The trio KURJA KOŽA presents a special segment of Styrian folk music. The trio consists of Drago Kunej, Nenad Firšt and Peter Kunej and was formed in 1992. The members of the group learned how to play the trstenke (panpipes) in Haloze from Franc Laporšek, now deceased, who was the last trstenke maker and player. Apart from some tunes, the trio has preserved also the tradition of making the trstenke from this folk musician. Kurja koža plays also 2 wooden cross flutes of different sizes named žvegla. They were made by Izidor Cafuta, a wheelwright from Podlehnik in Haloze. The trio has learnt some tunes from the traditional fiddler Škorčev Karel from Slovenja vas near Ptuj. Although the group was originally a trstenke trio, the members now play also other musical instruments: in addition to the trstenke, žvegla and fiddle, they play also drumljice (a jew's harp), a diatonic accordion and mouth organ, a drum, a tin bass (baritone) and an earthenware pot-bass. They play both fast polkas and slower folk tunes, all originating from Styria.

In addition to their regular programme with the traditional Styrian musical instruments, the trio arranged and performed folk music for some dancing performances of the France Marolt academic folklore group at the concerts organised in celebration of the group’s 45th and 50th anniversaries. As authors and performers of folk-music arrangements, they participated in the serial and film entitled Prešeren.

Their most important performances at festivals: Druga godba 1992 in Ljubljana, Regensburg and EBU festival in Rudolstadt, Germany, Okarina ethno festival in Bled, EBU festival on the Azore Islands (Portugal), Musique des Alpes in France, Folklore festival in Sao Paolo, Brazil, Smotra folklora in Zagreb (Croatia), Folklore festival in Beltinci, Trnfest in Ljubljana. They also performed in Oxford, Great Britain, and several times in Austria. They also went on tour in the USA.

Discography:

• KURJA KOŽA: Na ljudskih glasbilih Štajerske (ZKP RTV SI, CD KD 2265, CD DD 0157; 1994)
• KURJA KOŽA: Drugič drugače (TKK CD 001; 2002)
  

Present also in the following:

• CHANTS ET MUSIQUES DU MONDE, SLOVENIE, Ensemble Koleda, WMD 242061; 7 Productions 1994
• FOLK REVIVAL IN SLOVENIA, The Druga godba Festival Live Recordings, Ljubljana 1986 1997 (Druga godba, CDG 003; 1998)
• GLASBA 1: ZAPOJMO, ZAIGRAJMO IN ZAPLEŠIMO; A. Pesek: Glasbene vsebine za prvi razred 9-letne osnovne šole; MK, CD/MC 1999
• GLASBA 2: Z IGRO V GLASBENI SVET; Albinca Pesek: Glasbene vsebine za drugi razred osnovne šole; Mladinska knjiga, CD/MC 1999
• Modern Folk Music in Slovenia vol. 1, Folk Slovenia Cultural Society 2000 (KD FS CD 01)
• GLASBA 3: Zvočni ŽIVŽAV; Albinca Pesek: Glasbene vsebine za tretji razred osnovne šole; Mladinska knjiga, CD/MC 2001
• MOdern Folk Music in Slovenia vol. 2, Folk Slovenia Cultural Society 2001 (KD FS CD 02)
  

Contact:

Drago Kunej, Ul. bratov Učakar 82, 1000 Ljubljana
Tel.: (01) 519 84 67, (041) 284 125
E-mail: DragoKu@zrc-sazu.si

Bogdana Herman & Roman Ravnič, translated by PBČ