She has been collecting folk songs and music in the Pokuttia Region of Western Ukraine. The material is wonderfully documented in linear notes that are presented as a 16-page booklet both in Ukrainian and in a lucid English translation by Peter Bejger. The quality of the recordings and the documentation make this by far the best Ukrainian ethnic music recording available today, on par with any World Music recording. Then Maryana introduced us to Nadia Mykytivna Rozdabara. Soon we were ushered into the house where we met her husband Khvedir Oleksandrovych.
News travels fast in a village.
Within the hour we were recording Kryachkivka's best singers. Kryachkivka women sing also inspired Zoloti Kliuchi and Drevo, the best-known folk group trained at the Conservatory who recreate the village style of singing. Kryachkivka is best known for the polyphonic style that the women developed over years of singing together. The previous fall the group sustained a severe blow when the most vivacious member of the group, Tetiana Krevenko, passed away. But now the circle had expanded to include several younger women.