How can folk pieces be played in a way that sounds clear and precise, resembling elements of classical music—while maintaining their traditions? asks violinist Irene Senent of Fetele din Balkani. The band—whose name means “the girls for the Balkans”—also consists of pianist Lacri Galagan and drummer Jen Yakamovich. The trio will bring their reimagining of Balkan folk music with classical techniques to the Vancouver Public Library’s Staircase Sounds on April 25. 

“I hope people will get to know this music and become more interested in this music,” shares Galagan. “For us, it’s very beautiful and very energetic.”

“Our band is mainly instrumental—we don’t have a singer, and that puts more attention into the music,” adds violinist Senent. “People can really appreciate all the changes, all the harmonies—feeling all these stories without the lyrics, just the music.”

Held at the Central Library branch’s Grand Staircase, attendees can enjoy a concert showcasing music that Galagan and Senent see as having incredible depth.

Sounds of home

Originally from Moldova, Galagan studied classical music in Finland before moving to Canada. After arriving in Vancouver, she desired a platform to reconnect with Balkan music—a genre that was popular in her home country.

“I was searching for musicians who wanted to join, and Irene connected with me through social media,” she recalls. “And there the story begins, somewhere in a café next to the art gallery, we were chatting about this project.”

Violinist Senent moved to Canada from Spain eight years ago. The Balkan style, she says, shares many similarities with Spain’s flamenco traditions, making it a favoured genre there as well. Soon after, the duo sought a percussionist. Yakamovich then joined the band.

“[The band is] doing something cultural and rich where we can put a little bit of ourselves: flamenco, Balkan and everything,” Senent adds.

Both Galagan and Senent are classically trained musicians. Galagan also comes from three generations of Moldovan folk musicians.

“My great-grandparents were folk musicians, my grandparents were folk musicians, and my mom is a singer,” she shares of their desire for her to join the family band.

Life, however, had different plans for the pianist who studied at a prestigious music school in Moldova’s capital, Chișinău. At the school, there was a piano, but the education was based in classical, not folk, music.

While Senent didn’t come from a musical family, the violinist was influenced by a music teacher who brought his violin to class and a good friend who played cello.

“Since the beginning, I liked [the idea] of going into the conservatory,” the violinist adds.

Classical experimentations

Fetele din Balkani now fuses this classical training with Balkan folk music—creating a sound they see as unique, rhythmic and fun.

“Back in time, people of the Balkans would learn the music just by using the ears,” shares Galagan, who received this training from her family. The tradition was to listen for the sounds, not read the music. “For us, we started by mixing both [listening and reading music].”

Classical influences, Galagan adds, can be seen in the band’s violin, piano or drum solos. Senent shares that their classical training—focused on precision and perfection—is heard in their techniques.

“In folk, they don’t care so much about the super little details, but we have this [concern] inside,” she says.

The folk song, “Şaraiman,” is one of Senent’s favourites to perform. According to her, this popular Balkan song contains melodic, beautiful moments with elements that are “more mysterious and deeper,” alongside energetic ones that call for dancing.

This song, Senent says, allows each member to showcase their own musical background, including her flamenco influences and Yakamovich’s jazz expertise. Last year, Fetele din Balkani performed at the Consul General of Romania in Vancouver, an experience Galagan recalls as “amazing.”

“We decided to add more Romanian pieces at the end, and I said to the girls, ‘This song will make them smile,’” she shares, adding the band hopes to record an album. “We are bringing back the music that many people know but don’t hear here.”

For more information on the upcoming concert, see https://vpl.bibliocommons.com/events/69b03a324dacf581ff80eb1c.

For more information on Fetele din Balkani, see https://www.instagram.com/fetele.din.balkani/.