Srpski Tamburaški Kvintet (1917)

As was sometimes the case with these early releases, the orchestras were listed only as what type of group they were. It's very possible that this band went by another name, but the Victor Record Co. lists them here simply as "Srpski Muški Kvintet" (Serbian Male Quintet) or "Srpski Tamburaški Kvintet" (Serbian Tamburica Quintet). Some of the greatest tamburaši of the early 20th century can be heard on these recordings. Vaso Bukvić and Zdravko Jezdimir were founding members of the original Banat Tamburica Orchestra of Elizabeth, New Jersey (est.1912). They also went on to play in the "Yugoslavia" Tamburaško Društvo of Indiana Harbor, IN, together with another member of this band, Ćira Kozarov. The director of the "Srpski Muški Kvintet" was another legendary tamburaš, Sandor Huszar, an extremely talented musician, composer, and bandleader, he is probably most famous for the many recordings he made with Ilija Mišković in the 1920's. Rounding out this tamburitza quintet was bass vocalist B.V. Eliss.

This group of musicians recorded at least fourteen individual songs or instrumentals for the Victor company as the "Srpski Muški Kvintet" between May and August of 1917. Unfortunately, it seems that only eight recordings were ever released. I've posted four of these tracks below.

The first record is a great instrumental medley of Serbian and Croatian songs and dances (side A is mostly songs, and side B is mostly dances). The second record starts with an upbeat old patriotic tune, "Napred Stupaj", also known as "Srbijanci i Bosanci", or "Kralja Petra Pesma". The flip side is a nice rendition of the popular old song "Oj devojko! Oj!", better known as "Ti si rajski cvet", featuring lead vocals by Ćira Kozarov. 

Potpuri Srpsko-Hrvatskih pesama-I

Potpuri Srpsko-Hrvatskih pesama-II

*** 

Napred stupaj!

Oj devojko! Oj!

Yugoslavia Tamburaško Društvo (Part 2)

This was one of the greatest tamburitza orchestras to record in the 1920's! Musicians such as Vaso Bukvić, Ćira Kozarov, and Vlado Marjanović were already legends when they came to the Yugoslavia Tamb. Društvo of Indiana Harbor, Indiana. The Bukvić brothers, Vaso and Mirko, were part of the original Banat Tamburitza Orchestra founded by Zdravko Jezdimir in 1912. Also in 1912, the amazing primaš and tenor Vlado Marjanović was making his famous recordings with Drago Ilkić for the Columbia recording studios. In 1917 Ćira Kozarov joined Vaso Bukvich and Zdravko Jezdimir to make a number of recordings for RCA-Victor with the Srpski muški kvintet, a renowned tamburitza orchestra directed by Sandor Huszar. Some of these incredibly talented musicians would go on to form this group, The Yugoslavia Tamburaško Društvo, in the early 1920's.

Jovan Stojković "Babunski"

About the songs: The first track, Komitska Pesma, an early version of the patriotic song Spremte Se Spremte Četnici (or Srpska mi truba zatrubi ) , dates back to 1908 after guerillas fought valliantly under the command of Serbian Vojvoda Jovan Stojković "Babunski" (pictured at right) against Turkish regulars at the battle of Drenovo, in Macedonia. It was composed shortly after the battle by former Serbian Orthodox monk and četnik soldier Jeremija (Jovan) Grković "Gapon", (born in Orahovac, Prizren, in 1879, he was killed in the fighting at Kumanovo in 1912). This song became very popular in the United States after WWI and tamburitza legend Dušan Jovanović recorded his own version in November of 1925 for the Columbia record label in New York. With the onset of WWII Spremte Se Spremte was popularized again by such greats as Edo Ljubić, who recorded it on July 30, 1942 for RCA-Victor, and Raša Radenković and Mirko Marković who recorded a version for the Sonart label. This track was recorded on July 23, 1924 in Richmond, Indiana and features lead vocals by Vaso Bukvić.

The second track, Prošetaj Lelo (better known as Čini ne čini, or Ne luduj lelo), doesn't need much introduction. Written by Serbian poet and songwriter Milorad Petrović Seljančica, and composed by Stanislav Binički, this song was extremely popular and was performed and recorded by countless orchestras and choirs in Europe and the U.S.A. This track was recorded on July 23, 1924 and features vocals by Ćira Kozarov.

I'm so grateful to my friend Milan Opacich for giving me this rare treasure! Thanks Milan!

Komitska Pesma

Prošetaj Lelo

Vaso & Mirko Bukvich

Here's another nice record from Vaso & Mirko Bukvich recorded in NY, June 1916.

Premalece

Milkina kuca na kraju

Vaso Bukvich (Part 2)

This is just one of many records that Vaso Bukvich made with the "Yugoslavia" Tamburasko Drustvo from Indiana Harbor, Indiana. This was recorded in 1924 in Richmond, Indiana.

Click the photos to listen to the music...

Jedno Jutro Cim Je Zora SvanulaImao Sam Komsinicu

Vaso Bukvich

Here are two great records featuring legendary primas Vaso Bukvich. As early as 1912 he was playing in the original "Banat" Orchestra, along with his brother Mirko, Zdravko Jezdimir, Letsa Stojanov, and Bogdan Kuzmanovich. In 1916, Vaso and Mirko recorded a number of wonderful kolos and songs for the Columbia record company in New York. Later, in 1924, Vaso traveled to Richmond, Indiana to record for the Starr Piano Company's independent "Jugoslavia Jewelry and Phonograph Co." label. His style of playing had an immense impact on later tamburasi, including Marty Kapugi, who credits him as a big influence. Not only was he a great primas, but a talented singer as well. You can hear him singing and playing on both of these records.

Click the photos to play or download...

Recorded in New York, March 1928

Koti Kupi Devojcice

Mene Mlada Ozenise

***

Recorded in New York, June 1916

S One Strane Save

Cetir Konja Debela