Zinaida Ignatyeva and Arseniy Yaytsov – Mikräk: Mountain Mari Music (Antonovka Records, 2023)
Zinaida Ignatyeva and Arseniy Yaytsov have released their highly-anticipated album, “Mikräk: Mountain Mari Music,” on April 20, 2022. The album delivers a fascinating musical journey through the sounds of the Mountain Mari people, also referred to as Hill Mari.
As a sub-ethnos of the Mari people, the Mountain Mari reside on the opposite bank of the Volga river, relative to the main territory of Mari El. The region is characterized by its high and hilly landscape, which gives the Mountain Mari their distinctive name.
Zinaida Ignatyeva, an esteemed singer and Honored Worker of Culture in the Republic of Mari El, provides captivating vocals on the album. Hailing from the village of Mikryakovo, or Mikräk in the Mountain Mari language, Ignatyeva’s contributions are a highlight of the project.
Accompanying Ignatyeva is Arseniy Yaytsov, a masterful accordionist and vocalist, who is no stranger to critical acclaim. Yaytsov is a Honored Worker of Culture in both Russia and the Republic of Mari El, and has been awarded the State Prize of Mari El named after Ivan Palantay. With performances in 14 countries under his belt, Yaytsov brings a wealth of experience to the album. He resides in the village of Pernyangashi, or Parningäsh in Mountain Mari.
The album was recorded at the House of Culture of Mikryakovo in the Gornomariysky district of the Republic of Mari El, Russia, on August 15, 2020. The venue served as an ideal setting to capture the rich and authentic sounds of Mountain Mari music.
Buy Mikräk: Mountain Mari Music
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.