December 31, 2021

SZOMBATESTE BÚCSÚZTATÓ Hungarian Jewish, traditional, arr. Juliana Graffagna, Cookie Segelstein & Joshua Horowitz, from the repertoire of Márta Sebestyén

A GUTE VOKH Yiddish from Bratslav, Ukraine, melody by R. Kalmanovsky, from the singing of Gershn Eisenberg, via Gerry Tenney, Lorin Sklamberg, and Adrienne Cooper, arr. Shira Cion, Joshua Horowitz, and Cookie Segelstein

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live in concert on December 11, 2021, at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA

December 30, 2021

NA PAT JODAM Sandanski Region, Bulgaria, arr. Philip Koutev

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live in concert on December 11, 2021, at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA

December 29, 2021

SOLOVEJ S KUKUŠKOJ SGOVARIVALSJA Belgorod, Russia, from Elena and Vitaly Kis and Yuri Kolesnik

“Beyond the dark forest, a nightingale conspired with a cuckoo: 'Let’s fly to my green garden. A young man was strolling in my garden, all sad was he...'"

OJ, LITAJE SOKOLON’KO Village of Kolodjažnoe, Ukraine, from Yuri Kolesnik

“Oh, a falcon flies over a field and calls a peasant girl home. ‘Go, go home, peasant girl! You’ve wandered the fields all summer, and into the harvest. Your head and back ache. The fields are vast and have worn you out.’”

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live in concert on December 11, 2021, at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA

December 28, 2021

O ONDA Corsica, lyrics by G. P. Lanfranchi, from the repertoire of Tavagna, arr. Kitka

“Oh, wave, when the wrath of ancient sunken furies reaches you, you bear all history. Oh, wave, o, your silence is deeper than the grave, white like a knife stroke. Oh, wave, when you sing, it is like a wail that blossoms, like the sounding of a gun. So many boats lost. So many lands yet to be found. So many harbors buried. So many loves to discover. Oh, wave, smooth, smooth, smooth, flowing, flowing.”

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas (lead vocals), Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg (lead vocals)

Recorded live in concert on December 11, 2021, at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA

December 27, 2021

ELE-MELE K’ISMETI Lazona, arr. N. Memishishi and Tamar Buadze
Special thanks to Kutay Kugay for translation assistance

“Where are you flying to, oh colorful ladybird? I only need you in my life. Oh, my ladybird, flying to and fro, you are burning me from afar. Please give me your love! I will forever keep your image in my heart. I never knew love could be so hard—this feeling of love has touched me deeply. Wave your colorful handkerchief to signal to me from the top of the hill. If you don’t elope with me today, I’ll elope with you tomorrow.”

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana (lead vocals), and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live in concert on December 11, 2021, at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, CA

December 26, 2021

OJ U POLI DREVO Kriačkivka, Ukraine, from Mariana Sadovska and Drevo Ensemble

“Oh, in the field stands a tree, slender and tall, with broad green leaves. And in that tree, a black rave sits and caws. Near a Cossack, a young maiden is crying: 'Oh, dear Cossack, you little star-petaled periwinkle-flower, who will make your bed, your little roadside bed?' 'For my bed there is yellow sweet clover, and for my pillow is my light blue overcoat.'"

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, and Maclovia Quintana

Recorded live at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on December 11, 2021

December 25, 2021

EDNA VEČER VEČERJAHME Dobrudža region, Bulgaria, arr. Philip Koutev

“One evening we dined and we ate up one partridge bird, on the green mountain, where granny cooked it, but didn’t eat it, didn’t see it...”

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle (lead vocals), Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg with special guests Cookie Segelstein, violin & Joshua Horowitz, chromatic button accordion

Recorded live at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on December 11, 2021

December 24, 2021

NOVA RADASTS' STALA Belarus, from the Ensemble Gramnitsy, arr. Vladimir Zenevitch

“A new joy appeared, as such had never been known before. Above the stable, dawn's bright light shone. Here, Christ was born to the Virgin, in human flesh and wrapped in simple swaddling clothes. Angels sing his glory in Heaven and peace is proclaimed on Earth."

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live in Berkeley, California in November, 2021

December 23, 2021

ROMELNI KERUBINTA Georgia, composed by Zakaria Paliashvili (1871-1933)

A sacred chorale from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom “Let us, who secretly became the Cherubim, now sing the holy hymn three times."

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on December 11, 2021

December 22, 2021

OJ MORI KAVALE Bulgaria, arr. Stefan Mutafčiev from the repertoire of Abagar Quartet and Trakia Ensemble via Tzvetanka Varimezova

“Oh, shepherd's flute of mine, what cries do I hear echoing up and down the neighborhood's streets, at the priest's tavern? Did someone's horse get stolen, or were maidens being abducted? Neither was a horse stolen, nor a maiden abducted..."

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins, Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg

Recorded live at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on December 11, 2021

December 21, 2021

SAZEIMO PERKHULI Svaneti, Georgia, traditional Learned from Carl Linich and Trio Kavkasia

A festive round dance from the Northwestern mountains of Georgia with a text consisting entirely of what some consider nonsense words (worera, voisa-rera, dila-wadila).

Others believe this songs' lyrics contain remnants of archaic texts associated with pre-Christian pagan rituals honoring cosmic deities.

Performed by Kitka Women’s Vocal Ensemble: Kelly Atkins (lead vocals), Briget Boyle, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Juliana Graffagna, Janet Kutulas (lead vocals), Maclovia Quintana, and Katya Schoenberg (lead vocals)

Recorded live at The Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, California on December 11, 2021