From a Shepherd’s Hut to the Presidential Palace. Contribution to the 15th Anniversary of the proclamation of the Fujara as UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity

Abstract

Abstract The fujara became the first element of Slovakia’s traditional music culture proclaimed as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005 and automatically incorporated in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008. I was a member of the team that prepared the application documents and witnessed debates among fujara players on what this event would mean for the fujara and its music. The expectations of the performers, instrument makers, and other fans of the fujara were ambiguous. After 15 years since the proclamation, there is an opportunity to show what has happened with the fujara and to what extent their visions have been fulfilled. In this context, the text reflects on important contemporary events related to the life of the fujara: changes in the making technology, unification of its acoustic and intonation features, new ways of its use, presentation of this instrument in the media, as well as processes of a socio-cultural nature focused on the community of fujara players, the education of young performers, and the perception of the fujara in today’s society.