Gorsko jezero – Am gebirgssee (V. Štrucl)

“Gorsko jezero” (Slovenian for “Mountain lake”) or “Am gebirggsee” (German for “At the mountain lake”) is an instrumental waltz by Slovenian composer and musician Vinko Štrucl. It was recorded by Slovenski instrumentalni kvintet (Oberkrainer Sextett) in the 1970s, whose albums credited the composition to Štrucl’s pseudonym, Vine Darin. Vinko Štrucl (1933-2006) worked across Slovenian folk (Oberkrainer), brass, and orchestral music, and led the Police Orchestra of Slovenia for several years. He wrote over 500 songs for brass bands, orchestras, and folk music ensembles in Slovenia and abroad. He performed in an early iteration of Slovenian folk ensemble Dobri Znanci, worked closely with Slovenski instrumentalni kvintet (now known as Slovenski Muzikantje, […]

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Sanjam o domovini – Heimatträume (V. & S. Avsenik) [Sheet music] [Tutorial video]

‘Sanjam o domovini’ (Heimatträume in German) is a waltz by the Avsenik brothers from Slovenia, and the title means ‘Dreaming of my homeland’. It was originally sung by one of the Avsenik ensemble’s female vocalists, Jožica Svete, who was part of their vocal trio from 1974 to 1990 and like most other Avsenik vocalists, has been a professional singer for most of her life across different genres. The lyrics sing of how emotionally difficult it is to be alone in a foreign country, longing to be back home, and how much it hurts (who says polkas and waltzes are always happy?). It was released on Avsenik’s 1976 Slovenian album “Kjer

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Sonce in sneg – Sonne und schnee – Sunshine and snow (F. Lutter & P. Nadvesnik) [Sheet music]

‘Sonne und schnee’ (Sunshine and snow in English, or Sonce in sneg in Slovenian) is an instrumental waltz by Felix Lutter from Northern Bavaria in Germany, and myself. It was written during a heat wave where I live, and a snowstorm where Felix lives, which inspired the name. Felix is a good friend, and an excellent accordionist from Germany who I’ve done several collaborations with, and has a strong commitment and passion for the Oberkrainer style of Alpine folk music. We received additional help with the arrangement and mix from the guitar and bass players we collaborated with: Daniel Kurej from Carinthia (Kärnten) in Austria on guitar, and Andre Volderauer

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Dauerwellen Walzer (F. Pfister) [Sheet music]

‘Dauerwellen Walzer’ is an instrumental waltz (dauerwellen literally means hair perms!) written by Freddy Pfister from Austria, released in 1987 by the hugely successful Austrian folk music group ‘Zillertaler Schürzenjäger‘ (Skirt chasers from Ziller Valley). It appeared on the same album which featured the Zillertaler Hochzeitsmarsch, an old folk melody which the group modernised into a hit and has become a staple in most Alpine folk music repertoires across German speaking countries. Freddy Pfister was the piano accordion player and vocalist for ‘Zillertaler Schürzenjäger’ from 1986 to 1998 and wrote many other hits for them including ‘Tiroler Buam Polka’. Today he continues his Alpine folk music work in the ‘Freddy

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Reci le zakaj – Sag warum, warum (V. & S. Avsenik) [Sheet music]

“Reci le zakaj” (Slovenian for “Just tell me why”) or “Sag warum, warum” in German (which means “Say why, why”) is a waltz by Slavko & Vilko Avsenik from Slovenia (pioneers of the Oberkrainer style of Alpine folk music) which dates back to the 1950s. 3 recordings seem to be available; one by Trio Avsenik from 1954, one by the Avsenik quintet with vocals in Slovenian, and another by the quintet with vocals in German. My arrangement is based on Avsenik’s trio performance from 1954. The waltz is very melodic and dynamic, and its lyrics are about heartbreak, sung from the perspective of a girl who remembers walking across a

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Majave breze (F. Šegovc) [Sheet music]

“Majave breze” which translates to “Birch in the wind” or “Wobbling birch”, is a rarely played but beautiful instrumental waltz by Franc Šegovc, the founder and accordionist in Slovenian folk/Oberkrainer style ensemble “Štirje Kovači” (Four Blacksmiths). It featured in their 1980 album “Luči Slovenj Gradca“. “Štirje Kovači” are one of Slovenia’s oldest folk music bands and the longest active Slovenian folk band, which has been recognized by Guinness World Records (66 years in 2020). Their songs are very unique, and although many of their oldest songs have become staples in Slovenian folk music repertoire (Kam le čas beži, Rženova Tinka), I’m really fond of their instrumentals, which are very unique

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