The bards were a group of singer-songwriters in the USSR whose style was originally influenced by shanson and folk. In the classic tradition, bardic music is narrative poetry accompanied by a guitar played by the singer. Although diverse, the genre is most associated with songs that hid social and political commentary within allegory and metaphor. Most of its music was disseminated via recordings and copies made by fans. Although not officially supported by the authorities, many in the highest echelons of Soviet power listened to and enjoyed the music. Since the fall of the USSR, many new artists have continued the genre and its traditions.
Languages: Search for bardic music performed in Central Asian languages, or in Russian, Ukrainian, or Polish.
Jacek Kaczmarski is a legendary Polish singer-songwriter, poet, and writer. He is famous for both his art and his political activities, a combination that has made him a celebrated Polish figure among academics—his work and life has been much studied—readers, music fans, and many others. Kaczmarski was born in Warsaw in 1957 to a Polish-Jewish […]