SERBIA: Stevan Zerbec (Стеван Зербес) / Waves of the Sea (Savaki Volovi) / Columbia E 4013 / 1918 скачать в хорошем качестве

SERBIA: Stevan Zerbec (Стеван Зербес) / Waves of the Sea (Savaki Volovi) / Columbia E 4013 / 1918

Stevan Zerbes (Стеван Зербес) was a violinist and tamburitza orchestra leader born on May 22, 1891, in Croatia, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy (it is uncertain if Zerbes was Serb or Croat). Zerbes came to America and, in October of 1911 in Detroit, applied for a marriage license with 19-year-old Agnes Wisniewski. The couple had one son, Edward (1912-1989). Cleveland newspapers advertised the “Srem Balkan tamburica orchestra, conducted by Stephen Zerbes” in 1917 (Columbia had released several discs by a possibly related group called “Tamburaško i Pjevačko Društvo ‘Sriem’” in the early 1910s); and in Philadelphia, the “Balkan String Orchestra, under direction of S. Zerber” performed at a 1918 Croatian benefit for the Red Cross. Zerbes began recording for Columbia Records in March of 1918, with releases bearing the artist credits ‘Tamburaško Društvo,’ ‘Royal Serbian Tamburitza Orchestra,’ or ‘Tamburitza Orchestra.’ Over 1918 and 1919, Zerbes’ groups recorded 51 titles that were released by Columbia (41), Victor (6), and Emerson (4). An early Columbia release, the coupling of ‘Kosovo Valcer’ and ‘Jeftanovičevo Kolo,’ received positive reviews as “a stirring waltz” and “a really splendid dance record, loud and clear, and different from any dance music you have ever heard.” It was likely Zerbes’ “Royal Serbian Tamburitza Orchestra” that played the Egyptian Roof Garden of the Breakers Hotel, Atlantic City, in 1919. [Advertisements did not mention Zerbes by name, and the group names on his recordings were fairly generic, and used by other musicians. He frequently attached the word ‘Balkan’ to his groups’ names, also a generic term. Thus, it is difficult to ascertain which advertised performances (and which recordings) Zerbes himself was associated with.] Zerbes was likely an alcoholic and one source states “Tamburitza lore concerning Stevan Zerbes is not very kind to his character, [whether it is] truth or myth . . .” (Opacich). Reportedly, after living in the Cleveland, OH, area (Youngstown, Akron), Zerbes returned to Croatia where he died, probably prior to his 40th birthday. Agnes and their son, Edward, returned to Detroit, where Edward married Helen (Anderson/Robakowski?), who already had a daughter, Gloria. The family lived in Detroit until Edward retired and the trio moved to Grayling, MI. Agnes lived in Detroit until her death in 1964, apparently having remarried a Mr. Bielski. (In her brother Frank’s obituary in 1954, she is ‘Mrs. Agnes Zerbes,’ while in her own, a decade later, she is ‘Agnes (Zerbec) Bielski,’ with no mention of a surviving or predeceased ‘Bielski.’) [The standard transliteration of the Cyrillic ‘Стеван Зербес’ is ‘Stevan Zerbes;’ however, DAHR and Spottswood use ‘Zerbec,’ as the name must have appeared in the original recording documentation. The standard variations on ‘Stevan’ will also be found in newspapers and other sources.] Stevan Zerbes (1891-before 1928) Agnes Wisniewski Zerbes (1891/2-1964) Edward Zerbes (1912-1989) Helen Zerbes (1907-1994) Gloria (Zerbes) Rogers (1931-2018) [Waves of the Sea (Savaki Volovi), Stevan Zerbes (as Royal Serbian Tambouritza Orchestra), Columbia E 4013, recorded 5/1918, matrix 84503-3] The flip side of this disk is Dear Little One (Mala Mila):    • SERBIA: Stevan Zerbec (Стеван Зербес) / De...   Seppes geheim Genüsse:    • German Accordion: 'Handharmonika' / Oceana...