Gilead Skudrinka (Thousand Times 2015)

“Skudrinka” is a traditional circle dance named “Hora” (also known as “Horo” and “Oro”) originating in Dolna Reka area along river Radika, Western Macedonia. Traditionally this dance begins with even movements accompanied by leaps and turning around. The dancers holding special sticks put their hands in a horizontal position. They form a semicircle and start their dance. Its classical rhythm is 2/4. And that is all that can be said about this dance (may the true admirers of Macedonian customs forgive me). There are several melodies for the rendition of the song and our version represents the most renowned of them. This melody is considered to be “classical Western European bagpipe folk” as well. However, the “Gilead Skudrinka” differs from both traditional rendition and other folk-band versions. The basic difference is a very high tempo and ostentatiously fast drum beat. We have transformed it from a calm medieval dance to a mind-blowing whirlwind of bagpipe licks and cello rumbles. That is why as you l