Fantje z vasi give their seventieth performance outside Dom Taber
On Thursday, 3 September, the choir gave its 70th performance outside the Taber care home for older people in Šmartno pri Cerkljah na Gorenjskem, and they plan to complete the tour within three years.
Šmartno – On the afternoon of Thursday, 3 September, the atmosphere was warm and cheerful outside the Taber care home for older people in Šmartno pri Cerkljah, as members of the Fantje z vasi choir from Rogaška Slatina visited the residents and staff with a concert of Slovenian folk songs. They have resolved to sing outside every care home for older people in Slovenia. The choir is made up of the singers Franci Turnšek, Slavko Živičnjak, Janez Mraz and Toni Korez, and the choir leader Tone Plevčak, who opened by greeting the residents and staff. They gave their first concert a year and a half ago for a woman from their own municipality who was celebrating her 100th birthday. From there, their journey took them all over Slovenia. Outside Dom Taber in Šmartno, they sang old folk songs including “Dekle, dekle”, “Žarele so planine, žarel je njen obraz”, “Domača hiša” and “Že spet jesen je tu”, among others. They are aware that through their performances they help to keep the old folk song alive, while also bringing joy to the residents. The residents applauded them enthusiastically from their windows and balconies. With this performance, they brightened the day of many a resident and perhaps chased away a worry or two. As choir leader Tone Plevčak explained, they have so far given 70 performances and travelled 5,500 kilometres, and 5,250 people have listened to them. “We perform old folk songs that should never die out or be forgotten. This is a unique folk heritage that must be sung, but also collected and rescued from oblivion. That is why we decided to visit all 125 Slovenian care homes for older people, where we sing mainly cheerful and nostalgic songs,” said choir leader Tone Plevčak.
They plan to perform at three homes in the same region in a single day, as travelling around the country is tiring for them too, and they perform free of charge. On Thursday they also sang in Škofja Loka and Medvode. On behalf of the residents and staff, the director of Dom Taber, Martina Martinčič, thanked the performers. After the performance, they also visited the sights of Cerklje.
Text and photo: Janez Kuhar
Cerklje, 4 September 2020
