Gaida Gajda Kucano Pushteno Poustseno Berance Levendikos Lytos Macedonia Risto Todoroski Pusteno

Gaidas made by Risto Todoroski [e-mail] or send a youtube msg.
Rare to find Kucano oro played on gaida. Risto recalled this melody.
If you have a Kucano/Berance gaida recording, please share it to make it known to other gaida players! I will play it for Risto.
This dance is popular in many regions of Macedonia and is common to all communities of the region, including Albanians - hence the names Kucano, Pushteno, Poustseno, Lytos, Levendikos, Beranče, Bajrače, Beratche, Beratse.
Usually played by clarinet, accordion, and brass bands.
Rhythm ranges from 12/8 (32232) to 16/8 (43243) and has 5 dancer's beats - SLOW quick quick SLOW quick).
THE DANCE
Native to Lerin/Florina, Kostur/Kastoria, and also the Tosk regions of Southern & Western Albania.
A mixed dance that can end fast (pushteno); or a women's dance like the Zhensko Beranče/Bajrace of Kostur where the two lead dancers dance as a pair; or a slow/heavy dance lead by the elder generation - teshko/starsko/gerondikos - that can speed up into a pushteno; Masko Beranče za ramo is a version done by 2 men, holding both hands and lifting each other over the shoulder.
MEANING OF THE NAMES
Kucano means limping, as when stooping forward to pick a flower.
Pusteno conveys the idea of free movement.
Beranče is named for the Albanian town of Berat. (f. Greek peratia = beyond, on the far side - same as Slavic zagora).
In the Florina/Lerin region the Pushteno/Levendikos/Lytos are the same dance. Beranche/Beratche/Bairatche/Beratis is also danced to the same steps, but can refer to a specific melody or style of the dance, often slower or heavier, so it can also be called Teshko or even Starsko. This last name, meaning old, is often employed as a term of respect for the older generation who would more often lead the dance.
In the village of Alona/ Armensko it can refer to a seperate melody (called Gherondikos in Greek), which starts quite slow and evolves into a Puscheno.
Among the Albanians of the Florina region (as in the village Flambouro/Negovani) the Beratche, etc. is danced differently - here with a two measure phrase. The usual three measure phrase Puscheno which is also danced by them, is considered a Macedonian dance while their two measure Beratche they consider their own.
The Albanians of the Florina region are Othodox Christian Albanians who have been living in the region for generations as opposed to the recent migrants from post 1990 Albania or returning Greek political refugees.
Kucano Pusteno Pushteno Pušteno Pousteno Poustseno Lytos Leventikos Levendikos Berance Beranče Beratche
Куцано оро Пуштено Женско Беранче Πουστσένο Πουστένο Πουσένο Λυτός Λεβέντικος

[@Malennius]

Respect from an Albanian, thanks for covering this

[@gajda1984]

This gajda sounds great!

[@vasili33]

благодарам брат - glad you found the vid :)

[@vasili33]

This melody is "Po mene, Jano po mene" staro kucano oro by Risto Todoroski who makes gaidas in Sydney, Australia.

[@saipitman-holidaychannel8954]

I see one of your goats in the background!

[@vasili33]

MEANING OF THE NAMES Kucano means limping, as when stooping forward to pick a flower. Pusteno = letting loose, free movement. Beranče is named for the Albanian town of Berat. (f. Greek peratia = beyond, on the far side = Slavic "zagora").

[@vasili33]

Sure - it's a high drone at the same pitch as the chanter to sound like two gaidas, when one drones for the other. It is plugged for this recording but you can hear it in Risto's other vids as he usually plays with it.

[@vasili33]

THE DANCE - from Western regions of Aegean Macedonia (eg Lerin/Florina, Kostur/Kastoria) and the Tosks of S & W Albania. Pushteno/Levendikos/Lytos are the same dance. Beranche / Beratche / Bairache / Beratis same steps, but specific melody or style, often slow/heavy Teshko/Starsko - term of respect for the older generation who would more often lead the dance. (Gerondikos in Alona/ Armensko which starts slow and ends as a pushteno). Zhensko berance/bajrace = women's dance from Kostur.

[@vasili33]

Rare to find Kucano oro played on gaida. Risto Todoroski from Ohrid, now living in Sydney, recalled this melody. Gaidas available from Risto. Набавите гајда по порачка од Ристо. Πολούνται γκάϊντες. Ο Risto ακόμα τις φτιάχνει.

[@vasili33]

Actually you can see Risto fine-tuning the high-drone of the gajda in this recording. I'll re-upload this soon in High Quality :) watch?v=xcY9F7FCGxg

[@jondursi3823]

Albanien Instrument