Sabor trubača GUČA | www.guca.co.yu

Untitled Document

		Makreting \| Contact US

NEWS

2007

In the days succeeding religious holiday Pokrov Presvete Bogorodice , the curch port of Guča was a place at which a traditional festival used to be held. In terms of singing, dancing and playing it was always a source of folk arts. Enriched with magnificent folk costumes it always represented a colourful scene. For that reason, a group of enthusiastic people came up with an idea of expanding the whole event, giving it another dimension-the wealth of the people of that region,both material and spiritual,was to be emoloyed as a basic element in new forms attainment. Thus, on the 14th of October in 1961 the Trumpet Festival occurred for the first time in Dragačevo. Ever since ‘with trumpet and for the trumpet, year in year out, Dragačevo has continud to be the heart of Serbia, ticking loudly and bravely. Guča, a small town,hidden deeply in the province, was brought to fame, turning into eye, ear, voice and song of Serbia. Traditionally, Dragačevo Trumpet Festival is organized in August. Succeeding qualifying rounds in Boljevac,Zlatibor, Kotraža,Surdulica and Koštunuci, 20 orchestras, i.e. 200 trumeters, on passing the qualification, enter the finals. Each orchestra competes all other orchestras, each trumpeter competes all trumeters, bass men and drummers following the same pattern. The masters of trumpet are there announced. With minor changes, the programme of the festival basicaly maintaned the features of the original festival : competition of orchestras and trumpeters,competition of men at diverse “manly” disciplines, XIX century wedding in Dragačevo, exhibitions, singing and dancing performances of domestic competitors and those from abroad, exibition of books on Dragačevo and the Festival are held, the most beautiful folk costumes are chosen… Since 1997,new trumpet orchestras-promising perfomers-play in their own ,separate competition. The Trumpet Festival has become an amazying touristic attraction. Over 300.000 visitors from all parts of Serbia and the world, who rejoice and enjoy to their hearts’ content, are the proof of that. A stall outsings, outplays, outdances another stall from the brak of day until sunset. Heavy rams and pigs revolving on spits, so called “wedding cabage meal” simmering in earthen pots. On tables pichers with domestic plum brandy, fresh corn bread ,cheese and “kajmak”…Old crafts can be seen in the streets:cobblers,pastry makers ,potters,weavers…On the football playground across the Bjelica river, a great midnight concert with guests both domestic and from abroad takes place, marvelous fireworks with 50.000 visitors, mostly young people can be seen. Noone could ever expect that the performances would follow one another like a string of pearls. „Everything and everybody change,but the trumpet festval remains the same, like the elements do. The festival is a wonder, the greatest of all! The everlasting campaign,year in, year out. She (trumpet) feels completely at home here, domesticated, tamed, she is not an omen of war any more. She doesn’t want war anymore ...she leads a dance, celebrating,spreading joy. That is why she is welcome-giving new vigour,joy and happiness.“ Each festival is introduced with song „Sa Ovčara i kablara”which has turned into the hymn of the festivity, accompanied with the firing of cannons. The festival is the symbol of Dragačevo and our close connestion and our devotion to it.”The trumpet never plays out of tune in Dragačevo,for the dignity of people is deeply woven into the sound of it. The sound expanding to the moment of culmination,when,overcome with hoy while listening to the introductory notes, we all stay breathless, our blood boiling,fists clenched in celebration of our love of freedom. On hearing the sound of a trumpet everybody stands up to Her honour, and the people of Dragačevo write it down in capital letter-as they do with love.