New Swiss Talents – Men Steiner and Aita Biert. Also featuring the Franzli Music of Domenic Janett (NST 9/1982)

swissmusic

This edition features folk musicians from the Engadine Valley in the south-eastern part of Switzerland. Among them are Men Steiner & Aita Biert and the Franzli Music of Domenic Janett.

Men Steiner and Aita Biert are a singing two-some. Men Steiner was born in 1943 in Scuol, Grisons. He plays guitar and violin and was member of several Swiss choirs. Aita Biert was born the daughter of one of Engadine’s leading folk singer-poets. She herself began singing at an early age and later studied at the Zurich Conservatory. She teaches piano in Zurich and in the Engadine Valley. Since 1977 she and Men Steiner have devoted much of their efforts to the preservation of the Romantsch language.

The Franzli Music of Domenic Janett is an instrumental group consisting of the three brothers Domenic (clarinet), Duri (cornet) and Curdin Janett (bass), Flurin Caviezel (viola) and Arnold Alder (violin).

Both perform old-time dance music as played in that region in the past century.

Musical Content

1. The Franzli Music of Domenic Janett: La faira da Strada – The Village Fair at Strada
(Traditional Dance)
2. Men Steiner and Aita Biert: Il bel Bernard – Handsome Bernard
(Trad., arr. M. Steiner)
3. Men Steiner and Aita Biert: Che fast qua tü, randolin? – What Are You Doing, Little Swallow?
(Trad., arr. M. Steiner)
4. Men Steiner and Aita Biert: Giodim in quella val – Down There in the Valley
(Trad., arr. M. Steiner)
5. Men Steiner and Aita Biert: L’otra saira – The Other Night
(Trad., arr. M. Steiner)
6. The Franzli Music of Domenic Janett: L’allemanda (Dance)
(Trad.)
7. Men Steiner and Aita Biert: Il silip e la furmia – The Grasshopper and the Ant
(Trad., arr. M. Steiner)
8. Men Steiner and Aita Biert: Binsan – Welcome
(Trad., arr. M. Steiner)
9. Men Steiner: Propagand electorala – Election Propaganda
(M. Steiner)
10. Men Steiner: Invüd – Invitation
(M. Steiner)
11. The Franzli Music of Domenic Janett: Valser alla veglia (Waltz)
(Trad.)

Production information

Musica Helvetica. New Swiss Talents NST 9. Men Steiner and Aita Biert. Also featuring the Franzli Music of Domenic Janett. Produced 1982 for SBC / SRI by Lance Tschannen.

Background information

Switzerland is a small alpine nation shaped and influenced by great cultural cross-currents that have swept through Europe over centuries. Out of elements of diversity, the people of this country have forged a distinctly Swiss identity. And music is one of its most eloquent expressions. “Musica Helvetica” explores different facets of music in Switzerland from its earliest beginnings to the latest works of modern Swiss composers, from folk music to rock and jazz. This historical series span the years 1973 to 1998. These recordings are not available.