TBL_The Misc Lion_Open Chair II Article

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"The Open Chair - Part II" 2003
by Ray “Rajko” Ranic

In an earlier article I wrote about “The Open Chair” and chronicled many of my thoughts regarding tamburashi - past and present - especially the tamburash that knows song after song - always has a laugh - a joke - a story and is the glue that is the camaraderie of special moments - many that last a lifetime.
During the past 16 months (part of a 20 year extraordinary relationship that the Buffalo and Cleveland communities share with each other) both tamburitza communities have grieved and changed over the loss of tamburashi. During this time period retirements and death thinned out the ranks of performing musicians.

Of note is the resiliency of The Continental Strings and the leadership of Alex Machaskee. The passing of Bobby Arlow was a huge blow to an orchestra with a reputation of performing together in the Ohio area for more than 40 years. I can’t stress enough that this is a lifetime of music. Retirements by other musicians left the group with two options - quit or reinvent yourself.

Dealing with the death of a loved one is the kind of hurt and grief that none of us wish to face. Retirement is just as bad as the passing of a loved one in the tamburitza community. Replacement players are not easily found. For Tamburashi it is a part of OUR life process - and can be especially devastating. For us music is a marriage of sorts.(Divorces included!-How many tamburitza groups play together with their original members for 40 years-The Continental Strings did!) The surviving members of the Continental Strings had lost their rhythm player - the guy that holds it together - Bob Arlow was gone (March, 2002) and that open chair doesn’t get easily filled. As I reflect on the passing of the late great Nick” Tillie” Klaich I know how tough it was on the Balkan Serenaders in 1989 and 14 years later he is sorely missed.

Sometimes we are bitter and sometimes our faith is strengthened.
I witnessed that healing & strengthening of faith this recent July 13-14th weekend. It was that time of year again. Buffalo goes to Ohio and its two days slam packed with travel, greetings, fellowship, food, and the sounds of tamburtiza music. We were entertained by a trip to view the outstanding Chinese exhibits at the Great Lakes Science Museum in Cleveland during the day and at night dined on the great food at Sterles Slovenian House. The Saturday evening was filled with the sounds of tamburitza musicians from Ohio, Western New York, and Michigan.

On Sunday our morning started in high style with a continental breakfast at the well known Landerhaven Executive Banquet Facility. We were then entertained by the sounds of the outstanding Irish folk group “The Barleycorns” and thrilled to the steps of Irish dancers from the Cleveland area. Then onto The Mardi Gras Restaurant where our hosts Nick and Maro Mavrakis cater to the best in cevaps, barbecued lamb, pork, chicken, and more while treating us like royalty!.

This year the sounds of Tamburashi filled the air with an impressive lineup of musicians. Joining in this year’s festivities were Hall of Fame musicians Alex Machaskee, Vlad Popovich, and Charles Smilinich. Also present were Billy “Bogdan” Topolski, Milt Arlow, Chuck Vukovic, Lex Machaskee, (the next generation) Steve Mraz, Charlie Kristich, Don Milosevich, George Arbutina, Mike and Rudy Kristich. Fourteen musicians played Saturday night . This year we played Ej Gumbari - an Italian song requested over the years & made popular by Bobby Arlow. It took 16 months to be able to play that song again. Sunday we did Zikino Kolo and laughed just the way the Arlow Brothers did and the tamburashi present excelled in their quest to play and enjoy life to its fullest in music and song.

This weekend saw other touching moments - like Jim Brennan, our adopted Irish/Serbian personality from the Western New York community sing “One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus” accompanied by “The Barleycorns”. Then another supreme moment caught in time - as Vlad Popovich and Jim Brennan harmonized to the Irish sounds of “The Fields of Athenrye.” Truthfully, I took mental notes while wiping tears from my eyes. To some - just a song - to me - I see Jim Brennan sing “a bit o the Irish”duet style with Vlad Popovich (Balkan Serenader and Irish wannabe-must be in the gene pool Vlad!) and I felt like a slice of heaven had just settled on my soul! It was a wonderful moment captured in time and I was compelled to write about it - or it might be lost to memory and I couldn’t allow that to happen (A tip o the hat to “The Barleycorns” for their fine accompaniment I might add!)

Sundays jam session at the Mardi Gras added the four musicians from Harmonia including their vocalist bringing the amount of musicians to 18. Hall of Fame Tamburash Ljubica “Libby” Fill showed up and sang her famous “Sophie” song and brought the house down, bringing the total Tambursashi performing to 19 for the weekend.

Another of those moments had some of the musicians playing “Kansas City” for Kay Arlow as it was one of Bob Arlow’s favorite songs. Respect and admiration for tamburashi and family is best shown in the songs we play during those special moments we experience as we pass through life. An additional note - this golf outing has since been re-named “The Bob Arlow Golf Outing” in memory of Bob Arlow.(as of July 2002)

What I felt and saw as I played this weekend was different than 16 months ago. It was the healing that took place shown by the faith and hope that pushes us onward-especially in the music-of the tamburashi! As I reflected on these precious moments in time- I made some observations worth noting. Alex and the Continental Strings have continued to play. They work at re-inventing themselves - they put their best foot forward. So have Tillie Klaich’s Balkan Serenaders and many other groups as well. We’re ever singing, continually growing. Just as many other groups struggle to move on after the hard times pass.

A woman came up to me afterward with a comment regarding Alex Machaskee and said “Alex is a legend - yet he comes here and plays from the heart - he’s one of us.” It is in the context of this statement that I see the balance of stature in Mr. Machaskee’s outstanding lifetime & professional work accomplishments balanced by his love of family, friends, and tamburitza music. He leads by example.

This weekend serves as a sterling example of faith, of healing, of leadership, and ability to face the toughest of life’s challenges and find strength within the human spirit - by moving on. For the tamburash it is by being true to themselves and best shown-in the music played and shared. I thought on other special moments that weekend - my son John turned 16, and I remembered my Father’s Day card from him that said "Happy 16th Father’s Day" on it. Profound if you think of the meaning. I shared many good father and son moments with both of my sons this weekend!

My mind also drifted to my sister who had a wonderful time - and as brother and sister - were secure in the knowledge that we’re TOGETHER! Leaving the memories of hardships and times past where they belong - committed to heart and memory where our love survives - the ultimate triumph of the human spirit - and our healing continues to grow. (However-it still tugs the heart strings when the last song is played by the tamburashi - and its time to leave. For me, that feeling will never change)

In closing - what of the chronicler - the storyteller - who weaves these moments of life in words and tries to capture the essence of moments caught in time and reflect on their meaning? As for me - I’ve always said “Tamburitza music is the best addiction I’ve ever had - I’m hooked on its sounds and the lives of tamburashi who embrace our world with their music and I AM ONE OF THEM! - a musician - a tamburash - a minstrel in the gallery - of those whose hands stroke the notes of songs and their resonance finds a spot within my heart - my mind - my soul - I am a “SERENADER FOR LIFE” and for the moment I leave the heartaches and tough times behind and enjoy the sounds of tamburitza music-because this time - there were no open chairs - just “Standing Room Only!”

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