Cesta svtla / esk a moravsk koledy a zpvy vnon – CD

This CD presents Czech and Moravian Christmas carols and songs arranged in Ji Slavks original cycle and performed by VUS Ondr. The title, taken from the words of the evangelist John, expresses the cycles deepest message: turning our attention away from glittering Christmas decorations and towards the heart of the holidaythe story of the birth of Jesus. Traditional carols convey the poetry of this story and of the people who witnessed it with striking directness. Ji Slavk, an experienced young jazz musician and composer with folk roots, began shaping the cycle when the pandemic confined people to their homes in spring 2020 and the songs became a source of hope and light. The arrangements range from gentle and intimate to symphonic and richly coloured, with interludes and songs inspired by the biblical story. VUS Ondr, a professional ensemble rooted in folk music but open to crossing genre boundaries, performs the carols with complete naturalness, in both the familiar cimbalom-band style and more unusual arrangements. The programme includes Nesem vm noviny, Byla cesta ulapan, Narodil se Kristus Pn, Jak jsi krsn nevitko, Chtc, aby spal, tdrej veer nastal and other Christmas songs.