The elusive Fujara?

2/25/2014

Nope, it's not a Tex-Mex dish of grilled meat served on a tortilla. It's a little-known folk instrument with origins in Slovakia. (Wikipedia article) The mother of one of my students sent me links to a local fujarist .

In years of traveling the world and learning about local musical heritage and instruments, I have never "met" a fujara and thought you all might find this interesting.

Bob Rychlik lives in Maryland but has a fascinating life story (see 3rd link to learn more).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y5fonktBzQ

http://www.overtone.cc/profile/BobRychlik

http://www.ncsml.org/Oral-History/Washington-DC/20110808/136/Rychlik-Bohuslav.aspx

There's even an international festival:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhr6Tzo_n_8

3 Comments

Bob Rychlik

7/22/2014 05:58:23 am

Hi Elizabeth, I came across your entry about fujara, and would like to add, that fujara and other Slovak overtone flute (whistle) "koncovka" are not only amazing instruments to listen to, but to play as well! No prior music experience is needed to learn to play. Recently (July 2014) I was teaching a week long course (at the only place in the whole USA!) - right here in Maryland, already 4th year, and I hope it will continue next year again: 1-st week in July, at program "Common Ground on the Hill" at McDaniel College in Westminster Maryland. I play other instruments, but fujara is very special to me, and many of my students fell in love with fujara as well. For detail about the course, 'Google': Common Ground on the Hill, click "Traditions Week 1 / Overtone flutes. Please contact me by email for more information about the instrument or about the course, my email is
fujara(at)gmail(dot)com.

Bob Rychlik link

2/5/2016 07:34:58 am

I am updating the above information. The fujara and koncovka class will be held again in 2016 in the first week of July at McDaniel College in Westminster Maryland.This week long fujara course is unique in the USA and all students are welcome, no previous musical experience is required. For more information please email me, contact me on Facebook, or search for the program "Common Ground on the Hill", Traditions Week 2, ask them to send you the booklet of all courses.

Bob Rychlik

9/27/2021 12:08:13 pm

More links to
fujara at TED talk:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=rtAmvk024TI

Slovak koncovka blues improvisation:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z93uksrLSnI

Facebook group:
Fujara, fujarka, fujaročka

for more information about fujara and koncovka performance or workshop please contact me by Facebook or email

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