Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadić

artist: Vlatko Stefanovski & Miroslav Tadić
track: Jovano Jovanke
recording: Krushevo (1999)

www.goyo.net/musicaluni/vsmt-jj.mp3

artist notes
Vlatko Stefanovski (www.vlatkostefanovski.com.mk) founded the Macedonian art-rock group Leb i sol in the mid-1970s, recording thirteen albums prior to launching a solo guitar career where he continues to collaborate on recordings, theatrical performances and motion pictures. Miroslav Tadić (music.calarts.edu/~snakes) is considered by many to be one of the world’s most radical and individual guitarists; in recent years he has concentrated on developing an approach to improvisation which combines and juxtaposes musical material drawn from many diverse sources.

In the summer of 1997, Stefanovski and Tadić met for a recording session in Makedonium, a monument in the small town of Krushevo (central Macedonia). Into this specific and sacred atmosphere were born stunningly beautiful acoustic renderings of traditional Macedonian folk songs.

track notes
“Jovano, Jovanke” is a traditional Macedonian folk song. It expresses the sadness of two young lovers separated by a river and their disapproving parents. But this interpretation is far from traditional; the guitarists’ myriad of musical sensibilities — classical, flamenco, jazz and rock (among others) — becomes immediately apparent, weaving a wicked tapestry of form, color and texture.

This is a perfect track for listening with headphones, as clear distinctions can be made between the lead guitar (left channel) and accompaniment (right channel). Try and discern the interplay and nimble dialogue between the two — a lesson for all of us in listening and sensitivity.

A series of subtle whispers and introductions lead us into the main melody, beautifully stated and evolved from 1:55-3:45. Then the soloing begins, with runs of insane agilility floating over an unwavering and uncompromising rhythmic accompaniment (4:27-4:47, 4:55-5:14). Then both men unleash from their deepest cauldrons a low-register storm (5:23, just try and stay seated). Exquisite cascades (6:02) return us to the main melody (6:11), only this time more spirited and with ten times the delicacy, bravado and nuance.

Ultimately, while the technique is flawless and the musicality impeccable, what I hear are two hearts singing. This track is a masterpiece.

And I ask you this — if two men are able to collaborate (non-verbally, I might add) in expressing such vulnerability, depth and beauty, how can this be the same gender responsible for so much entropy in our world today?