This excerpt from a folk song brings us closer to the relationship of the inhabitants of Terchová valley to their own musical folklore. Our legends tell us that Terchová has the most musicians and singers per square metre and that is why almost every settlement in Terchová had its own band. The issue of the postage stamp “The Music of Terchová” is a tribute to all the generations of local people who have preserved the treasures of their ancestors for the contemporary world and continue to develop them.

      The Music of Terchová is a form of highland archaic folk music, which is still alive in the Kysuce Highlands, but also wherever Terchovians settled after they were evicted from there. Normally it is played by a three or four-piece string ensemble that includes a small two-stringed bass, which is depicted on postage stamp, but in more recent times a heligonka accordion has also been included. The distinctive multi-voiced singing of the band of musicians is typical of this style of music. Originally the music was performed along with dancers, so the style of the music is lively and earthy, with fast energetic interludes and slower vocal passages. Many of the songs are dedicated to the legendary folk hero – the leader of a band of outlaws, Juraj Jánošík, who was born in Terchová.

      We do not know the exact origin of the Music of Terchová, because it has been handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. The first written references date back to the end of the 19th century. Later, thanks to outstanding performers and personalities, it was not only noticed by experts and artists, but also became known to the general public of Slovakia and the world. In this context, on 5th December 2013 it was added to the UNESCO World List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This is the most important award that a traditional cultural practise can receive. For the whole of Slovakia and the municipality of Terchová, who applied for registration, it was a great success on the international stage and a positive example of Slovak culture.

Vladimír Moravčík