The group TOLOVAJ MATAJ was founded in 1994. Its present members - Peter Kus, Jernej Pečak and Roman Ravnič - are musicians with lots of experience in the field of traditional and folk revival music. They perform songs and dance tunes of the entire Slovene cultural territory and are especially attracted by its outer regions.

The tunes the members of the group get acquainted with during their field work, during their "jam sessions" with local traditional musicians, and also during their work in musical archives, during their detailed study of transcriptions and field recordings, are taken as a basis of their creative musical work. Their aim is not to imitate traditional music, but to preserve its essence, which undergoes the process of perpertual modifications. Their various musical line-ups present a number of instruments from traditional music (a fiddle, a bassett, a zither, a bagpipe, a clarinet, a flute, a mouth
organ, an ocarina) and also their vocals. Their rendering of traditional tunes reflects their distinctive personal touch.

Their most important festival performances: Druga godba 94, Ljubljana, Folkest 94, Italy, Folkest 95, Koper, Okarina ethno festival, various Slovene locations, Slavnost volne tvorby 94, Češki Krumlov, Welt im Dorf 95, Bad Kleinkircheim, Tanzreise 96, Freistadt, Austria, Idriart 95, Bled, Trnfest 96, Ljubljana, Kontrada 97, Kanal, Druga godba 97, Ljubljana, Mediteran 97, Izola, 19. EBU Folk Contemporary Festival, Krems, Hallein International Folkfestival 97, Kiselfest Kranj 99, Lent Maribor 99, Bordunfest 2000 in Kremsmunster Austria and over 100 other gigs in Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Germany and Italy.

Discography:

• TOLOVAJ MATAJ: Stari grehi, nova sramota (Druga godba, CDG 001, MC DG 011; 1996)
• TOLOVAJ MATAJ: Stare in bradate (Sanje, CD SAZAS SI 215; 2003)
  

Present also in the following:

• TRI LETA DRUGE GODBE II. (Druga godba, CDG 002; 1997)
• UNBLOC(K)ED (Ellipsis Arts ZDA, CD; 1997)
• FOLK REVIVAL IN SLOVENIA, The Druga godba Festival Live Recordings, Ljubljana 1986-1997 (Druga godba, CDG 003; 1998)
• Modern Folk Music in Slovenia vol. 1, Folk Slovenia Cultural Society 2000 (KD FS CD 01)
• MOdern Folk Music in Slovenia vol. 2, Folk Slovenia Cultural Society 2001 (KD FS CD 02)
• THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE MUSIC OF THE ALPS (World Music Network GB, RGNET 1103 CD, 2002, LC 11087)

Contact:

Kontaktna oseba: Roman Ravnič, Št. Jurij 68, 1290 Grosuplje
Telefon/fax: 01/ 23 22 570; 041/722 200
E-pošta: ravnic.roman@email.si

Bogdana Herman & Roman Ravnič, translated by PBČ