As a singer, I have a
special love for Ukrainian folk songs. I like to weave them into original compositions and
explore other musical genres and styles.
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Firmly rooted in Ukrainian folk traditions, Murmurosi quartet play songs from Ukraine and travel south through Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Macedonia and Greece.
Dumai Dunai is a dub-punk Slavic folk band from Montreal formed in 2021. Rooted in the folk singing traditions of singer Natalia Telentso’s home country of Ukraine and melodies inspired by Juno-nominated bandleader Eli Camilo’s extensive adventures in the lands of the Danube, the band powers these influences with deep dubbed-out grooves and the energy of punk rock. Featuring past and present members of some of Canada’s best folk party orchestras like Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra, Orkestar Kriminal, Boogát, Kaba Horo and Bad Uncle, this band is your favourite uncle’s favourite kitchen party soundtrack. They are working on their debut album.
Murmurosi’s debut full-length album, Bohutyn,
is now available digitally on Bandcamp and other digital paltforms!
“The voices of Telentso and Camilo, weav[e] together, diverging and concurring according to the polyphonic principle that informs so much vocal music from the larger region. The pair’s performances – pure, clear, precise and very potent – can only lift the spirits.”
“ “Murmurosi’s versions definitely illustrate distant places, they have great cinematic load, and sometimes they also have that acting force that artists like Tom Waits achieve, to cite an example; but instead of posing the melancholic gray canteen photo (although sometimes their music also invites drunkenness), they appeal to the lyrical and intimate. ” ”
“In five bursts of pure life, Boogát manages to navigate a range of both sonic and emotional textures before setting us down with the closer “¡Al Ratito, Catrina!” featuring a haunting vocal from Natalia Telentso.”
“Puis arrive le triste et solennel ¡Al Ratito, Catrina! presque lugubre avec ses trompettes funèbres. Mais ce n’est pas grave, il se rattrappe avec la reprise vocale émouvante de Natalia Telentso dans le dernier tiers. - par Rupert Bottenberg”
You can find to the song ¡Al Ratito, Catarina! and the EP “El Gato y Los Rumberos” by Boogat here.
The common thing between Mexican and Ukrainian cultures is the existence of soulful traditions and rituals around death. This song, written in Spanish, is a reflection about Boogat's friend passing away and the Ukrainian folk song I'm singing is a funeral song meant to be sung at a wake.
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We used to sing this song with our family trio when we were kids, years later it is getting a new life as we recorded it for the I’mmigrant project, where Natalia shares her and a bit of Yulia’s immigration story: https://www.facebook.com/immigrantnarrative/posts/635850887086195
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We had the pleasure of joining the virtual polyphony singing of this iconic song with Drevo, dedicated to their 60 anniversary (Septebmer 2020) ! This is definitely a highlight of the month for us! We are grateful to have been a part of the song! Thank you Drevo for endless inspiration. Many more years to you!!!
Drevo is the ensemble of singers from the village Kryachkivka (Poltava region, Ukraine), they are the authentic bearers of the oral singing tradition known far beyond Ukraine for their very specific-to-the-region and mesmerizing songs. If you haven’t yet discovered their rich harmonies and voices, you can do it here - Древо з Крячківки.
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Sometimes Domaći Trubači transforms into a smaller ensemble, here featuring singer Natalia Telentso.
Domaći Trubači ensemble, featuring singer Natalia Telentso. Here playing traditional Serbian song, "Ajde Jano".
Domaći Trubači ensemble, featuring singer Natalia Telentso. Here playing "Pesma Rastanka" by Silvana Armenulić.
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Showcase of private collection of Ustia Stenachuk of antique Ukrainian traditional clothing at Montreal Ukrainian Festival 2019, with a capella vocal song accompaniment.
“The special voice of Natalia Telentso from the “Murmurosi” Band produced a phenomenal echo not only on the festival stage or among our team members, but also on several meridians of the world”
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Murmurosi (Мурмуроси) The duet is comprised of Natalia Telentso and Eli Camilo, who are inspired by the Ukrainian folk polyphonic singing tradition. They perform a capella authentic songs and a combination of original compositions and experimental re-arrangements of traditional folk songs.
Photo credit Martin Simon Greizis.
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Live performance of Caje Sukarije (Čaje šukarije) the legendary song written by the Queen of Romales music Esma Redžepova with Montréal's own Domaći Trubači who plays Serbian and Macedonian brass band music, bringing a taste of Guča to Montréal, Ottawa, Toronto, and beyond!
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KING LEONIDAS by Iasonas is a Balkan hip-hop album: a fusion of orchestral arrangements, traditional Greek and Serbian music, and hip-hop storytelling. A collection of nine original compositions crafted to inspire inner strength and to awaken the human spirit. CD release show at Casa Del Popolo, Montreal.
https://iasonasmusic.bandcamp.com/track/anemos-the-king-of-the-winds-instrumental
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Performance with Murmurosi (Мурмуроси) duet as an opening act for the one and only Burdon Folk Band (Бурдон) from Lviv, Ukraine at Quai des Brumes, Montreal
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The weekend with friends, artists and musicians at Capital Ukrainian Festival, Ottawa.
Big pleasure to be a guest singer with Blisk!
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Inspired by eastern European folk music and orthodox chants I had a big pleasure singing solos, working with amazing musicians and no less than the epic choir Le Choeur du Brouhaha led by spectacular Sébastien Lachaume. Congratulations to the composer Iason Milan Ghikadis!
Et merci à Ronald Forget pour les photos!
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Murmurosi (Мурмуроси) performing at Cardboard Studios. The duet is comprised of Natalia Telentso and Eli Camilo, who are inspired by the Ukrainian folk singing tradition. They perform a combination of original compositions and experimental re-arrangements of traditional folk songs in Ukrainian, French and English, as well as a capella authentic songs.
Murmurosi (Мурмуроси) at Cardboard Studios, May 24th 2018, Montreal. Performing original composition in Ukrainian. Lyrics and music by Natalia Telentso and Eli Camilo. Povitria Para (Повітря пара) - this song is about the steam that you breath in winter time between you and the person in front because your hearts are warm.
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Singing Ukrainian spring songs (Vesnianky) with acting out some ritual dances as series of pop up performances with Kosa Kolektiv singers, Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, On.
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Singing and acting with Counting Sheep: An Immersive Guerrilla Folk Opera at Stanford University Bing Concert Hall and Oakland Metro Operahouse, California.
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Singing and acting with Counting Sheep: An Immersive Guerrilla Folk Opera at Three Legged Dog Theater. New York City, USA
Counting Sheep is a groundbreaking and award-winning immersive, guerrilla folk opera about the 2014 Maidan revolution that toppled the government.
"Alternates celebration with danger, and then turns mournful, with exquisite polyphonic choral music." - The New York Times
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In November, 2017, I was asked to sing with the Lemon Bucket Orkestra for the release of their album, "If I Had the Strength" in Toronto at the Danforth Music Hall, and in Montreal at Théâtre Fairmont.
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In the studio singing on a new composition by Iason Ghikadis. Montreal, QC
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Singing duo, Rano Rano, with Olenka Kleban, in collaboration with Yura Rafaliuk, tsimbaly player, created an original composition inspired by folk songs. Performance during Moskitto Bar concert at Small World Music Center. Toronto, On.
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Kosa Kolectiv performance of authentic Ukrainian carols at the Distillery Historic District Toronto Christmas Market. Toronto, On
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Spring Songs singing workshops for kids. Toronto, On
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Rano Rano project singing with Mark and Marichka Marczyk at Buskerfest, Toronto, On
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Kosa Kolectiv event at Belwoods Park singing bilyj holos technique (white voice, also known as village voice) women's spring songs. Toronto, On
"Kosa Kolektiv is composed of several women in and around Toronto that aim to revitalize peasant folklore in an urban context. The word kosa means braid in Ukrainian... we like the imagery of cultural fusion, the braiding of old and new."
To me, the Kosa Kolektiv is a wreath of artists who appreciate the mystical heritage of Ukrainian folk culture. For the past few years, it has been my honour to be an element of this wreath, to share and amplify our skills and creativity, and make it available to people of other cultures.
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Natalia Telentso is a singer, visual artist and designer living in Montréal, Canada. Raised in Ukraine, in a musical family, she grew to deeply appreciate its culture. The daughter of a choir conductor, she began singing and learning different vocal techniques and styles at a very young age. In 2011 she graduated from the National Institute of Art and Culture in Lviv, Ukraine. After moving to Toronto in 2010, she joined Kosa Kolektiv, who research, create, and promote Ukrainian folk art including music, singing, weaving, embroidery, story telling, and painting. In Toronto Natalia also began exploring other musical styles, particularly Balkan and Klezmer. In 2016, Natalia joined the Lemon Bucket Orkestra's folk opera, Counting Sheep, as a singer and actress, with whom she toured in Canada and the USA.
Her sound has multiple expressions. She alternates between Ukrainian folk style “Bilyj Holos” (white voice), as well as the folk techniques of Balkan, Roma music and lyrical vocals. Growing up performing, she has an embracing and captivating presence on stage, and engages the audience with stories of the folk songs and mesmerizing folk costumes.
Now based in Montreal, Natalia aims to share her cultural heritage with local communities and an international audience. In 2018, she started a Ukrainian folk singing duo, Murmurosi (Мурмуроси), with whom she has performed in Canada, Germany, Belgium, USA and, in May 2020, released a debut album “Bohyutun”. In January 2019, she co-founded a balkan brass band Domaći Trubači and became a lead singer of the band. She has been featured on the albums of Boogat and Iasonas, collaborated with artists such as Marina Krut, Briga, Sergiu Popa, Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Burdon Folk Band, Orkestar Kriminal, Ichka, Iasonas.
©2013-2019 Natalia Telentso Design
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED