The ensemble comes from the village of Juszczyn, which ethnographically is part of the Babia Góra [Witches’ Mountain] region. The Babia Góra highlanders inhabit the areas lying at the northern foothills of Babia Góra (1,725 metres), the highest peak in the Wyspowy Beskid. The area to the south is inhabited by Orava highlanders, to the west Żywiec highlanders, to the east Podhale highlanders, to the northeast Kliszczacy. To the north the area is bounded by the towns of Maków Podhalański and Sucha Beskidzka (across the Skawa River). Over the centuries the foundation of traditional economy has been constituted by sheep and cattle breeding based on seasonal pasturing in clearings and mountain pastures, as well as agriculture, forest-related activities and wood floating (still in the 19th century). The yearly calendar of rites has managed to preserve such traditions as carolling on the nameday of Dorota and on the Feast of Three Kings, burning an effigy of Judas Iscariot on Good Thursday, as well as a number of shepherd customs, particularly those related to sheep tending. At Christmastime people would hang, on the ceiling, the so-called worlds – decorations made from straw and grain. Verbal and music folklore consisted predominantly of highland-robber and shepherd motifs. Apart from the traditional set of musical instruments (the primary and secondary violins, double bass), musicians also played the bagpipes and heligonka (a kind of button accordion; since the end of the 19th century).
At the Festival the ensemble is going to present the programme “Picking potatoes.” In the autumn a woman is picking potatoes in the field. Nearby children are playing in a meadow, being looked after by Zośka, an older girl. The woman stops working at midday and walks off to milk the cows. While she is absent, a bunch of children come returning from mushroom picking. Taking advantage of the adults’ absence, they play, make a fire, roast potatoes; the boys show off in front of the girls with games involving agility. Soon comes the band – the children who have been playing while grazing the cattle in the neighbouring clearing. Dances begin in the meadow.
Roman Guzik is the ensemble manager, Marcin Pokusa is the music manager, and Krystyna Kołacz is the choreographer.
At the Festival the ensemble is going to present the programme “Picking potatoes.” In the autumn a woman is picking potatoes in the field. Nearby children are playing in a meadow, being looked after by Zośka, an older girl. The woman stops working at midday and walks off to milk the cows. While she is absent, a bunch of children come returning from mushroom picking. Taking advantage of the adults’ absence, they play, make a fire, roast potatoes; the boys show off in front of the girls with games involving agility. Soon comes the band – the children who have been playing while grazing the cattle in the neighbouring clearing. Dances begin in the meadow.
Roman Guzik is the ensemble manager, Marcin Pokusa is the music manager, and Krystyna Kołacz is the choreographer.