Pray and Work! That was the motto of St. Benedict built into lives of Vrbanj’s countrymen, the motto that defined their lifestyle and became their philosophy. Those who had ‘a good ear’ praised the Lord through song with strong and steady voices, making the stone walls of old churches resonate.
St. Augustine, however, said “Those who sing pray twice as much”, so we can truly say that the countrymen of Vrbanj, during their lives, overworked and over prayed enough to earn eternal honor and glory. As a matter of fact, by praising and honoring God and his ‘fruits’ throughout their whole lives, they certainly earned the right to be permanently inscribed in the holy book.
They unselfishly transferred their singing skills to new generations, leaving them the heritage of an invaluable immaterial treasure. For decades, even centuries, that treasure was carefully protected so that today we can proudly present our rich treasury to the world.
The diversity of the melodies is fascinating (both those liturgical and para-liturgical), the interpretation which does not demand an intonation is exalting, and the strength in singers’ voices rouses respect in those who listen.
The new age with its variety of media contents still casts a shadow on traditional values, which combined with a decreasing country population, results in our preserving the singing fundus becoming more and more difficult.
Therefore, it was necessary to approach the project of preserving the singing legacy by means of recording it to contemporary media, in order to at least passively reproduce it for some future generations.
Because of that, folk singers from Vrbanj on the island of Hvar, or as we locally call them “Varbonski kantaduri” (Cantors from Vrbanj), recorded three “sound recording mediums”:

“Ceremonies of Holy Week and The Procession following the Cross” with 26 chants of Easter Triduum during Ash Wednesday, Holy Thursday and Good Friday

“Throughout the year – Throughout years”, a double CD with 71 chants from the rest of the civil year

“For the King for which all lives!” with 19 assorted and separately recorded chants from the fundus of the previously recorded double CD

 

Altogether 116 chants were collected and stored in this collection which will forever be the witness of a time, people, tradition and faith.