Slaveja Eastern European Folk Ensemble
More about Slaveja
Slaveja was a bi-college, co-ed vocal ensemble
dedicated to singing the music of various Eastern European peoples.
We sang mostly a cappella, but sometimes had accompaniment on accordion,
drum, and other folk instruments. Slaveja was founded in 1994 and was
formerly called Slavic Folk Choir. In 1997 we changed our name to reflect
our desire to sing the music of Georgia, Latvia, Romania, Hungary, and
other Eastern European countries and peoples that are not Slavic.
Membership
Many members of Slavjea did not read music or
know any of the languages in which we sang. Previous singing experience
was not required, although certainly welcomed! Great emphasis was placed
on attendance at rehearsals and commitment to memorizing music.
Towards the end of Slaveja's existence, low-key
auditions for prospective members were instituted. We tried to make
the process is simple and as painless as possible: we taught a few songs,
often including one that would be new for the entire choir, and everyone
sang them together. The returning members listened to new people during
rehearsal to ensure that they had pitch-matching ability. No singing
by yourself!