The most famous Folk Festival in Serbia

The village of gucha in the Dragacevo district, peaceful and colorful part of western Serbia , has gained world fame owing to its Assembly of Trumpet Players, the largest trumpet event on the planet.

The love of the people of Dragacevo for music, especially for the trumpet, began in the rule of Prince Milos Obrenovic, who ordered the formation of the first military band in 1831.

From then until now the trumpet has reigned here uninterrupted while woodwind instruments, in keeping with the customs, warm the soul of its population. The sound of the trumpet traditionally accompanies every major event in Serbia's rural and small-town life: births, baptisms, weddings, Slav (family patron saint day), farewell parties for those joining military service, state and church festivals, harvesting, reaping, and also departing this world.

Appropriate music is played on these occasions, thus preserving the spirit of the existing tradition. The music is very diverse: from indigenous melodies, via kolo {a fast-rhythm chain dance}, marches and characteristic southern Serbia cocek dances, all the way to tunes that have emerged more recently, but always taking care to honor old harmonies. This music has won over the hearts of not only the local population, but has also warmed the hearts of outsiders and foreigners.

In the several days of the Gucha festival, hardly anyone can resist giving themselves to the adrenalin-rushing rhythms and melodies that simply force one to jump to ones feet and dance.

Schedule of the 47.Gathering of the trumpeters

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007
10:00   Festival opening
           Opening of the tends with the Dragacevo specialties
12:00   Press conference
16:00   Opening of the Dragacevo weavers’ exhibition
20:30   Books and Publications representation

Thursday, August 9th, 2007
12:00   Press conference
13:00   Festival wedding
14:00   Popular sports tournament
18:00   Cultural and artistic program (cultural-artistic societies, vocal    groups, brass orchestras from Serbia and abroad)
21:00   Foreign brass orchestras concert

Friday, August 10th, 2007
11:00   Cultural and artistic program (cultural-artistic societies, vocal    groups, brass orchestras from Serbia and abroad)
12:00   Press conference
18:00   “They won-they deserved it” performance
21:00   Foreign brass orchestras concert

Saturday, August 11th, 2007
07:00   Trumpet awaking
10:00   Proposing a toast competition
11:00   Election of the most beautiful popular costume
12:00   Press conference
17:00   Parade of all the participants
18:30   Competition of young brass orchestras-pioneers and juniors
23:00   The midnight brass orchestra

Sunday, August 12th, 2007
07:00   Trumpet awaking
10:00   Press conference
11:00   Parade of all the participants
12:00   Improvisation of an old Dragacevo wedding
15:00   Final competition of the brass orchestras-seniors
19:00   Announcement of winners: the best trumpeters, the best
           orchestras, The golden trumpet of Dragacevo
20:00   The great country-dance of the festival-“Goodbye to the
            next assembly”

Contact Information:

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web site: www.guca.co.yu