American Serb History 101

With Love From Kosta

A simple ad in our neighborhood bulletin a few days ago from a teen-age youngster seeking income, brought a flood of memories to the fore, unearthing beautiful treasures. I felt like the day we were on Norfolk beach decades ago. A high tide after a nighttime storm had brought a huge chest bouncing enticingly close to the shore....just like in the movies!  Oh, the excitement! The adrenaline rush! The chase was on! Right out of a page on "Aladdin!"

For five dollars apiece, my genie Zach would change any LP album you had to a CD or MP3.  So digging I went, into the bookcase closet that probably hasn't seen a daylight beam inside for many years.

Lo and behold, up surfaced one golden memory after another.  Five, ten, fifteen, twenty dollars.  The conversion rate on the albums started adding up.  "I need this one, and oh yes, this is a definite.  I can't pass this one up because I remember where we were when we bought this."  And so it went.  

"I remember when Barbara Topich sang 'Hajde Slusaj' for Jules and Cheri's wedding!"  And another "chink, chink!" was added silently as I found and held up the HTC (Holy Trinity Choir) album to the light.

"Oh, and here's the album songs that Lackawanna's Kosta Choir sang when they came down to Aliquippa the last time we held the SSF festival who knows how many years ago..... Everyone just LOVED them!  Hmmm.  Add another Lincoln.

When Zach (in regular teen-age dress as opposed to silk pantaloons and turban!) showed up at my door, I'm sure he was surprised to find himself leaving with 13 albums in his hands to work his magic.  Nor does he know I have some more for him as soon as he finishes that task.  Joi! 

But I'll pay for the job just like I did as a teenager.  I remember working for two weeks at the Pittsburgh Mercantile Company (Jones & Laughlin Steel Company Store!) located on 26th and Carson Streets, just a block from our 25th and Carson Street home.  On payday, I would almost run down to 17th Street record store to buy my albums!  One at a time.  Paycheck to paycheck. How much was gasoline then?  25 cents per gallon!

God willing, when the albums are finished being converted, I might be able to load a few songs onto the website for you and others to enjoy hearing too.

Oh, and about that chest that was bobbing along in the water in Norfolk?  I was determined to swim out to it to bring it home for my family waiting on shore.  But it kept going out further and further.  Now I was no Esther Williams in form, but I was proud of the fact that I was a good swimmer, having honed my skills in the Monogahela River, at the 22nd Street Community swimming pool and South High School's pool on Pittsburgh’s South Side. Were those gold nuggets serving as bolts to keep the chest together? Further and further I chased the elusive chest until I got too tired and only treaded water as best as I could.  Tooooo tired to even come back. I looked to the shore and everyone seemed so far away....so tiny.

I realized right then and there it was too far to go back to shore.  I could never make it.  The box I was sure was filled with all the gold and rubies of Arabia was still out of my reach.  

But it was closer than the beach.  One last attempt to swim to the "treasure chest" despite the desperate and now very faraway cries of "Come back, come back!"

I knew Gus couldn't come rescue me as he had such a low center of gravity that he could only swim so far without walking on the bottom of a pool!

I used the left, right, left rule before making a life-threatening decision. With a last burst of "do or die" energy, I lunged ahead and finally grasped onto the box exhausted, hanging on it for dear life.

It wasn't too long afterwards that a rescue boat came out and took me to shore.  Dreamily, only half present mentally and physically, I remember my heroes telling Gus that we were the lucky ones...as three people had died in this same deadly current only the day before.

And the wonderful treasure chest.... worth more than all a Sultan's emeralds?

It turned out to be just a box full of cabbage heads!  Sarmas ("pigs in the blanket") anyone?

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HVALA BOGU......Thank God.....

I lived to be able to hear and sing with these guys!

 Don't forget to click on the bottom right hand corner of all photos to enlarge.....

"The Balkan Serenaders were originally organized in 1947 and today boast three charter members.  Today's Serenaders collectively represent more than 120 years of Tamburitza artisty and are considered one of the leading proponents of Continental music.

"The family of instruments played by the group are called Tamburitze, or singularly, Tamburitza.  The Tamburitze are stringed instruments, descendent from the lute, and similar in consturction and size to a classical guitar.  The freted finger board is strung with steel strings and is played with a pick.

"With the revival and impetus of ethnic culture today, the Tamburitza takes its place among the Greek Bazouki, Russian Balalaika and Indian Sitar."

"Oro se vije," "Miserlou," "Koliko te Srce Moje Vole," "Cesto mi Dragi" and "Su Su Mile Kolo," "Lene Bre Duso" and "Dajcevo Oro."    Side B featured "Granada," "Proplakala Zumbul Ajsa," "Vrati Mi Srce,", "White Ribbons-Kolo" and "Kazi Leno."

With every song I typed above, I felt years younger and hummed along.......

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And who can ever forget the Kosta Choir from Lackawanna, PA?  Their love songs made everyone smile with happiness.  The "With Love from Kosta" album cover gave credit to their beloved director, +Nada Milosevich, her choral arranging, ingenuity and devotion to which they attributed their choir's doubling of singers.  Jim Raditich was president then.  Instrumental musicianship was capably led by Charlie Smilinich, George Medakovich, Bob Ranic, Ron Conrad and Don Milosevich, the KOSTA COMBO.  The cover was produced by Cathy Milosevich.

 Click the bottom right hand corner of either of these "song books" to enlarge the contents to see better.

Side 1 featured (1) "Sjecaj se Srce" (Remember My Heart)....A love from one summer long ago, which lights up my very soul. (2) "Tuzna Su Proljeca" (Sad Are the Seasons)....I know you live far away with someone else, but I'd forgive you if you returned to build a home and find joy in life together. (3) "Ima Dana" (There Are Days) There are days of confusion, nights of restlessness, I love you deeply and you're unaware of this.  Return my letters, pictures, return my life. (4) "Sliku Tvoju Ljubim" (I Kiss Your Picture)...I constantly look at your picture and your smiling lips seem to speak.  I kiss your picture, whisper your name and the wind carries a message to you, do not forget me. One of the songs, "Uzmi Moju Mladost,"(Take My Youth) bewails "as long as my heart beats and as the sun gives life, that's how you effect me.  Do not speak of love, for words often lie, but let your eyes speak the truth.  Take my youth, take my days and my nights, I will go with you to the ends of the Earth! 

No wonder why Catherine the Great of Russia is said to have loved her Serbian Lover the BEST of all!

The funniest one is the last song on the album, called "Ne Ovo, Ne Ono" (Not This, Not That). It warns smoking=cancer, an extra drink=your obituary is being written; love affair=morally wrong. Dont overeat=impacts are great.  Conclusion=everything is forbidden, so.......

And on and on they go...forever ours!

Thanks to all from Lackawanna!

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OLD, OLD RECORDS!

Steve Kozobarich, an extremely talented Icon Painter, has other talents as well.  His father, grandfather, and GREAT-grandfather were all tamburashi and with their love of our Serbian music, they saved the old 78 RPM records which Steve painstakingly converted for all of us to enjoy.  Here's his excellent website that features old Serbian music from the 1920s. 1930s and 1940s.  Click on the record label to listen to the song:

Here are some examples

of Steve's icons:

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Goodbye to Marty Kapugi!  Almost reached 100!

 http://www.tamburitza.org/TAA/bios/kapugi1.html

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Click on bottom right hand corner of all photos to enlarge.

Sloboda Choir members directed by Adam Popovich.

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Adam wanted us to remember not only the singing of others, but to know the words to the songs too, so he made sure all of the words to the songs Sloboda Choir sang were listed inside the album, for which I am so grateful!

"Onam' Onamo" was written by Serbian Prince Nicholas of Montengro.

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Slobodan Zelich directed the Petar Krstich Choir of Steubenville, OH with "Za Cast i Slavu Srbije" (For the Honor and Glory of Serbia.) Soloists were Nick Karas and Nick Zatezalo.  "Pjesme iz Srbije" (Songs from Serbia) and "Pjesme sa Tromedje" (Songs from Tromedje- where the borders of Bosnia, Lika and Dalmatia converge.) Pete Momcilovich was also a soloist here.

The back album featured "Vinska Pjesma" (Wine Song), "Pjesme sa Plavnog Jadrana" (Songs from the Adriatic) with soloist Adam Goykovich; "Davno je bilo to" (It was a long time ago) and finally "Molitva," the Prayer.

Slobodan Zelich not only directed the choir beautifully, but he also composed most of the songs here too!

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 "Evo Nas!" (Here we are!)

Directed by Mrs. Nevenka Birac and assistant director, Mr. Millard Golusin. "The SSS Ravanica blends the stirring sounds of folk music with the solemn and beautiful musical strains of the Eastern Orthodox Church. This eight part acapella choir is composed of 50 singers and is one of the 35 choirs who hold membership in the Serbian Singing Federation of America and Canada."

Bernard and Dorothy Teshich sang "Oce Nas" solos. Then followed "Ize Heuvimi," "Jako Da Carja," "Akatist Bogorodici," "Slava Vo Visnji" (Christmas Carol), "Skazi Mi Gospodi," and "Budi Imja Gospodnje."

Side B of the album was always the most exciting for me:  "Orao Klikce" and "Pesme Iz Srbije."

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Look how young these guys were!  Don't forget to click on bottom right hand corner to enlarge photo!

 The fellows even signed this!

Bozhi (oldest on Brac), Bati (on Bulgaria), Peter & Paul (the TWINS!) on prim. with Vince Rodina on cello.

The songs they sang are "Jesen Prodje," "Bosno Moja," "Cacak Kolo," "Ne Klepeci Nanulama," "Sumadijo Sumovita," "Ti Si Zena," "Aj Doslo Vreme," "Pesme Tamburasa," "Oro se Vije" and "Pjevaj Prijatelju."

The boys dedicated their first album to their parents, the Very Reverend Milan and Mary Bajich, "for all the encouragement and inspiration they have given them!"

And we thank God they did!

Hvala Bogu!

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 With Love from Kosta

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Positivity

Dr. Barbara Fredrickson , author of the book POSITIVITY (2009) said:

"When darkness appears, the daylily closes," in reference to negativity that can creep into everyday life.

The Serbs needn't worry.

With songs like the ones found on this page, and the friendships made throughout the USA, Canada, etc. by our choirs,  tamburitza orchestras and singing fans, the world appears as a Bouquet of fresh open daylilies despite the evil things being said daily in the news about the Serbian people.  We have Strength from Above.

We already savor Goodness and Share and Celebrate with one another.

We already count our Blessings and know that Kindness counts.

We already follow our Passions and Engage in Song and Play.

We already DO dream about the Future for ourselves, our children and grandchildren and those who will come after us well into the future and try to prepare a way easier for them.

We already apply our Strengths and find fulfillment by Connecting with others.

Listen to our songs.  If they're not about love and bravery or honor, they're about God and the beautiful world he has created for all of us... the birds, the sky, the lambs in the fields, and our Gratefulness to Him for all.  Others call this Nature.

We Open our Hearts and Minds to Him and find Positiveness there, Strength through the Holy Spirit.

We already practice:

Love, Joy, Gratitude, Serenity, Interest and Hope.....  HOPE!

How many times do you remember hearing our old timers say, "Bice Boje."  Things will get better!

This website is a compilation of the Portfolios Dr. Fredrickson says we should seek:  Our JOY portfolio, our GRATITUDE portfolio, our SERENITY portfolio, our INTEREST portfolio, our HOPE portfolio and our PRIDE portfolio, our INSPIRATION and our AWE portfolios.

Compassion and love.  For all.

No wonder why Serbs say, despite all, "Thank God I'm Serbian!"

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Life is about choices. Think Positive, not Negative.

From the Beaver County TIMES of Monday, March 16, 2009 comes this advice from Audioprosthologist, Bill Catley via his article, "GOOD REASONS TO LISTEN TO MUSIC" on p. 9 bottom:

"Recent research points out what an important role hearing plays in both our physical and emotional lives. When people listen to their favorite music, their blood vessels dilate in much the same way as when they laugh or take blood medications.  In fact, this study was prompted by the discovery that laughter literally caused blood to flow more smoothly.  After listeners spent an hour listening to favorite recordings, researchers noticed a similar effect.  Blood that flows more smoothly is less likely to form clots that cause heart attacks and strokes."