Bratsch was formed in 1975 by guitarist Dan Gharibian and violinist Bruno Girard. Gharibian, who was raised in an Armenian home, was inspired by the Armenian, Russian, Greek and Oriental music favored by his grandparents. Although he played with teen-aged rock bands, he became fascinated with the music of Django Reinhardt at the age of 14. Girard, who studied violin at the age of nine, refused to read music, preferring to play by memory. After receiving a degree in biology, he spent a decade working in science while playing music part-time. Although they initially mixed a global range of musical styles including Arabic and South African music, Bratsch soon shifted their focus to gypsy jazz. The group also features accordion player François Castiello and clarinet player Nano Peylet.
Bratsch have taken the music of the European Gypsies and turned it into something all their very own, bringing it to life with masterly skill in their atmospheric and compact concerts. Their music brings new vitality to both the traditions of Eastern Europe and the roots of "Tsigane Jazz", as made world famous by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli. With great emotion, poignant melodies and subtle arrangements, they create a unique acoustic music, which, for years, has been enthralling both the French audiences and the press in equal measure. Their first live album is a rare document, recording their very first German concert.
"These vagabonds carry the nostalgia of Eastern Europe in their bundles, the vibrancy of the Mediterranean, the dexterity of the Gypsies and the irony of the Jews. Music without frontiers." (Le Monde)
"A wondrous journey from West to East with a band of joyously abandoned nomads, who poke fun at all restraints. Whether the tunes they play are Gypsy, Russian, Armenian, or Yiddish, or their own original songs, they have the audience on its feet, shouting for more." (L’Express)
"The music of Bratsch is vital, lyrical, raw and romantic, but never sentimental and certainly never saccharine." (plärrer)
Joulik
Bratsch Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sieb aplné a dolmaya
Joulik bou di para voysz
Vaya bou do prade voice
Mama Ya Joulik kari blrù
Frer, kop bayé bza m'noi
Ya Joulik kari blrù
Joulik bou di para voysz
Vaya bou do prade voice
Mama Ya Joulik kari blrù
Yen se ko la jou lespir
Ho ma yesen seta karid
Mama Ya Joulik kari blru
Joulik bou di para voysz
Vaya bou do prade voice
Mama Ya Joulik kari blrù
Te habra tnié a ta mioss
E habra tnié a do o mayo
Mama Ya Joulik kari blru
Joulik bou di para voysz
Vaya bou dou prade voice
Mama Ya Joulik kari blrù
The lyrics of Bratsch's song Joulik are a mix of various languages, including Romani and French. The song begins with "Diebl apné a ta mia, Sieb aplné a dolmaya," which translates to "Give me your hand and tell me, tell me what you want." The rest of the song is a conversation between two people, possibly siblings, in which they discuss their sister Joulik. The chorus repeats the phrase "Joulik bou di para voysz, Vaya bou do prade voice, Mama Ya Joulik kari blrù," which roughly means "Joulik, come and tell your voice, your beautiful voice, Mama Ya Joulik loves you."
The song's lyrics are full of cultural references to Romani traditions, as well as the struggles faced by the Romani people. The lyrics mention the importance of family and the bond between siblings, as seen in lines like "Frer, kop bayé bza m'noi, A mi n'ravit som'la tnoi mama," which means "Brother, come close to me, I'll tell you what's on my mind, Mama Ya Joulik loves you." The lyrics also touch on themes of love and loss, as well as the tension between wanting to belong and feeling like an outsider.
Line by Line Meaning
Diebl apné a ta mia
I am playing my violin
Sieb aplné a dolmaya
My friends are playing their instruments
Joulik bou di para voysz
Joulik is singing loudly
Vaya bou do prade voice
His voice is like a prayer
Mama Ya Joulik kari blrù
Joulik's mother is proud of him
Frer, kop bayé bza m'noi
Brother, come join me here
A mi n'ravit som'la tnoi mama
I'm having a good time with my friends, mother
Yen se ko la jou lespir
We feel the spirit of the music
Ho ma yesen seta karid
And we are carried away
Te habra tnié a ta mioss
You can hear my violin well
E habra tnié a do o mayo
And you can hear the other instruments too
Joulik bou di para voysz
Joulik is still singing loudly
Vaya bou dou prade voice
His voice is still like a prayer
Mama Ya Joulik kari blru
And Joulik's mother is still proud of him
Contributed by Grayson K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.