Songs of Marián Kováč
Mgr. art. Marián Kováč has been born 21.9.1990 in Banská Bytrica. Already in the children’s folklore groups “Prvosienka” and “Radosť” he began to devote himself to folk dance and playing traditional Slovak instruments. In 2005 he became a member of the dance component of the folklore group Partizán, with that he performed at festivals in Východná, Detva, Heľpa, Hrušov, Zuberec, Terchová, Očová, Priechod, Kokava, Klenovec and at many performances in cities and towns in Slovakia, at major folklore festivals abroad and especially at world exhibitions in Shanghai and Moscow. He was one of the most talented and folk culture became a natural part of his life, with which he graduated from the acting faculty of the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica.
His father comes from Strelníky (Šajba till 1948) and this fact marked his relationship to folklore culture. He became an excellent player in heligónka, but also in fujara, whistles, drumbľa and he tried playing bagpipes. Ján Palovič, an excellent instrumentalist and singer, a native of Poniky and a former member of SĽUK, became his great role model. Marián Kováč has been preform independently at the Radvanský jarmok for 8 years, and people like to listen to his play and songs performed by him. During his studies, he was actively involved in the activities of the Matica slovenská and significantly manifested himself in several programs as a reciter and moderator, with great respect for the mother tongue.
Marián Kováč is an exceptionally gifted young man whose relationship to a folklore songs is exceptional. After the first songs recorded on the debut album “Šajbianske Pršťoke – Pomaly ovečky…” in 2012, he against presents other songs from Šajba and others villages of the wider Podpoľanie not only with original singing performance, but also with a brilliant play on traditional “bags”, as they called Heligónka in the villages bellow Poľana. For his second album he choose title “Keď si ja zaspievam…” (When I will sing), and the album will be presented at the Radvanský Jarmok 2019. In terms of conent, the first part of the new album focusses on songs from the life of sheep breeders and geldings on the mountain hut, the second part focuses on recruit and military songs. Their recording took place directly in nature, so in addition to interesting songs, you can also hear the singing of birds, the thunder of lightning and the whistling of bullets from a military training ground.
People liked his first songs because he spoke to them through clear language. Therefore, they believes that next songs will be just as beautiful and literally magical in his presentation. Marián is a “proud and talented man” with whom the friends in the Partizán group have survived a great deal. These were moments of happiness together with the people who came to utter words of appreciation after his songs, because Marián knew how to pass on joy and happiness for the people during the performances. He has a deep respect for his native region, and through the legacy of ancestral songs and great faith, which often opens people’s hearts and can give them his songs to the fullest. I believe that people who have a sincere relationship with a folk song listen to them very carefully, so that they can then sing them themselves and sincerely look forward to the others that hold their hearts.
Sincerely, Igor K o v a č o v i č