Leb i sol
Encyclopedia
Leb i sol is a Macedonian
rock group founded in the 1970s by Vlatko Stefanovski
(guitar
), Bodan Arsovski
(bass guitar
), Nikola Kokan Dimuševski
(keyboards
) and Garabet Tavitjan (drums
). Tavitjan ceded the drumwork to Dragoljub Đuričić
for some of the albums, while Kiril Džajkovski
replaced Kokan on Kao Kakao and Putujemo. Beside being the most eminent Macedonian band, they were also one of the most important acts of the former Yugoslav Rock scene.
"Leb i sol" is a traditional greeting which literally translates to "bread and salt
". It is often used as an expression of spite or determination; e.g. "I will eat bread and salt if I have to, but I will not give in!", but that has nothing to do with the band's name. More commonly, distinguished visitors to villages and communities would be offered a piece of home-baked bread and a dip of salt as a traditional welcome, which is where the name of the band really came from. Their music combined elements of rock
, jazz fusion
and ethnic Macedonian music. As the band matured, the jazz influences became less obvious. However, in concert, Leb i sol performances of jazzed-up and lengthy versions of traditional ethno-folk classics such as "Jovano Jovanke" or "Aber Dojde Donke", were often received with great enthusiasm and cheer.
Leb i sol were very popular in the 1970s and 1980s and, while not selling as many records as some pop and folk acts, where very well known and respected and often sold-out venues in most of the larger cities in the former Yugoslavia
. The first two albums are often considered foundational, while most are diverse enough to be, at least in part, accessible to a fairly wide audience. The influence of ethnic music and folk music
of Republic of Macedonia
are recognizable in the use of odd meters (5/4, 7/8) and non-traditional scales (e.g. the Phrygian dominant scale
). While all the musicians were fairly accomplished, Vlatko Stefanovski is frequently regarded as an exceptional guitar virtuoso
.
left the group. With a new line-up, in 2008, the band recorded a new studio album titled ITAKANATAKA.
An international concert tour is being planned.
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
rock group founded in the 1970s by Vlatko Stefanovski
Vlatko Stefanovski
Vlatko Stefanovski is Macedonian ethno-rock jazz fusion guitar player.-Biography:Born in Prilep in 1957, he started playing guitar at the age of 13. Stefanovski was one of the founding members of Leb i sol with whom he recorded 13 albums between 1978 and 1991...
(guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Bodan Arsovski
Bodan Arsovski
Bodan Arsovski is a Macedonian bassist, a core founding member of the rock group Leb i sol, one of the most important rock bands in the former Yugoslavia. He is the only band member to have played on every Leb i sol record. He also released four solo albums.-Biography:As a solo artist, he has...
(bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), Nikola Kokan Dimuševski
Nikola Kokan Dimuševski
Nikola Dimuševski is a Macedonian musician and keyboard player, a core founding member of the rock group Leb i sol and a solo performer.- Solo Albums:* Double Life * Music for......
(keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
) and Garabet Tavitjan (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
). Tavitjan ceded the drumwork to Dragoljub Đuričić
Dragoljub Đuričić
Dragoljub Đuričić is a Belgrade, Serbia-based Montenegrin musician. He is known as the drummer for the bands YU grupa, Leb i Sol, and Kerber, as a member of Zdravko Čolić's and Đorđe Balašević's backing bands, as well as for his solo work.-Biography:Đuričić was born in 1954 in Cetinje...
for some of the albums, while Kiril Džajkovski
Kiril Dzajkovski
Kiril Džajkovski , often credited as simply Kiril, is an internationally acclaimed Macedonian electronic musician and music composer.-Biography:...
replaced Kokan on Kao Kakao and Putujemo. Beside being the most eminent Macedonian band, they were also one of the most important acts of the former Yugoslav Rock scene.
"Leb i sol" is a traditional greeting which literally translates to "bread and salt
Bread and salt
Bread and salt is a Slavic welcome greeting ceremony.The tradition, known by its local Slavic names , was also adopted by two non-Slavic nations — Lithuanians and Romanians — both of which culturally and historically close to their Slavic neighbours .When important, respected, or admired guests...
". It is often used as an expression of spite or determination; e.g. "I will eat bread and salt if I have to, but I will not give in!", but that has nothing to do with the band's name. More commonly, distinguished visitors to villages and communities would be offered a piece of home-baked bread and a dip of salt as a traditional welcome, which is where the name of the band really came from. Their music combined elements of rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, jazz fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
and ethnic Macedonian music. As the band matured, the jazz influences became less obvious. However, in concert, Leb i sol performances of jazzed-up and lengthy versions of traditional ethno-folk classics such as "Jovano Jovanke" or "Aber Dojde Donke", were often received with great enthusiasm and cheer.
Leb i sol were very popular in the 1970s and 1980s and, while not selling as many records as some pop and folk acts, where very well known and respected and often sold-out venues in most of the larger cities in the former Yugoslavia
Former Yugoslavia
The former Yugoslavia is a term used to describe the present day states which succeeded the collapse of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
. The first two albums are often considered foundational, while most are diverse enough to be, at least in part, accessible to a fairly wide audience. The influence of ethnic music and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
of Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
are recognizable in the use of odd meters (5/4, 7/8) and non-traditional scales (e.g. the Phrygian dominant scale
Phrygian dominant scale
In music, the altered Phrygian scale or Freygish scale , featuring an unusual key signature and a distinctive augmented second interval, is the fifth mode of the harmonic minor scale, the fifth being the dominant...
). While all the musicians were fairly accomplished, Vlatko Stefanovski is frequently regarded as an exceptional guitar virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
.
Reunion
After spliting in 1991, the band members started successful solo careers and each of them released several solo albums. In 2006 Leb i sol gathered again for a successful reunion tour across Macedonia and the former Yugoslav countries to mark the 30th anniversary of their beginning. Later, Vlatko StefanovskiVlatko Stefanovski
Vlatko Stefanovski is Macedonian ethno-rock jazz fusion guitar player.-Biography:Born in Prilep in 1957, he started playing guitar at the age of 13. Stefanovski was one of the founding members of Leb i sol with whom he recorded 13 albums between 1978 and 1991...
left the group. With a new line-up, in 2008, the band recorded a new studio album titled ITAKANATAKA.
An international concert tour is being planned.
Discography
- Leb i sol (PGP RTB, 1978)
- Leb i sol 2 (PGP RTB, 1978)
- Ručni rad (PGP RTB, 1979)
- Beskonačno (PGP RTB, 1981)
- Sledovanje (PGP RTB, 1982)
- Akustična trauma -- Double Live (PGP RTB, 1982)
- Kalabalak (JugotonJugotonJugoton was the largest record label and chain record store in the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia based in Zagreb, Socialist Republic of Croatia. After the breakup of Yugoslavia the company continued to work in independent Republic of Croatia under the name Croatia...
, 1983) - Tangenta (Jugoton, 1984)
- Zvučni zid (Jugoton, 1986)
- Kao kakao (Jugoton, 1987)
- Putujemo (Jugoton, 1989)
- Live Anthology - Live in Kragujevac (1990)
- Live in New York , (1991)
- Anthology -- Double CD compilation , 1995)
- Live in Macedonia -- CD/DVD ( 2006)
- ITAKANATAKA -- CD/DVD (Hammer production,2008)
External links
- http://www.lebisolofficial.com
- Bodan Arsovski website
- Nikola Dimuševski website