Amanet from North Macedonia, Janino Oro, and Border Crossing Tunes

I find that there are a lot of similarities between French and Japanese food. I think they're two countries that have really systemized their cuisine and codified it.

 David Chang

Today's post is not about food. It features the group VIS Amanet from North Macedonia. They are an excellent ensemble and you will see more posts about them in the future. I found them when searching for the dance Janino Oro. Their specialty is Izvor music and they are a delight to listen to. 

 I noticed that they performed several pieces that were very similar to those from the Pirin region of Bulgaria. There are several songs and dances that have crossed borders; for example:  Maleshevsko Oro to the song Dve Nevesti Tikve Brale, and Aj dem idem Jano (also danced to Maleshevsko.) Bavno Oro is a North Macedonian dance tune arranged by the Bulgarian accordionist Boris Karlov. 

 Video #1 Otishlo e maloj mome, (Veligdensko oro) resembles the Bulgarian folk song Elerinka. Words are different and so is the orchestration.

   

 Video #2 is More Chicho Rece, popular in North Macedonia and southwestern Bulgaria. The dance to this is Pajduško Oro. Pajduško is also done in Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, to a number of different tunes.

 

  

 Video #3 is Janino Oro.  There is the Atanas dance that we do and there is another version that sounds strikingly similar to Jove Malaj Mome, a dance song from the Shope region of Bulgaria.  There is also a Shope region in North Macedonia.

   

Video #4 is the Atanas dance.  The music is by Pece Atanasovski.

 If you enjoyed this you may also like: The Travels of Maleshevsko Horo (that dance got as far as Greece) 

 The Women of Bulgarian Folk Songs (see both Elerinka and Jove Malej Mome)

 
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