Ja posadi' vitu jelu – Široka Kula, HR

HKUD “Široka Kula” Široka Kula
Ivan Starčević– Lead Voice (prvi glas)
Nikola Rukavina, Nikola Muhar, Mile Štampar, Mile Ćulumović, Nikola Milinković, Matej Delač – Second Voice (pratnja)

Lyrics (ENG)
I planted a willowy fir
Ber ber ber, a willowy fir, ber fa roj, a willowy fir, joj

Near the lake
Ber ber ber, near the lake

And next to the fir I planted a grape vine
Ber ber ber, a grape vine

And next to the grape vine I seated a beautiful Mara
Ber ber ber, a beautiful Mara

The beautiful Mara will be the watchman
Ber ber ber, will be the watchman

Guard the grape vine, Mara
Ber ber ber, the grape vine

So the Turks do not pick the grape
Ber ber ber, do not pick the grape

Lyrics (HR)

Ja posadi vitu jelu
Ber ber ber, vitu jelu, ber fa roj, vitu jelu, joj

Pokraj vode na bajeru
Ber ber ber, na bajeru…

I uz jelu lozu bijelu
Ber ber ber, lozu bijelu…

I uz jelu lijepu Maru
Ber ber ber, lijepu Maru…

Lijepa Mara za čuvara
Ber ber ber, za čuvara…

Čuvaj Maro lozu bijelu
Ber ber ber, lozu bijelu…

Da je Turci ne oberu
Ber ber ber, ne oberu…

HKUD Široka Kula was founded in 2014, out of a desire to preserve and continue the traditions of the region. Along with a children's dance group, it has about 70 members, including residents of villages Perušić, Lički Osik, Gospić, Plitvička Jezera, with some members permanently living outside the region. The KUD members learn from old generations, singing the songs they found in the surrounding villages. The most important custom is ličko prelo. The repertoire includes bećarac, pjevanie uz dangubicu, rozgalica (ojkanje), and ring dances, including đikac kolo.

Široka Kula is a village in Lika-Senj County. It is located about 10 km northeast of Gospić. The villagers are engaged in shepherding and agriculture. Before the war in the 1990s, the majority of the inhabitants were Serbs; today the majority are Croats.

Lika is located between the Velebit mountain range (to the west) and Plješevica and Kapela (to the east). Administratively, it belongs to the following counties: Lika-Senj County, Šibenik-Knin County and Zadar County. Lika has a rich history and a unique musical culture, which has been preserved to this day.

"Ja posadi vitu jelu" is a traditional "na bas" song associated with prelo. It is a custom of working together in the autumn and winter (typical activities included spinning, feather tearing, peeling corn, etc.), during which the residents of neighboring villages had fun, strengthened ties, and young people would meet future spouses.

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About us – Balkan Polyphony is a field research project that collects traditional music from the Balkan area. We are not interested in any ideologies, we don’t take sides in any historical conflicts. What interests us is traditional culture and its musical intricacies.

Our Partner: Narodni muzej Zadar, Etnološki odjel (National Museum Zadar, Ethnological Department)