Byelorussia: Musical Folklore of the Byelorussian Polessye

Covering southern Belarus and northern Ukraine, the region of Polessye is known as “the land of legends, fairy tales, and songs.” Influenced by a landscape filled with forests and meadows, the traditional music from this area often revolves around seasonal changes, harvests, and related festivities. The vast terrain also inspired the practice of open-air group singing, which can be heard throughout the album. These spirited songs are colored by polyphonic chants around instruments including the fife, violin, and, on one track, the dulcimer—rare in Polessye music. The liner notes provide full details on instruments and the cultural significance of each track.

Track Listing

101	Christmas Carols and New Year's Songs	Anna Vengoora, Christina Doroshevich, Tatiana Safronova, Serafina Petrova, Aksinya Targonya; Olga Vakoolchyk, Anna Roosack, Nadeshda Roosack, Lubov Sleesh	04:10
102	Violin Play	Michail Shkadoon	00:43
103	Round: Spring Dance	Tatiana Orlenin, Nadeshda Shogol	02:08
104	Dancing Tune on a Fife	Ivan Petshooha	00:38
105	Harvest Songs	Fayna Olesich, Watalya Adreykoviets, Heema Doroshevich, Tatiana Fedorova; Olga Vakoolchyk, Anna Roosack, Nadeshda Roosack, Lubov Sleesh; Katerina Dorosh	04:12
106	Reed-pipe Solo	Ivan Petshooha	01:10
107	Wedding Songs and Instrumental Tunes	Anna Vengoora, Christina Doroshevich, Tatiana Safronova, Serafina Petrova, Aksinya Targonya; Vasily Shved; Olga Vakoolchyk, Anna Roosack, Nadeshda Roosack	06:02
108	Housewife	Ivan Petshooha	00:34
109	Comic Love Songs	Anna Vengoora, Christina Doroshevich, Tatiana Safronova, Serafina Petrova, Aksinya Targonya	02:59
110	Ballad	Fayna Olesich, Watalya Andreykoviets, Heema Doroshevich, Tatiana Fedorova	03:58
111	Poetic Song	Fayna Olesich, Watalya Andreykoviets, Heema Doroshevich, Tatiana Fedorova	02:10
112	Lyrical Song	Yusef Roosack, Alexander Korenchuck, Adam Sleesh	02:14
113	Preemack	Olga Vakoolchyk, Anna Roosack, Nadeshda Roosack, Olga Masalskaya, Yusef Roosack, Adam Masalsky	02:52
114	Dramatic Song	Lubov Sleesh, Yusef Roosack, Alexander Korenchuck, Adam Sleesh	01:22
115	Peoples' Songs from the Time of World War II	Anna Vengoora, Christina Doroshevich, Tatiana Safronova, Serafina Petrova, Aksinya Targonya; Olga Vakoolchyck, Anna Roosack, Nadeshda Roosack, Olga Masalskaya	06:52
116	Love Songs	Christina Doroshevich	03:42
117	Festive Songs and Dances	Vasily Shved, Nikolay Leshchinsky, Ygnat Shookalov, Pavel Shookalov, Olga Masalskaya, Anna Roosack, Nadeshda Roosack, Lubov Sleesh, Yusef Roosack, Alexander Korenchuck, Adam Sleesh, Roman Sleesh	07:46