Saratoga News
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Playing the 'blues' at St. Nicholas celebration
By Marianne Lucchesi Hamilton
Even Bosnians get--and play--the blues.
On Sept. 22-23, attendees of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church's annual Slavic/Russian Festival will have the chance to enjoy sevdalinkas (Bosnian for "blues" ballads), along with a rich blend of other Pan-Slavic music, food and cultural traditions.
St. Nicholas serves one of the Bay Area's largest Russian Orthodox communities, and has staged the celebration for the past 55 years. This year, says the Rev. Basil Rhodes, rector at St. Nicholas, the festival will be expanded to embrace performances and foods from a broad spectrum of current and former Eastern European countries, including Poland, Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and the Ukraine.
On Saturday festival-goers will be entertained by the Lowiczanie Polish Folk Dance Ensemble, which has brought the traditional costuming and dances of Poland to the Bay Area since 1975, and has appeared at festivals throughout the U.S. and Poland. Also on the agenda will be Sacramento's Kalyna Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, a group of teens who will present dances reflecting the history and customs of life in the Ukraine. The youths will be joined by the Bay Area Ukrainian Folk Chorus. Rounding out Saturday's line-up will be Russian House Kedry, a costumed vocal troupe that will deliver both humorous songs and haunting ballads.
Sunday's agenda features the Balka Balalaika Ensemble, performing Russian folk music on such traditional instruments as the balalaika, domra and bayan. Many of the instruments to be played were created by the group's co-founder, Francis Kosheleff, a master craftsman. The Slavonian Traveling Band also will showcase its musical talents, playing an array of acoustic instruments such as the Balkan tamburitza (a lute-like instrument), a Croatian mandolin and harmonicas and drums from the Macedonian and Romany cultures.
While participants are enjoying the music, they can sample traditional foods prepared by St. Nicholas Church parishioners. From borscht to golubtsi (cabbage rolls), to pelmeni (meat dumplings), beef stroganoff and piroshki, there were will be many savory treats on hand throughout the weekend.
Rev. Rhodes also promises a unique demonstration of bell ringing. St. Nicholas Church is one of the only religious institutions in the area boasting a collection of bells cast in the tradition of orthodox churches throughout Russia. Throughout the festival St. Nicholas' musical director will give periodic demonstrations of the bells and explain the significance of their tones during various church feast days.
"We encourage everyone in the Bay Area to join us for our festival," Rhodes notes. "We'll have lots of food, vendors, a wonderful collection of gifts, linens, antiques and other items for sale, and of course, outstanding music and dancing throughout the weekend. You don't have to be Russian--just come out and have a great time."
Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for seniors and children; festival hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. St. Nicholas Orthodox Church is located at 14220 Elva Ave. For more information and directions, visit www.stnicholassaratoga.org.
