, as I mentioned, I played the violin. 58 00:04:27,420 --> 00:04:33,240 And then later, when I came to visit my family in Michalovce, 59 00:04:34,090 --> 00:04:39,870 I left the army and I had to go back to the violin, 60 00:04:39,870 --> 00:04:45,400 because the brass instruments were not very popular here. 61 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,400 They weren't so preferred. 62 00:04:50,170 --> 00:04:56,220 So I dusted off my violin and started playing 63 00:04:56,220 --> 00:05:00,740 with different bands and music. 64 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,220 So I alternated between tuba, violin 65 00:05:05,390 --> 00:05:11,710 and I played bass and double bass at one gig. 66 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:15,880 Of course, piano is such a standard thing, 67 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,940 which I think every musician should be able to play. 68 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:22,530 I started out in Cifra Folk Music, 69 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:28,610 which used to play for the folk ensemble Jurošík. 70 00:05:29,260 --> 00:05:33,120 The director of this ensemble, or the leader, if I may say so, 71 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,660 he had this school where he educated these dancers. 72 00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:43,810 So he noticed me and offered me a position, 73 00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:47,420 to start a music department there. 74 00:05:47,420 --> 00:05:50,190 And to teach the little kids to play, 75 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:56,040 whom we could then use in that folk group. 76 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,110 So that was successful. 77 00:05:59,070 --> 00:06:03,210 Nowadays, I'm leading the Jurošík Folk Music, 78 00:06:03,390 --> 00:06:06,420 where I'm the first violin. 79 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,480 And my teammates are both professionals, teachers, 80 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,810 but also the pupils that we have brought up ourselves. 81 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:18,360 It's a non-Roma band. 82 00:06:18,460 --> 00:06:22,130 It's actually folklore, which I like very much. 83 00:06:22,130 --> 00:06:27,730 And I've been coming into contact with that folklore since I was a very young child. 84 00:06:27,730 --> 00:06:32,510 And I've continued to do that all my life. 85 00:06:32,930 --> 00:06:36,740 I try to do that with my boss, 86 00:06:36,990 --> 00:06:41,820 to create, to explore songs, to connect with each other. 87 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:46,960 Since he's a choreographer, he teaches dance. 88 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,810 So I'm trying to create some music for the dance. 89 00:06:50,810 --> 00:06:54,610 I've already managed to create a few 90 00:06:54,610 --> 00:06:58,500 such programmes, which have been awarded. 91 00:06:58,660 --> 00:07:05,330 It's the kind of work that keeps us moving. 92 00:07:05,330 --> 00:07:11,960 It's pushing us to keep exploring that folklore, 93 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,340 our traditions. 94 00:07:14,340 --> 00:07:19,880 And when it comes to the region, it's mostly where we're at home. 95 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,610 That is Lower Zemplín, except for Michalovce. 96 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,790 In my opinion, there are beautiful songs there. 97 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:30,760 Such a sharp rhythm. 98 00:07:30,990 --> 00:07:33,850 Wonderful dragging songs. 99 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:37,650 Terribly cheerful, so diverse. 100 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,850 Always when we compare with other regions, 101 00:07:41,850 --> 00:07:47,320 I think our Zemplín has something to show. 102 00:07:47,580 --> 00:07:52,330 With that folklore ensemble we've been, you could say, all over the world. 103 00:07:52,620 --> 00:07:56,270 What stuck with me the most and what I remember the most, 104 00:07:56,490 --> 00:08:02,440 was in Istanbul, Turkey, the Büyükçekmece festival, 105 00:08:02,580 --> 00:08:04,810 which is the biggest festival in the world. 106 00:08:04,810 --> 00:08:07,850 There were 27 countries from all over the world. 107 00:08:08,110 --> 00:08:12,100 They were professional ensembles. 108 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:17,720 And we managed to pull off such a stunt there. 109 00:08:18,030 --> 00:08:20,130 We won the whole festival. 110 00:08:20,670 --> 00:08:22,240 It was a huge success. 111 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:25,610 And such a boost and a push, 112 00:08:25,780 --> 00:08:28,700 that what we're doing, we're probably doing well. 113 00:08:28,940 --> 00:08:32,090 Because it was something amazing. 114 00:08:32,650 --> 00:08:36,320 On the basis of this, various offers came. 115 00:08:37,560 --> 00:08:40,100 I think the furthest away we were was Brazil. 116 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:45,200 There was also this festival there, huge, world-class, 117 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,800 where we were also appreciated. 118 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:49,680 We got the jury prize. 119 00:08:50,530 --> 00:08:57,620 So I mentioned the furthest countries. 120 00:08:57,620 --> 00:09:03,160 But within Europe, I think we've been almost all over Europe. 121 00:09:03,470 --> 00:09:08,330 I remember very fondly the festivals in Poland. 122 00:09:08,910 --> 00:09:14,840 Amazing atmosphere, amazing stages, amazing people. 123 00:09:15,290 --> 00:09:21,080 And we love going there, to Poland, 124 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:26,210 because I think we have something in common, even in the songs. 125 00:09:26,210 --> 00:09:29,800 Also in that feeling of folklore. 126 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:35,370 So I think Poland is the closest to us. 127 00:09:35,710 --> 00:09:39,900 In Brazil they accepted our folklore very well. 128 00:09:40,110 --> 00:09:45,850 We also had some performances in schools for children during that festival. 129 00:09:46,010 --> 00:09:51,320 Which were happy to dance with us afterwards as well. 130 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,440 So I think they received it very positively. 131 00:09:56,680 --> 00:09:59,610 It was such a challenge for them. 132 00:09:59,610 --> 00:10:02,510 First of all, travelling so far 133 00:10:02,510 --> 00:10:05,040 and the climate that was there. 134 00:10:05,040 --> 00:10:10,130 We had a little bit of trouble adjusting, acclimatizing. 135 00:10:10,380 --> 00:10:15,010 Also the time zone shift led to some minor fluctuations. 136 00:10:15,010 --> 00:10:18,190 But it was amazing. 137 00:10:18,190 --> 00:10:20,010 We were in a town, 138 00:10:20,590 --> 00:10:25,730 which was founded by immigrants. 139 00:10:28,530 --> 00:10:33,340 Immigrants were the foundation of that city. 140 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:40,780 So it wasn't so indigenous that the locals were all original Brazilians. 141 00:10:40,780 --> 00:10:46,600 But we also met Poles there who spoke to us. 142 00:10:46,600 --> 00:10:50,410 And they were happy to come to our shows afterwards. 143 00:10:50,570 --> 00:10:53,310 And it was so very nice. 144 00:10:53,460 --> 00:10:57,380 About Roma music and musical tradition 145 00:10:57,550 --> 00:11:01,630 Because my cousins and siblings 146 00:11:04,130 --> 00:11:08,970 are Roma and they are very close to the Roma music, 147 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:15,310 so their children, too, sing those Roma songs at home. 148 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:22,500 They sing the newer ones, the more modern ones. 149 00:11:22,890 --> 00:11:26,620 But they still go back to the old, traditional songs, 150 00:11:26,620 --> 00:11:30,270 that our parents used to sing. 151 00:11:30,650 --> 00:11:36,880 At various parties or family celebrations. 152 00:11:38,990 --> 00:11:42,040 They basically taught us those songs. 153 00:11:42,220 --> 00:11:49,060 And I think we remembered them well, 154 00:11:49,060 --> 00:11:54,360 because we still sing those songs at home. 155 00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:02,380 Here it turns out that in our descendants 156 00:12:02,380 --> 00:12:09,550 that Romani song is still there and it's a tradition. 157 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:12,880 Which is very nice and very good. 158 00:12:13,250 --> 00:12:18,500 Because nowadays, my opinion is, 159 00:12:18,500 --> 00:12:25,250 that the old Roma songs are not sung as much as they used to be. 160 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:30,210 Newer songs are coming and newer songs are being created. 161 00:12:30,590 --> 00:12:35,840 And I think that should change a little bit. 162 00:12:36,670 --> 00:12:42,890 We, as a Roma ethnic group, should have our own songs, 163 00:12:42,890 --> 00:12:45,570 that should not be forgotten. 164 00:12:45,850 --> 00:12:50,080 This Roma music shows the essence of our Roma culture. 165 00:12:50,460 --> 00:12:54,490 And those traditional Roma songs, when I compare it like that, 166 00:12:54,990 --> 00:12:58,090 as we study the Zemplín songs, 167 00:12:58,330 --> 00:13:02,880 we go and try to write down the oldest song. 168 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:06,170 I think it should be like that in the Roma music as well. 169 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:12,480 I'm sure there are a lot of old lyrics and songs. 170 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:16,270 They need to be further disseminated. 171 00:13:16,300 --> 00:13:19,150 And thanks to the fact that we write it down, 172 00:13:20,190 --> 00:13:28,030 then we can pass it on to our descendants. 173 00:13:28,940 --> 00:13:33,100 And it's not so... 174 00:13:34,890 --> 00:13:39,720 Those modern songs, it's great, 175 00:13:39,850 --> 00:13:43,160 that we can create something new. 176 00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:46,670 But we shouldn't forget the old ones. 177 00:13:46,680 --> 00:13:51,920 I'm trying to express my feelings through the violin. 178 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:57,710 And every song definitely evokes something in me. 179 00:13:57,710 --> 00:13:59,690 And that's what I'm trying to put out. 180 00:13:59,930 --> 00:14:05,240 As I mentioned, my cousins have children. 181 00:14:05,240 --> 00:14:09,200 And I've been rehearsing something with them. 182 00:14:09,230 --> 00:14:16,140 Also, my brother and my cousins are musicians as well. 183 00:14:16,140 --> 00:14:19,530 We've been playing together for a while, too. 184 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:25,720 And that's how I got into the Cína band, 185 00:14:27,120 --> 00:14:35,240 that Martinka, the leader, had to go on maternity leave, 186 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:39,620 because she gave birth to baby Peter. 187 00:14:40,360 --> 00:14:44,340 So Štefan approached me, 188 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:49,130 to see if I could come and fill in for the band, 189 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:57,240 because I wasn't playing with anybody at the time, so that's how it came together. 190 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:02,910 So I went on to substitute for Martinka. 191 00:15:03,460 --> 00:15:07,420 Do you notice differences between Slovak and Roma folk music? 192 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:09,060 There are differences. 193 00:15:09,300 --> 00:15:14,670 In a non-Roma band there are certain rules. 194 00:15:14,670 --> 00:15:18,910 Whether in harmony, whether in the feeling, dynamics. 195 00:15:19,860 --> 00:15:26,830 And in the character, when we play a song, for example. 196 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:31,120 Whereas in a Roma band 197 00:15:33,580 --> 00:15:37,370 it's more benevolent, or how should I put it. 198 00:15:40,010 --> 00:15:42,850 There are not so many limits there. 199 00:15:42,940 --> 00:15:45,800 It's freer playing 200 00:15:45,890 --> 00:15:49,310 than with non-Roma musicians. 201 00:15:49,540 --> 00:15:54,270 I played with a lot of old Roma musicians, 202 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:59,050 who were amazing musicians, amazing musicians. 203 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,500 I'll give you an example, even though they didn't know the notes, 204 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:07,960 they themselves might not have known how complicated the chords were. 205 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,440 They couldn't even name them. 206 00:16:13,210 --> 00:16:20,400 And that's where I see the difference in the musicians that I play with. 207 00:16:21,080 --> 00:16:27,050 I'll mention a colleague of mine, an accordion player, who is also a teacher. 208 00:16:27,950 --> 00:16:31,610 And he can name it. 209 00:16:33,660 --> 00:16:35,860 He basically knows what he's playing. 210 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,900 And that's where I see the difference. 211 00:16:39,130 --> 00:16:43,630 Whereas in the Roma bands, they're mostly just following their own, 212 00:16:43,770 --> 00:16:47,660 as I said, feelings, ears. 213 00:16:48,340 --> 00:16:53,610 How, where, what, how to put that note or chord. 214 00:16:54,110 --> 00:16:58,450 Whereas in a non-Roma band it's like that, 215 00:16:58,490 --> 00:17:03,890 but as they know harmony and theory, 216 00:17:04,090 --> 00:17:10,620 they know how to adjust their playing based on that feeling. 217 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:17,290 It's different when you know the music and you know the theory, 218 00:17:17,550 --> 00:17:21,740 where certain laws don't let you go somewhere. 219 00:17:21,950 --> 00:17:26,520 And it's different when you're playing in a Roma band 220 00:17:27,420 --> 00:17:34,570 and you don't know the theory, the chord sequence, or the notes. 221 00:17:35,800 --> 00:17:37,360 So it's freer like that. 222 00:17:37,630 --> 00:17:44,980 My favourite Romani first violin was Rinaldo Oláh, 223 00:17:45,770 --> 00:17:47,900 whom I've admired since I was a kid. 224 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:55,090 I love to listen to his songs and old recordings. 225 00:17:55,980 --> 00:17:59,170 And of course Ján Berky-Mrenica 226 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:07,470 is such an icon for me, as far as the first violin in Slovakia is concerned.