Tęgie Chłopy band

The Tęgie Chłopy band continues the tradition of dance music of the Kielce region in its authentic and unstylized form. With its repertoire and instrumentation, it refers to the best models – traditional bands that used to play weddings and country parties in the vicinity of Łagówand Opatów, such as the band of the Witkowski brothers from Orłowiny, Krakowiak from Zbelutka, Antoni Witkowski from Cisóww and many others.

The band’s name is a musical statement: Peasants primarily play Kielce “chłopy” – three-beat, tuneful melodies typical of the eastern Kielce region, also known as “światowki” or “śpiwy”. Tęgie Chłopy want to play to dance so that “the ceiling rises” – as supposedly happened at parties played by the famous Witkowski brothers’ band. Raising the ceiling is greatly helped by the presence of a strong brass section – trumpet, clarinet and tuba.

The band is made up of musicians involved in the organization of the Kielce Tabor Dance House in Sędek near Łagów (2013-2016). Most of them are co-creators of many acclaimed musical projects and animation activities in the world of Polish traditional music.

In an effort to reach the oldest repertoire of the Kielce region, band members have traveled hundreds of kilometers in search of musicians and singers of the region.

The band has played to dance at dance parties and festivals of traditional and contemporary music throughout Poland, as well as in Sweden and France. It also took part in Jacek Hałas and Darek Blaszczyk’s performance Orszak weselny/Żałobny rapsod, produced by Polish Radio.

In October 2015, the first album of Tęgie Chłopy – Dansing – was released by the Muzyka Odnaleziona publishing house. The premiere of the second album, Wedding! was held on December 7, 2017.

Fot. Karolina Majewska