Gifts of Quilting - an old post gone missing

Quilted by Dee Langley

Note: I was amazed to find this in my blog draft folder. It's a description of the host presents taken to Serbia July of 2012. Figured better late than never so here it is.

June of 2012

Time to start thinking about the little details of the trip, like gifts for our hosts and teachers at Amala School, Valjevo, Serbia. We (OBI) decided to bring books about Minnesota and these quilted ornaments. I made 12 of them in bright colors of pink, green and orange.

Quilting in America has an interesting history. From Wikipedia:

Leading up to the American Civil War, quilts were made to raise funds to support the abolitionist movement then during the war, quilts were made to raise funds for the war effort and to give warmth and comfort to soldiers. Even before 1830 abolitionists were working hard to end slavery. One way they did this was to hold grand fairs to raise both awareness and money for the abolitionist cause. Quilts were one of many craft pieces sold at these fairs.

Quilted by Dee Langley

Amish quilts are appreciated for their bold graphic designs, distinctive color combinations, and exceptional stitching. Quilts are created for everyday use or to celebrate special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, raising funds for the church or community cause. Their quilts have become collectors’ items all over the world.

Today American quilters are still giving through their craft, Quilts For Kids is one such organization. People from all over American donate their time and fabric to make quilts for children in the hospital, to make their stay more homelike.

I will be very proud to leave these 'love and good luck' quilted ornaments in Serbia as a token of appreciation and heartfelt thanks for making us feel at home.

Why do I want to do this?

This is why!

Kolubarski Region in Serbia

It looks so small...

Day 19 before Amala School.  Wait...what happened to yesterday? This educational and cultural excursion was decided upon over a year ago shortly after Orkestar Bez Ime (know here as 'we') won the McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians. We would have attended last year but not all six of us had the time in July free. So we waited, and waited, and waited and it seemed this dream was so far off in the future. Not any more! My suitcase has come out of the attic today and I'm starting the process of deciding exactly how much stuff I want to carry around with me all the time.

In addition to wrestling my suitcase I spent time looking at the regions of Serbia. The city of Valjevo is the seat of the Kolubarski Region which has around 200,000 people that call it home.

Wikipedia has these Ethnic group population totals posted from the census of 2002, a decade ago. This is a map of only Sumadija and Western Serbia. Kolubarski is the pink area.

http://www.lokalnirazvoj.org/sr/books/details/24

2002 Census
Kolubarski Region, only

Serbs 186,177

Roma 2,577

Others 11,806

TOTAL 200,560

Language, a barrier?

Sometime you take a moment whenever you can, like sitting in the car waiting. For a few minutes I can focus on learning the Serbian language. Two excellent tools are Livemocha.com and Byki.com. Byki has an app for my phone so I can study wherever I am. Good thing because my teachers, I understand, do not speak English and it is up to me to learn how to ask the questions In Serbian.

Everyone Can Relax

Day 23 and counting backwards to Serbia. This was a Sunday made for taking a break. Mid-summer fire out in the back yard, lucky me! And I guess even when trying to relax I really am preparing for the trip, this post is from an app on my phone, the first one I've tried. I have got a lot to learn before Valjevo!

Learning about Veljevo, Serbia

Valjevo Panorama - uptown part of the city and Church (source - Wiki)

With 24 days left before my Romani experience I took a spin through Wikipedia. The information below is my translation of the facts offered in the History online.

Condensed History:

In the nearby village of Petnica, scientists found the first complete 6,000 year old Neolithic habitat in Serbia.

In Ancient Roman time this area was an integral part of the province Moesia.

Valjevo was mentioned for the first time in 1393 when it was an important staging post on the trade route that connected Bosnia to Belgrade.

During the First World War the battle of Kolubara was fought in the vicinity of Valjevo where there was a large hospital that helped the wounded.

The city of Valjevo suffered vast destruction during World War II and again at the end of the 20th century when it was repeatedly bombed during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

Technology and Sleepy Musicians

Audio and video equipment are a necessity for documenting my private and group music lessons at Amala School in Valjevo, Serbia. Sometimes things don't work out as planned. Countdown: 25 days

Roma Immersion Music School - I'm Going!

There are some moments that are just too stimulating and wonderful to understand all at once. This is one of those events...two weeks of music study immersed in Roma (Gypsy) and Serbian cultures. Starting the countdown to arrival now at 26 days, time to start packing!

Accordion at 4, love at first squeeze

It's true I played the accordion when I was 4 years old. My two older brothers, "Skeets" and Rick, were 12 and 8 when I was born. They were already playing the accordion and performing, when I was 2 years old I became part of the family 'act' and right out on stage I went introduced as 'our big sister'. Needless to say it was kind of cute as I played the first three notes of 'Silver Bells' on a tiny toy piano, my brothers would then finish the piece and I'd take my bow.

When I turned 4 I'd had enough of the toy piano and xylophone type of instruments and simply asked, "Where's MY accordion"! My parents wanted me to play anything but the accordion (we already had two in the family) but I would not back down. They came up with an 8 bass for me to play and I've never stopped playing. My parents raised three professional accordionists.

The Lawrence Welk Show: Winter Underwear

From the Lawrence Welk Show, Guest Star: Stan Boreson (1957) - This song is a Minnesota favorite, seeing as we do winter well up here, ya know.

Dee Langley, 2000: My Viking Song (Sweden)

Wish our Metro Transit had some style!

http://www.coloribus.com/adsarchive/outdoor/world-accordion-championship-the-accordion-bus-8892155/
The Outdoor Advert titled THE ACCORDION BUS was done by Uncle Grey Oslo advertising agency for product: World Accordion Championship (brand: Norwegian Accordion Association) in Norway. It was released in the Oct 2006.

A bendy bus in London from the bus company Arriva. The bus has been wrapped for the Camden Irish Music Festival.

Dee Langley,2000: Bulgarian Dance

United States Artists Projects

Help!!

 

Time is running out and I need your help at United States Artists Projects!

Please watch this video and then visit
http://www.unitedstatesartists.org/ (USA Projects)

Search term 'langley" and help me realize this dream.

Tax deductible and good Karma!  Thank you!

My kinda guy!

Kimmo Pohjonen and his accordion

http://www.focusmagazine.fi/focus/57919/

Wish I had been on vacation.......

EDT Folk Orchestra 2011, photo by Stefan Iwaskewvcz
Near to Far: Tim O'Keefe, Jim Parker, Scott Keever, Dee Langley, Katrina Mundinger, Kim Salisbury

.......I certainly haven't been either far from home or relaxed!  This is a picture of the show "Then and Now" opening tonight at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis presented by Ethnic Dance Theatre. One of the hallmarks of performing with the EDT Folk Orchestra is that you have to be willing to try new things in music.  Note that I'm playing a large frame drum way....look almost to the back of the photo.

Ethnic Dance Theatre presents THEN and NOW, its 37th Annual Spring Concert Series featuring the music and dance of Bosnia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iran, Norway, Sweden, and Turkey at the Ritz Theater in NE Minneapolis.

One of the most compelling elements of a people's identity is its folk culture. EDT is known for the authenticity it brings to interpreting ethnic music and dance for the stage, and is respected for its work in promoting ethnic music, dance, and costume as art. The first half of the show--THEN--demonstrates our signature performance style at its best.

Seeing Double? Like Rollerblades and Accordions?

You Think You Know What and Accordion Can Do.......

Something Completely Unrelated to Accordions

Minnesota has snow, lots of it.  Minnesota has cold, severe and long-lasting.  Minnesota also has people like me who will decorate for holidays to keep the depressing darkness of winter away, hence one window of my spring display in one south window of our Minneapolis home. Any excuse for a party, I say!

Laps, Chairs and Behind the Bar at Walker Ethnic Fest

from Natalie's cell phone: Dee and new friend

Last month I promised to publish some pictures from the Walker, Minnesota Ethnic Fest.  Here's my absolute favorite, it should be titled 'How to Play the Accordion While Sitting on a Lap of Someone You Do Not Know'. The answer is, smile!


OBI has told stories both in person and on the radio of our night in Walker at the American Legion Post sitting on laps, standing on chairs and performing behind the bar.

from Legion website: Katrina on chair

We think the fine folks in northern Minnesota enjoying pull-tabs, beer, great food and good friends didn't quite know what to do with us in our costumes playing Balkan music until we let it be known we'd take beer as a tip for playing.  In a flash we had never-ending pitchers of excellent beer and a whole room of new friends. During one rousing Albanian tune Katrina played her solo standing on a chair to cheers from the crowd.

from Legion website: OBI behind the bar

And just in case you think Katrina and I were the only ones having all the fun here's a picture of OBI behind performing behind the bar while the Post Commander took this picture and made a video of us to be shown on the Legion Post's big screen TVs throughout the year. Hmmm.....I think Colleen (violin) was sitting on the edge of the sink.

I have one thing to say about the evening........Spencer-Ross American Legion Post 134 in Walker, Minnesota you are the BEST!