The singing group CINTARE from Ljubljana is a vocal group of 12 singers who sing original folk songs from all Slovenian regions, and at the same time present the rich clothing culture of Slovenia. The singers took their name from the medicinal flower - centaury, which is also popularly called CINTARA (centaurium erythraea). Their mission: preserving the tradition of folk singing, or passing on the Slovenian cultural tradition.
Folk goods are mainly drawn from the rich sheet music and sound material of the Music and Ethnography Institute in Ljubljana. The artistic director of the group is Mrs. Mira Nastran.
CINTARE started singing in 2003, and the group has been active since 2006. They are also members of the cultural assocoation of the Ljubljana Clinical Center and the Medical Faculty of Ljubljana dr. Lojz Kraigher.
Since CINTARE are singers with a rich folklore tradition, as they are former dancers Folklore Ensemble "France Marolt" and Cultural Association "Tina Rožanc" from Ljubljana, they try to present the different ways of singing in individual Slovenian regions with great sensitivity and a sense of authenticity, and also show the diversity of national costumes in Slovenia, customs and way of dressing.
The singers are involved in the rich cultural life of the capital city, they perform in Slovenia as well as abroad, and they especially enjoy singing and socializing with Slovenians from abroad.
The educational aspect of their activities is also becoming increasingly important, as within the project "This is how our grandmothers sang and dressed", they raise awareness of the youngest generation in kindergartens and primary schools by presenting the riches of Slovenian folk tradition.
Charity is one of the distinguishing features of PS CINTARA, which is involved in the "Sing with us" project, as the singers have been performing in public institutions for many years and help patients and elderly citizens to heal soul and body with songs and kind words.
In 2008, they took part in the national meeting of singers of folk songs and singers of folk songs in Tolmin, and they presented a fragment from the treasury of Slovenian folk songs on a CD and DVD entitled "Kamer sen lani tancela".
In 2010, CINTARE participated in the IV. of the International Festival of Small Vocal Ensembles in Velika Gorica, Croatia, where they won first place and also received a special award for the attractiveness of the program.
Critics have written about the group that CINTARE demonstrates an understanding of the re-creation of the folk musical tradition in terms of performance and repertoire, and they are distinguished by their vocal abilities, subtlety in singing and understanding of the musical aesthetics of re-creating the Slovenian folk singing tradition.
The First Album
Folk Music From Dorset, England
