Blistering brass

Balkan brass, with its cacophonic combination of rollicking drums, thick horn melodies and bibulous accordion, is an incomparable style of music that lends itself easily to joyous partying. Among Balkan brass bands, one stands out as the fastest and most raucous: Fanfare Ciocarlia.

This 12-piece band formed in 1996 from a loose assemblage of wedding musicians in northeast Romania. In that year, Henry Ernst, a German producer, visited Romania and convinced a number of musicians to form a touring band. They obliged Ernst, who is now the band's manager, and formed a band under a two-word name: "Fanfare," a French word that has come to symbolize a brass band in the Romanian language, and "ciocarlia," the Romanian word for skylark.

Since their disorganized beginnings, Fanfare Ciocarlia has gone on to perform more than 1,500 concerts around the world, including a 2003 appearance at the birthday celebration of composer Danny Elfman. The band has also recorded five albums and won the 2006 BBC Radio 3 World Music Award. Alto saxophonist Oprica Ivancea tells The Prague Post that despite such international acceptance, the band's most important achievements have been close to home.

"For us, the biggest accomplishment is that after 15 years in the international music business we get on as friends and are not short of musical ideas," he says.

Fanfare Ciocarlia has a reputation for a particularly high-octane brand of Balkan brass. Their live performances are known to be wild and spontaneous, with band members often improvising melodies and vocals, and playing at even higher speeds than are featured on their albums. Fanfare Ciocarlia has previously played several sold-out shows in Prague, and by all accounts their upcoming show should follow suit. Ivancea says Czech fans of Balkan brass are "very enthusiastic and devoted."

"Performing in Prague is always a highlight of our European tours," he says.

Fanfare Ciocarlia will play a number of old favorites in Prague, while debuting a few new songs as well. The band also plans to promote their upcoming project, the Balkan Brass Battle, which involves the Boban and Marko Markovich Orchestra from Serbia. That tour will come to the Colours of Ostrava Festival July 14.

"We'll get onstage together with our Serbian rivals for a joint concert and will clear up once and for all who is the king of Balkan brass," Ivancea says.

Balkan brass has undergone something of a revival in recent years, with bands like Fanfare Ciocarlia and the Markovich Orchestra constantly touring and playing to packed concert halls, while crossover groups like Beirut and Gogol Bordello find mainstream audiences. Ivancea says he has "no idea" what's behind the revival, but he is happy to continue riding the wave, as the band has been for nearly two decades.

"You see, we've been playing this kind of music for generations. Maybe the popularity of brass music is due to the pure energy it carries," he says.

Ivancea can more easily pinpoint the reason that this festive brass-based music originated in the Balkans, however. The cultural power behind the music is "a lot of vodka, cheese and tons of bacon!" he says.

"Just kidding. I think the eventful and gripping history of Romania had a great impact on our music. The arrival of the Ottomans in the Middle Ages, the ethnical diversity of the country and the penchant for lively festivals in Romania created a great cultural mix. Music comes first: no party without a live band," he says.

Fans of Balkan brass in Prague have plenty to look forward to as Fanfare Ciocarlia brings their lightning-fast repertoire to Akropolis. If you miss them this time around, they will be a highlight of Colours of Ostrava. Vodka is sure to be available at both events. 

Stephan Delbos can be reached at
sdelbos@praguepost.com