Moravian Ethnographic Regions
Moravia is ethnographically divided into approximately ten regions, some of which, Dolňácko for example, are divided further into subregions.
- Central and western Moravia – The traditional music of this large area is oriented rather to Bohemian folk culture.
- Northeastern Moravia – Closer to the Carpathian circle of folk culture, the region is influenced by Slovak and Polish culture.
- Southeastern Moravia (southeast of Brno) – This area has many different ethnographic regions collectively known as Slovácko (Moravian Slovakia). The regions and subregions also encompass the districts of Hodonín and Uherské Hradiště, and partially stretch into the districts of Břeclav and Zlín.
| Region | Main characteristics |
| Central and western Moravia | |
| Horácko (Moravian Highlands) and the subregion Podhorácko |
An extensive region located at the boundary between Bohemia and Moravia. The major part of Horácko belongs to the Vysočina Region. The Horácko region encompasses areas around the towns of Dačice, Telč, Jihlava, Žďár nad Sázavou, Polička, Havlíčkův Brod, Pelhřimov, Kamenice, Pacov. The Podhorácko (or Dolácko) region consists of Moravské Budějovice, Třebíč, Velké Meziříčí, Nové Město na Moravě. The folk music of Horácko was influenced by Bohemian folklore and also by the Bavarian colonization. The character of the music of Horácko is rather instrumental. Here it is possible to find the influence of Bohemian regions such as Chodsko, Southern Bohemia and Central Bohemia. Major scales substantially predominate the music; few songs are written using minor scales. The tempi are moderate, mainly in 2/4 or 3/4 time. The folk music of Horácko uses syncopation. |
| Haná | An ethnographic region in central Moravia approximately between the towns of Zábřeh, Holešov, Vyškov and Uničov. It is the largest and oldest traditional Moravian region. Today, the original folk music of Haná is revived thanks to various folk ensembles in Prostějov and Velká Bystřice and other towns and villages. Its musical character is similar to Bohemian folk music and was also influenced by court music. |
| Northeastern Moravia | |
| Valašsko (Moravian Wallachia) | A mountainous region in the easternmost part of Moravia, near the Slovak border. The Moravian Wallachs supposedly came from the East, from the Slovak side. They established a shepherd culture in the Beskydy and nearby mountains, close to the towns of Rožnov pod Radhoštěm and Velké Karlovice. The area surrounding the towns of Vsetín, Valašské Klobouky, Vizovice and Zlín also belongs to Wallachia. The traditional music of Moravian Wallachia is influenced by Lachian and Polish folk culture on the north, and that of Slovakia in the south. Wallachian folk songs can be divided into several categories. Helekačky and hečené (hollering songs) were used for communication by children and women while herding cattle and horses. Whirling dance and rolling dance are types of dance songs in southern Wallachia. Slovakian influence can be seen in the old Hungarian dance, which is close to the csárdás. A well-known male dance is also the odzemek. The simplest of traditional Wallachian instruments was the koncovka, a shepherd's end-blown flute. The early bagpipe music (gajdošská muzika) was later replaced by the string band with small portable hammered dulcimer or the table hammered dulcimer, an instrument which almost disappeared when it was replaced by the large Hungarian cimbalom. |
| Lašsko (Lachia) | A region located between the towns of Frýdek-Místek, Frýdlant nad Ostravicí, Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Nový Jičín and Kopřivnice in northeastern Moravia. Lachia is known for its traditional folklore, and especially for its typical dance forms. Leoš Janáček, a Lachian native, created the orchestral cycle Lachian Dances, inspired by the music of Lachia. |
| Southeastern Moravia | |
| Uherskohradišťsko a subregion of Dolňácko |
The regional center is Uherské Hradiště. It consists of the following municipalities: Uherský Ostroh, Polešovice, Nedakonice, Kostelany, Boršice, Zlechov, Tupesy, Velehrad, Modrá, Staré Město, Mařatice, Sady, Kunovice, Huštěnovice, Jankovice, Babice among others. Folk music and arts traditions are highly developed in this agricultural area. Here many Czech scholars and composers such as Leoš Janáček, František Bartoš and František Sušil collected "peasant songs" – a specific folk song type from the neighbourhood of Bílovice. The most notable representants of the folk music of this region are Jaroslav Čech Cimbalom Band, Kunovjan, Včelaran and Dolina. |
| Strážnicko a subregion of Dolňácko |
Located around the town of Strážnice, this region consists of Petrov, Sudoměřice, Radějov, Tvarožná Lhota, Kněždub, Tasov, Hroznová Lhota, Kozojídky, Žeraviny. Notable representants of this region include primáš Slávek Volavý (1922–1983) and cimbalom bands Danaj and Strážničan. |
| Kyjovsko a subregion of Dolňácko |
With the central town of Kyjov, this area includes Kelčany, Osvětimany, Vracov, Milotice, Vacenovice, Ratíškovice, Dubňany, Mutěnice, Hovorany, Svatobořice-Mistřín. Kyjovsko has long been one of the most significant ethnographic regions of southern Moravia. The first written reference to the cimbalom originated here in 1799. The region's usual ensemble line-up was 1 or 2 violins, double bass, cimbalom and later also clarinet. The musical development in Moravia during this time was diverse as bagpipe music existed almost exclusively in Horňácko to the west. During the first half of the 20th century, cimbalom bands were nearly replaced by brass music, called "dechovka". However, the tradition was revived since the 1950s and the popularity of cimbalom bands continues to grow. The most characteristic folk dances of the Kyjovsko region are "skočná", "slovenská" and "verbuňk". The most important representative ensembles of this region are primáš Jura Petrů (1922–1984) and the Jura Petrů Cimbalom Band, Varmuža Cimbalom Band. |
| Horňácko | The small region located at the northwestern base of the White Carpathian Mountains. Its center is in Velká nad Veličkou. Horňácko consists of Hrubá Vrbka, Malá Vrbka, Kuželov, Javorník, Nová Lhota, Vápenky, Suchov, Lipov, and Louka. Leoš Janáček considered Horňácko "the most important center of traditional folk music in Moravian Slovakia". The development of Moravian traditional music remained uninterrupted only in the Horňácko region. The characteristic regional music style is represented mainly by the Martin Hrbáč Cimbalom Band. |
| Uherskobrodsko and the subregion Kopanice |
The region at the borders of Moravia and Slovakia close to the town of Uherský Brod. It is sometimes considered a part of the Dolňácko Region. This region shows features of both traditional Moravian folk music and Slovak music. Slovakian influence can be found in the mountainous part at the border of the region, namely in the villages of Strání, Březová, Starý Hrozenkov and surroundings – called Kopanice as a whole. The musical development in Uherskobrodsko was similar to the other regions in the Southern Moravia. Flutes (whistles), pipes, violins and other bowed instruments were consecutively added to a human voice. A string band (hudecká muzika) with a clarinet was a typical set up for Moravia of the 19th and part of the 20th century. However, it is impossible to find the original forms of the folk music of Uherskobrodsko. The notable cimbalom band of the region is Olšava. |
| Luhačovické Zálesí | A transitive region between Moravian Slovakia, Moravian Wallachia, and Haná Region. The center is in Luhačovice. |
| Podluží | The southernmost part of Moravian Slovakia, it consists of southern Podluží (Ladná, Stará Břeclav, Poštorná, Charvátská Nová Ves, Hlohovec, Kostice, Lanžhot, Tvrdonice, Hrušky, Týnec, Moravská Nová Ves) and northern Podluží (Mikulčice, Lužice, Josefov, Dolní Bojanovice, Starý Poddvorov, Prušánky). The musical development of this region was somewhat segregated. The most important representants of the traditional music of the Podluží Region are primáš Jožka Kobzík (1929–2000) and the cimbalom bands Břeclavan and Jožka Severin Cimbalom Band. |
| Hanácké Slovácko | A transitive region between Moravian Slovakia and Haná. The southern part consists of Čejkovice, Čejč, Kobylí, Brumovice, Vrbice, Bořetice, Velké Pavlovice, Velké Bílovice, and Rakvice. The middle part consists of Krumvíř, Klobouky u Brna, Boleradice, Diváky and Těšany. The eastern part, close to the Kyjovsko Region, consists of Žarošice, Archlebov and Věteřov. The notable representant of this folk music is Cimbalom Band Vonica. |
Read more about this topic: Moravian Traditional Music
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