From the Research into the Vocabulary of Folk Musicians from Central Poland

Abstract

This article focuses mainly on the language of folk musicians and the vocabulary they use in relation to their own music (performance practice, musical instruments, folk musicians,
repertoire, musical education, etc.). This text represents a survey of the principal thematic areas and the vocabulary most often appearing in interviews with folk musicians, including terms for the criteria of correctness in musical practice, as well as properties regarded as positive or negative. There is also a wide range of terms that are crucial to reflection on traditional folk music (incl. ‘weeping’, ‘taste’ and ‘accent’). I will also look at the life of a folk violinist, illustrated by an autograph manuscript of the life story of the Rawa violinist Stanisław Skiba (1932–2015). This article
was based on the author’s interviews with twenty three folk violinists from central Poland, mostly from Łódź voivodeship, born in the years 1921–1954. Taking account of musicians’ comments, opinions and vocabulary provides insight into their way of thinking and their worldviews, and it also enhances our knowledge of the musical culture of central Poland.