LINER NOTES – Otmar Mácha (1922 – 2006)

 

SILESIAN YODEL-SONGS (LAŠSKÉ HELEKAČKY)

 

Ej, hoja, hoja describes a shepherd whooping-singing across a valley to his sweetheart. ´How is your cattle grazing today?´ And she replies in the same way, ´I graze them fine,´ both enjoying the lasting echo.

 

Helo, helo, Anička similarly recalls shepherd lovers courting. ´Ann, give me back the feather I lost and that you found.´

 

Hoj, hura, hoJ is again a picture of a shepherd wishing to see his love, Mary, in the evening.

 

Ja, helo is the shepherd Joseph´s calling-singing towards the shepherdess Theresa. ´When will you be herding back?´ ´Not yet, but later we shall meet at the water well.´

 

Hojaja, hojaja is another pasture love song. Shepherd Peter is making love to the shepherdess Verunka and soon after to another pretty girl Agnesa.

 

 

THE REPLIES OF SILESIAN SONGS (OHLASY PÍSNÍ SLEZSKÝCH)

 

Moja řeč describes the sweet smell of mother language. ´Smells like a green sprig, like a white sausage, like a cradle, like mother´s chuck, like my father smith.´

 

Koleda z Plesné presents a young and poor lady caroler. ´It is cold, let me come in and warm myself at the furnace with your son.´

 

Zloděj tells a story of the horse robber Janiček being caught and lead to the gallows.

 

Štyry mile za Opavum is a folk rhyme. ´Four miles beyond the town of Opava a sparrow married a cow.´

 

Moja řeč describes the sweet smell of mother language. ´Smells like a green sprig, like a white sausage, like a cradle, like mother´s chuck, like my father smith.´

 

 

MORAVIAN FOLK SONGS (MORAVSKÉ LIDOVÉ PÍSNĚ)

 

Chodila po rolí displays a young lady collecting herbs in the field and in the wood in order to attract a boy.

 

Halekačka presents a young shepherdess who taxes her friend with letting her three followers overnight at her place.

 

Laštuvěnka is the swallow bird chattering on the roof.

 

Maryjánek tells a story how the young girl seeded oregano in her garden. Once the boys learned about it, they were coming in the night to pick it.

 

Vojáčku is a sad soldier song reflecting homesickness, and the sorrow of a mother and father for their son in the field service.

 

Šohajova mama means the mother of my boyfriend who dislikes his meeting with me. She had better put him on a silken string to prevent his visits with me, a poor girl.

 

 

HEJSA, HEJSA - ´It is going to freeze. Why don´t you open your window my Ann? ´ ´I would open it but I suffer from headache.´ ´Do you have anybody inside? ´ ´No, I don´t.´

 

 

FLOWS THE WATER is a folk song painting the deep sorrow of orphans seeking their comfort near the water mill.

 

 

THE MORAVIAN GATE is the beautifully painted town entrance. There are four black horses and the black-eyed lady, too. ´Tell me my love why are you crying?´ ´I am crying for my boyfriend who was recruited and given a horse.´

 

 

PROVERBIA

 

Salve deals with the Latin proverb Thanks to thee, my Muse. For thou dost afford me comfort.

 

Femina brings back another Latin proverb Sweet evil woman, various and always changing.

 

Vivite comine with Vivat is a Latin cry wishing someone long life and prosperity.

 

 

FORTUNA is the thirty-seven times repeated exclamation, wish or even prayer Good luck!

 

HYMNUS is expressing the nationalistic and humanistic vision of J. A. Comenius (1592-1670). ´Let the armor give way to the toga! Let the time of war be over. Let the time of peace return.´