Milokraj ("Beloved Land")
New music that draws from Czech & Slavic folklore as well as Latin American traditions
Marta Topferova is one of the most unique singers and songwriters of her generation. She has been heavily influenced by Czech and Slavic musical traditions, as well as Latin American folk music. As a steady creative force on the New York music scene for sixteen years, Marta collaborated with some of the best musicians from the Latin, jazz and world-music circles, and this experience has forged a dynamic mix of styles in her work. Marta recently returned to her homeland, the Czech Republic, in order to launch an ensemble of Czech and Slavic music - Milokraj - meaning "beloved land". The result is an entirely new sound, featuring an all-star Eastern European line up: Slovak violinist Stanislav Palúch, Moldavian cimbalom player Marcel Comendant, Czech guitarist David Dorůžka and Slovak bassist Peter Korman. Their CDs have ranked among the top ten groups on the World Music Charts Europe, Spin the Globe (USA), among others. Milokraj was also selected to perform at WOMEX 2017 in Katowice, Poland, and has toured the Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, UK, Spain, Hungary, Austria, Poland and Estonia.
Marta Topferova (Czech Republic) – vocals, cuatro & compositions
Stanislav Palúch (Slovakia) – violin
Marcel Comendant (Moldavia/Slovakia) – cimbalom
David Dorůžka (Czech Republic) – acoustic & electric guitar
Peter Korman (Slovakia) - acoustic bass
Quotes:
"Very beautiful songs" -- Robert Browning, World Music Institute, New York
“I am very pleased that there is a project whose goal is to bring Czech and Moravian music into a global context. — Petr Doruzka, Czech National Radio, Prague”
VIDEOS:
The Hague (2019):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytOlxocUHOA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqxKkZ0CRVQ
Prague (2014):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di05s8WXelU
FACEBOOK:
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Marta Topferova Latin trio
Original & Latin American songs
Singer/songwriter Marta Topferova’s Latin trio is dedicated to the rich tradition of Latin American songs. Their repertoire consists of rhythms and styles such as the Chilean cueca, Argentinean chacarera and zamba, Venezuelan vals and joropo, Andean huayno as well as original songs by all three musicians. Marta's uniquely deep voice with her own accompaniment on the Venezuelan cuatro and percussion along with Alejandro Soto Lacoste’s and Gabo Naas’ soulful playing is a combination that brings listeners into a spirited musical landscape.
Marta Topferova (vocals, cuatro, percussion)
Alejandro Soto Lacoste (guitar, 12-string guitar, accordion, piano, vocals)
Gabo Naas (guitar, mandolin, bass, clarinet, vocals)
VIDEO:
Live in Czech Republic (2021): https://youtu.be/z2Fio9qDr84
Live in Poland (2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMNPodp436U
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Marta Topferova trio
Marta Topferova's trio explores music rooted in Slavic and Latin American traditions, both of which have been so influential in Marta's musical journey. Featuring Marta's singular voice, guitar, cuatro and percussion accompaniment, along with the highly creative and versatile violinist Stanislav Palúch and cimbalom player Marcel Comendant, the trio reinvents and performs songs ranging from Venezuelan joropo and gaita, Cuban son and guajira, Argentinean chacarera, translating the string parts of Latin American instruments such as the Cuban tres or guitar to the sound of the Eastern-European cimbalom and violin. Since Marta is also a prolific and renowned songwriter, the trio features a selection of Marta's original songs, which draw from her native culture: Moravian folk music, various Czech poets, along with undeniable influences of her life in New York City. Not surprisingly, some pieces are a synthesis of all of these rich cultures, as that is what Marta Topferova's unique fate and musical language has to offer.
Marta Topferova - vocals, guitar, cuatro, percussion
Stanislav Palúch - violin
Marcel Comendant - cimbalom
VIDEOS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhDuO2BBmcQ
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Marta Topferova & Alejandro Soto Lacoste
Original & Latin American songs
Marta Topferova - vocals, cuatro, guitar, percussion
Alejandro Soto Lacoste - guitar, accordion, piano, vocals
Singer/songwriter Marta Topferova and Chilean multi-instrumentalist Alejandro Soto Lacoste's duo is dedicated to the rich tradition of Latin American songs. Their repertoire consists of rhythms and styles such as the Chilean cueca, Argentinean chacarera, Venezuelan joropo, as well as original songs by both musicians. Marta's unique soulful voice with her own accompaniment on the Venezuelan cuatro, guitar and hand- percussion along with Alejandro's authentic guitar, accordion and piano playing is a combination that brings listeners into a spirited music landscape.
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La dílna
Workshop of Latin American songs and rhythms
La dílna is an ongoing workshop of Latin American songs and rhythms.
La dílna was created as a space for Marta to share her extensive knowledge and experience within Latin American music, which she gathered during the time she spent among the Hispanic community in the United States. The workshops enable participants to get to know Latin American rhythms and styles. La dílna is mainly focused on teaching songs and basic rhythmic accompaniments on hand percussion and clapping. We learn songs in styles such as the Cuban son, guajira, Colombian porro, Venezuelan joropo, Chilean cueca or Argentinean chacarera. We also spend time learning rhythms on the maracas, clave and hand clapping, which singers typically use to accompany themselves.
Both singers and instrumentalists can participate. Lead sheets and lyrics are provided.
La dílna Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LadilnaMT/
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Leoš Janáček's folk ballads & Moravian folk poetry in songs
Marta and pianist Aneta Majerová, have come together to collaborate on Leoš Janáček's folk ballads and Moravian folk poetry in songs. Janáček's songs are hauntingly beautiful, mysterious, and closely tied to the Moravian landscape, traditions, and folklore. Moravia also happens to be the region where Marta was born, so it's been particularly inspiring for Marta to get to know this genius Czech composer. Marta has been honored to receive a grant from the Leoš Janáček Foundation to perform several concerts of Janáček's works in the spring of 2016.
Marta is also newly collaborating on this program with pianist Jan Bartoš.
Marta Topferova – voice
Aneta Majerová - piano
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Jan Bartoš - piano
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Trova – original & Latin American songs
Marta’s "Trova" ensemble reflects her longtime love and dedication to Latin American music. Comprised of mostly original songs rooted in rhythms such as the Venezuelan vals, Chilean cueca or Cuban son, as well as some traditional pieces, her touring group is usually a quartet and features four-string cuatro, charango or tres, accordion, guitar, bass and percussion.
TROVA in the US / Canada:
Marta Topferova - vocals, cuatro
Aaron Halva (US) - tres, accordion
Pedro Giraudo (Argentina/USA) - bass
Neil Ochoa (Venezuela/USA) - percussion
in Europe / Latin America:
Marta Topferova - vocals, cuatro
Alejandro Soto Lacoste (Chile/Germany) - guitar, accordion, piano
Cristian Carvacho (Chile/Germany) - charango & percussion
or
Minino Garay (Argentina/France) - percussion
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Marta Topferova & Edmar Castañeda
Original compositions by Marta Topferova, Edmar Castañeda & traditional Latin American songs
Marta Topferova - vocals, cuatro, percussion
Edmar Castañeda - (Colombia/New York) - harp
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/gZ4CCzqBq3Q
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"Duets: Lucía Pulido & Marta Topferova" - duets of Colombian & Venezuelan songs
Occasionally, these two soulful singers unite to revive duets of Colombian and Venezuelan songs that they've been singing together since they met in 1996 in New York City. The Colombian and Czech singer have had a special musical connection ever since.
Lucia Pulido (Colombia/New York) - vocals, cuatro & percussion
Marta Topferova - vocals, guitar & cuatro
+ special guests on bass, strings or percussion