Songs From the Old Barn
(Písne ze starické stodoly)
Sixteen Old-time country stomping songs featuring Martin Zák and his old-time country band

Grab Your Bones and Rattle Along with Martin Zak

He lives high up in the mountains of the Czech Republic.

Martin Zak is a phenomenal multi-instrumentalist and master of traditional percussion who clog dances, plays banjo, harmonica, jaw harp, mouthbow, spoons, bones, washboard and who knows what else. And if that is not enough for you, Martin's work is endorsed by old-time music luminaries such as David Holt and Mike Seeger. Even John Rice Irwin, founder and director of the Appalachian Museum in Tennessee says "Martin Zak plays old-time Southern Appalachian music more authentically than anyone in our area."

So order a cd or two and rattle along to these favorite old-time traditional tunes played like you've never heard them before (in Czech!)

Traditional American Melodies and Buoyant Mountain Whooping Songs - sung in Czech!
Your bones can't help but rattle along with Martin Zak and his old-time country band. And your feet won't keep still either!

The old barn door is unlatched and open. Folks from every corner in the valley have been looking forward to this for weeks. The banjo and fiddle are tuning up - so come on in. Don't be shy! This collection of traditional old-time tunes will have you rattlin' them bones and stomping your feet just like Martin Zak's companion CD, Evergreens from the Old Cupboard. Yep, Songs From the Old Barn is just as lively as the other CD. And the tunes are just as authentic and expertly performed. And of course you will hear a tasteful selection of expertly played old-time traditional percussive instruments.

Featured instruments include five-string banjo, fiddle, guitar, bass fiddle, jaw harp, bones, spoons, limberjack - plus tap-dancing, stomping and assorted styles of feet shuffling.

Say, where is that Old Barn Anyway?
"You will never find our old barn," explains Martin. "It is only an imaginary place on a forgotten plot of land coming to life only on our recording."

"The tunes in this recording harken back to an era when songs and melodies of old settlers sounded above the Appalachian mountains," he says with a gleam in his eye. "The tunes heard through hills and valleys tell everybody the harvest is finished - and now it's time for some fun!"

So spin this CD and close your eyes...that heavy door has swung wide open. Everyone is excited and ready for the hoedown. Young folks, old folks, couples holding hands. The musicians, singers, story-tellers and dancers are in their places inside the barn. So find a nice comfy bale of hay and set yourself down. The country round is about to start!

Includes 34 page CD Booklet and Wall Poster
This recording comes packed with a fully illustrated booklet including lyrics, historical information about the songs (in Czech) and behind-the-scene photos. You even get a full-color wall poster!

A Good Deal. A Rare Recording. And You Help Keep this Living Tradition Alive.
You will love rattlin' along to these traditional old-time tunes in Czech. It's a real hoot! And like all the other cottage industry products in my little online bones store, you won't see this hard-to-find CD at the local music shop. So show these real-life traditional old-time artists that we support their work. Go ahead and treat yourself to your own personal hootenanny on a disc. You deserve it...and you can't hardly beat the price. So order this CD now - while you still can.

This is what folks are saying about Songs from the Old Barn--

"Beautifully produced CD. I enjoyed Martin's music - fine indeed."
Mike Seeger

"We play the beautiful CD, Songs from the Old Barn in the consulting room three times a day. It raises everybody's mood."
Dr. Yvetta Fialova, General Practitioner

"This recording of Martin Zak Songs from the Old Barn is in my opinion the record of the year - it's a shame we haven't introduced such awards yet."
Irena Pibylova, Casopis Folk & Country (Czech Magazine)

Look what's on the CD:

1. Roztomila Betsy (Charming Betsy) 2:11
2. Vojakovo poteseni (Soldier's Joy)* 2:51
3. O te irske rebelii (The Wearing of the Green) 3:19
4. Letni jablicko (June Apple) 3:38
5. Slepici rej/Rejdovak svate Anny (Chicken Reel/St. Anne's Reel)* 3:16
6. Arkansasky cestovatel (Arkansas Traveler)* 3:40
7. Ruda perut (Red Wing)* 2:42
8. Starej Dan (Old Dan Tucker) 2:32
9. Ach, ty zlate strevicky (Oh, Them Golden Slippers)* 2:45
10. Rachel (Rachel) 2:33
11. Drz me vic (Cotton-eyed Joe/Old Joe Clark/Let Me Fall/Cripple Creek/Sally Ann) 3:55
12. Nejstarsi slepicka (Cluck Old Hen) 1:33
13. Ustup Bonapartuv/Pisen svobody (Boneparte's Retreat/Liberty) 3:19
14. Zlatej vrch (Sugar Hill) 2:25
15. Drevar od Mississippi (Mississippi Sawyer)* 2:36
16. Reubenuv vlak (Reuben's Train) 3:20

* Percussion Tracks:
#2 Spoons
#5 Clogging
#6 Spoons
#7 Limber Jack
#9 Clogging
#15 Bones

Musicians
Martin Zak, Vocals, banjo, autoharp, harmonica, Appalachian dulcimer, jawharp, bones, spoons, limber jack and clogging
Pepa Malina, Fiddle
Tomas, Dvorak, Mandolin
Pavel Peroutka, Bass
Lucie Hasalova and Zdenka Vesela, Clogging
Svata Stepankova, Vocals

• Media Type: Audio CD. Listen to audio disc on CD player or your computer.
• 16 Tracks
• 21 Tunes
• CD with 34-Page booklet
• Running Time: 46.4 min
• Made in Czech Republic

Who is Martin Zak?

Martin Zak is a professional musician who has written several books on the subject of old-time music. He has recorded several CDs and DVDs, gives school programs and is an active living history performer. He plays banjo, guitar, autoharp, mountain dulcimer, harmonica, jaw harp, washboard (Zinc KIng #703), clog dances - and proudly plays the bones!

He specializes in traditional country music programs using period instruments. Martin and his talented ensemble of old-time traditional musicians and dancers perform exciting shows at clubs, schools and summer camps. They also perform at concerts, festivals, museums and living history sites. Of course, he also gives music lessons and workshops.

I am sure you will agree these are impressive credentials for a bone player. But big deal. After all, Martin is not the only professional old-time musician who gives full-blown old-time music shows with his own band plus a contingent of traditional country dancers, and even a dance caller.

But the interesting thing about this traditional old-time musician, at least to me, is that Martin is not an American. He is not even from this side of the planet. Fact is, Martin lives and works his old-time magic in the mountains of the Czech Republic.


Watch Martin Zak and Friends on YouTube



By the way, Martin is one of the nicest people you could ever meet. We have become good online friends over the years. And one of these days I would love to visit the Czech Republic and jam with him. But in the meantime I have these excellent old-time music CD's to enjoy. "I'm happy to supply your great store with my CDs," he says, "and hope your customers will be happy with them too."

These old-time recordings are delightfully bone-able and like nothing you have ever heard before. I know you will enjoy them. In fact, I guarantee it. So order a CD or two and "Czech" them out today!