Tęgie Chłopy band

Tęgie Chłopy is a band that continues the tradtions of dance music of the Kielce region in its authentic nonstylized forms. The programme and instrument set draw inspiration from the best models- traditional bands that used to play at weddings and village parties in  Łagów and Opatów areas, such as the Witkowski brothers band from Orłowiny, Krakowiak band from Zbelutki, Antoni Witkowski from Cisów and many others.

The name of the band (Eng. Burly Chaps) is a musical declaration: Chłopy play predominantly “chłopy”  tunes from Kielce- triple metre, tuneful pieces typical for eastern Kilece, also known as “światówki” or “śpiwy”. Tęgie Chłopy aim to play so that ceiling rises, as it allegedly used to happen when Witkowscy band used to perform. The presense of a powerful brass section (trumpet, clarinet and tuba) will effectively help to “raise the ceiling”.

The band’s members have been involved in the Tabor of the Kielce Dance House  in Sędek near Łagów (2013,2014). Most of them works on many respected musical projects and animation activities in the world of Polish traditional music.

In an attempt to reach the oldest repertoire of the Kielce region, members of the band have journeyed toggether thousands of kilometres in search of musicians and singers from this region. They spend time learning local tunes and usually stay with the clarinetist Stanisław Witkowski as well as with local singers from Sędek area– Maria Kowalik and Maria Gałka.