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09 July 2006 23:48

At Least 40,000 Spectators at the Dreamland Festival’s Closing Concert

At least 40,000 people were present at the Third Dreamland International Folk Festival organized by the Ukraine 3000 Foundation.

The closing concert at the Spivoche Pole main stage featured the Hutsul Calipso group (Chernivtsi) and Romano Drom (Hungary). The concert, as well as the festival itself, ended with appearance of its main ideologist and organizer Oleh Skrypka, who rendered the festival’s title song ‘Dreamland’. To the sounds of this song, figures of Marena and Kupaylo pagan gods, placed on each side of the main stage at the beginning of the festival, were burnt.

The Dreamland International Folk Festival was held from July 7 to 9 at the Kyiv Spivoche Pole. The festival’s concerts took place on three stationary and one perambulating stages. The program also included rite and kobzars stages, master class in dancing, children’s playground, craftsmen lane, and national cuisine pavilions.

The Dreamland presented to everybody a unique chance to recall their roots and recollect whose children they are and whom they owe their lives. Besides, it gave an opportunity to familiarize oneself with folk art of various peoples. So, these festive days at the Spivoche Pole hills were interesting for both grownups and children.

Foreign participants of the festival spoke about Dreamland’s originality, adding that there is no folk fete of such scale in their countries.

Festival visitors had a chance to be present at the performances by groups and musicians from over 30 countries. True stars and maestros of ethno and authentic music took part in the music fest.

In part, the festival’s opening featured appearance of Natacha Atlas, star of the world music, whose style is a fusion of Middle East tunes, rap, hip-hop, French chanson, African ethno, and European club beat.

For two days Cliff Stapleton and Jonathan Shorland (Great Britain) gave concerts of  traditional British music on different festival stages and conducted a master class in dancing ancient British dances.

The French group Red Cardell and Kyiv-based authentic music ensemble Hurtopravtsi presented most interesting musical project at Saturday’s night concert. They shared success with Bulgarian virtuoso clarinetist Ivo Papasov.

The Romano Drom’s Sunday’s performance was yet another evidence of the fact that they are one of the brightest Hungarian gypsy groups. 

On Saturday and Sunday the audience saw unique performance by Altai-based Raisa Tandalay. Raisa represents Altai peoples’ national culture, being a first-rate artiste with a voice of great compass, which allows here to render the kai guttural singing, shaman mysteries, Russian romances, folk and pop songs with equal success. Tandalay plays national Altai instruments: topshuur, komus, ikili, tambourine, and shoor.

Among most exotic festival participants was Ejun Yechika, Zen traveling monk from Rinzai School, who plays meditative music on his shakuhachi bamboo flute. Due to Ejun Yechika’s participation in the festival, Ukrainian ethnic and meditative music fans could enjoy ancient Japanese art of playing the bamboo flute.

A true gem of the festival was appearance of the Mtiebi ensemble (Georgia). Mtiebi accompany their songs with playing various musical instruments, dancing, folk games, transforming each concert into a brilliant folk show.

Naturally, many Ukrainian groups participated in the festival: the Run group playing Celtic music, Kyiv-based Nadobryden, Chernivtsi-based Hutsul Calypso, the prioneer oof Ukraine’s folk movement Drevo, Sumy-based Serpanok folk group, Kirovohrad-based Huliayhorod, et. al. 

Concerts by Polish lute player Antoni Pilch, German duet of Tomas and Lizzy Blau playing hurdy-gurdy (ancient European instrument similar to lyre), kobza players Taras Kompanychenko, Yarema-Volodymyr Shevchuk, Danylo Malnyk, et. al. were a great success.

Ukrainian rite tradition was also presented at the festival. The Hurtopravtsi folk music group showed a mystic rite ‘Adam and Eve’, Chernivtsi-based Holos theater rendered a rite performance ‘Old Ukrainian Songs’, and Kyiv-based Volodar - a   Kupala (Midsummer night) rite, till recently existing in Boryspil and Kaharlyk regions of Kyiv oblast.

At the Dreamland’s dance floor visitors could familiarize themselves with folk dances of various countries, from Ukrainian polka to Irish jig.

During the whole festival folk craftsmen – blacksmiths, potters, weavers, etc. -demonstrated their skills at creative workshops. Visitors could join them and make homemade goods with their own hands or purchase goods made by the craftsmen: vyshyvanka embroidered shirts, costume jewelry, pottery, quilts, carpets, various obereh amulets.

Guests of the festival could also taste dishes of various national cuisines: Ukrainian, Polish, Indian, Lebanese, Georgian, etc.

The festival’s founders and organizers were the Dreamland Public Organization, Ukraine 3000 International Foundation, and Art-Veles Arts Agency.