| | |  | FOLK MUSIC | Home » » Mazowsze: The Music & Dance of Poland (PBS Special) | | | | | | | Description: | | THE MUSIC AND DANCE OF POLAND: MAZOWSZE is a thrilling kaleidoscopic display of dazzling movement, vibrant color and stunning beauty. The incomparable Mazowsze performance troupe whirl and leap, stamp and glide in a glorious outpouring of sound and motion, rhythm and music that celebrates the cultural legacy of Poland. Polish-American entertainer Bobby Vinton narrates. While the choreography and musical arrangements represent 39 distinctive ethnographic regions of Poland with traditional performance styles, the appeal of Mazowsze's dynamic stage show goes beyond audiences of Polish descent. An ensemble of 65 dancers and singers are arrayed in a seemingly never-ending series of handmade traditional costumes--more than 1,000 in total. A full 23-member orchestra performs music ranging from Chopin to simple folk melodies beloved by the Poles for centuries. Strategically mounted high definition cameras and microphones capture this stellar performance, recorded live at the Polish National Opera House in Warsaw, Poland. Mazowsze is internationally recognized as Poland's cultural ambassadors. In the last 50 years they have performed more than 6,000 shows in cities around the world. The troupe's founders, singer/actress Mira Ziminska and conductor/composer Tadeusz Sygietynski, dedicated themselves to preserve the rich music and dance traditions of Poland after the devastation of World War II. Performances:
- "Kolem, Kolem"
- Kujawiak
- "Co ja mysle"
- Carnival time in the town of Wilamowice
- Krakowiaczek
- Krakowiak
- Songs & Dances from Jurgow in the Podhale mountain region
- Bamberki
- Jokes & Dances from Podegrodzie
- Wine Gathering Dance from Lubusz
- Dances of the Highlanders from Tatras
- Handkerchief Dance from Zywiec
- "Cyt, Cyt"
- "Furman"
- Finale Bonus Material: Additional Performances | | | Product Details: | | | Studio:
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|  based on 4 reviews |
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| $24.50 | Used
- Mint | | | $24.95 | New | |
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Average Customer Review:
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5 of 6 found the following review helpful:
 Love this DVD but!!!Sep 21, 2010
By Ralph Paulsen
If I were to rate this DVD on the performances alone, I would give it 6 stars (if there were 6 to give) the music ranges from cute/funny to happy/athletic to political (the "coachman" which asks the powers in control of Poland to treat the populace fairly) to beautiful (hush-hush, this song is stunning in it's beauty) the costumes are gorgeous (I feel sorry for the performers as some of the Ladys costumes weigh as much as 32 LBS. although watching them you would never know it) this is a PBS video/DVD so the fact that it's stereo comes as no surprise, although the large orchestra and gigantic hall screems out for surround sound to get the feeling you're there, it was shot in Hi Def, but there is no BLU-RAY to show it off to maximum effect, guess PBS doesn't expect to sell enough to make BLU-RAY financially worthwhile. what is surprising, and the reason for not giving the disc a higher rating, is the sloppy camera work, and editing that should have gotten the responsible party fired, and the video done over, the editor has upon multiple occasions inserted views of the audience, right in the middle of the action, there is no need to show the audience at any time other then at the end of a routine when the performers are bowing/exiting the stage, it adds nothing and detracts from the performances, the camera people constantly move in for extreme closeups at the wrong times, often while tricks are being performed, effectively preventing the viewer from seeing what is going on, in one dance the men are doing cart-wheels using not the floor but with the support of the ladys to do them, of course the camera moves in and destroys the moment cutting off the action so you only get a glimps of one man doing this when there are several lined up to do the same, there is a long list of such amature work, however, do not get the idea that I don't like the disc, I do, I'm just disappointed that it wasn't done better, instead of an average video/DVD, this could have been reference quality with just a little more work and thought, buy it for the performances and music, the colorful and gorgeous costumes, and enjoy it from that viewpoint, just be aware that PBS does and has done better with the technical end
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
 The Mazowsze are Magnificent **Oct 31, 2010
By Dejah Thoris
"Dejah Thoris"
I grew up in a Polish community in the U.S., but was never interested in my Polish heritage until I saw Mazowsze. Then I was hooked. The songs and the dances were so magfinicent that I fell in love with Poland itself. The Mazowsze Polish Folk Song and Dance Ensemble is definitely Poland's # 1 ambassador !!
Not only do they perform the 5 National dances of Poland (yes, the only country in the world that has Five... because music is so much an important part of the culture), but Mazowsze also performs songs and dances from the 40 distictive ethnographic regions of Poland, in beautiful costumes from each region.
This is the first time in their 62 year history that a DVD has been recorded for sale. There have been CD's, TV shows, and film appearances (most notedly the film: A Wife for the Australian which is a comedy about a man who comes to Poland to find a wife and falls in love with a singer from Mazowsze... the film is full of songs and dances from Mazowsze), however the stage is where Mazowsze is best seen, and their artistic director, actress Mira Ziminska-Sygietynska wanted to keep it that way.
Fortunately the group is embracing the 21st century, not only with this DVD, but there is now a theater complex at Mazowsze's compound, an estate outside of Warsaw, called Karolin.
This DVD is wonderful. ^_^
Of course there is much more to Mazowsze than you see here, so check out the many CD's with their music.
Also check out these blogs which tell their story, and show other video clips from live performances, etc.
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3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
beautiful folk artJun 02, 2009
By Robert John Woollard
"robertjohn"
I wish there were more dvd's from this group on the market, they are colourful and melodious in the extreme, a great enjoyment from Poland
0 of 1 found the following review helpful:
Fantastic!Oct 17, 2010
By EJLS
Item as described and is wonderful to watch!! Thank you... =) This is one of my Dad's favorites now!
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