Written in the fall of 2008, Postcards from the 1930’s was inspired by the music of ca. 300 mainly epic songs recorded during Albert B. Lord and Milman Parry's ethnomusicological research of mountainous regions of former Yugoslavia in 1934-5. During a residence at New York’s Columbia University in 1941-2, Bela Bartok transcribed and analyzed the structure of 75 of these melodies, and published them as Serbo-Croatian Folksongs, New York: Columbia University Press, 1951. The original field recordings are now housed in the Milman Parry Collection of Oral Literature at Harvard University.

Musical frames are intended to set a couple repetitions of the musical strophes of so-called “women’s songs” lyric and narrative poems sung by women, usually without instrumental accompaniment. The string instrument's melodies in Postcards from the 1930’s suggest the persona of the folksinger, to which the piano responds, in musical dialogue between folk and contemporary musical textures. Songs here are organized alphabetically by title, an order not necessarily to be followed in performance, which may include some or all of the songs, in any ordering.

Versions for viola and soprano saxophone , by Jennifer Bill, soprano saxophone, Daniel Dona, viola, and Ketty Nez, piano.

Tracks below recorded by Katie Wolfe and Ketty Nez for Albany Records .

A Brief, Sad Letter Hercegovina poem text
duration: 1:07 (audio)

Beside the Crystal Waters of a Brook Hercegovina poem text
duration: 1:15 (audio)

By Sarajevo There's a Green Garden Hercegovina poem text
duration: 0:56 (audio)

Dheza Falls Asleep by the Sea Hercegovina poem text
duration: 1:30 (audio)

It's Money That Marries Off a Homely Girl Hercegovina poem text
duration: 0:55 audio of premiere, January 22, 2009

It's More Money That Marries Off a Homely Girl Hercegovina poem text
duration: 0:55 (audio)

Listen to a Wonder Never Heard Before! Hercegovina poem text
duration: 1:25 (audio)

Nona Una Dalmatia poem text
duration: 0:50 (audio)

Oh, Green Pine Tree Dalmatia
duration: 1:41 (audio)

Old Mother of Dzhaferbeg Bosnia poem text
duration: 1:55 (audio)

Two Black Ravens Hercegovina poem text
duration: 1:53 (audio)

Were I to Choose a Man Hercegovina poem text
duration: 2:26 (audio)

What Is the Reason, My Beloved? Hercegovina poem text
duration: 1:25 (audio)

Zorna Zorka Hercegovina poem text
duration: 0:55 (audio)

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