The Mining Band of Darkov Mine has been amusing people for 100 years

STONAVA – A feast for both the ears and eyes. It is possible to characterize exactly like this the anniversary concert of the Mining Band of Darkov Mine – Stonava, which was given in the Hall of PZKO House at Stonava on Saturday, 11 October on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the Mining Band foundation. Beautiful melodies, performances of soloist and Dixi majorettes must have satisfied or even fascinated a large audience.

The Mining Band of Darkov Mine, which is active, similarly to the Dixi majorettes, at the hobby club of the said mine, was founded as a Stonava municipality orchestra before the 1^st World War. Over the years of its activity, it has experienced both good and worse periods, much success, but also a few deep crises. Bandmasters Hrdlička, Josef Michalski, Emil Dziadura, František Penkala, Josef Balický, Jan Kienďura and Petr Szwanczar were taking care of the Mining Band’s reputation. From the artistic perspective, the Mining Band has been led just by Bandmaster Jaroslav Šindel since 1981.

Year 1962 became a great milestone in the Mining Band’s history. The Suchá Stonava Mine was opened and the orchestra started to play within the mine’s hobby club as the Mining Band. It appeared on Miner’s Days and many miner’s holidays and feasts. They were also successful on foreign tours – they have travelled through almost the whole of Europe and also appeared in far-away South Korea.

“Today, we rank among the middle-sized brass orchestras. In concerts, up to fifty players appear to play a wide repertoire of well written traditional compositions, designed for brass orchestras, as well as opera, operetta and musical melodies, swing and  contemporary music,“ Bandmaster  Jaroslav Šindel describes the Mining Band.

The Stonava Mining Band has got over one century. What wishes and plans will accompany it in the future? “You know I have been going in for music since I was twenty or probably even for a longer period of time. Music is my greatest hobby, my life. It is like a drug, strong drug, but a positive one. Therefore, I would appreciate it very much if new young musicians appeared to continue and further develop this tradition,“ Jaroslav Šindel opens his heart.

“And plans for the next period? We will make our best efforts to play some new, interesting melodies which the Mining Band and particularly the audience will like. We wish to amuse people, which is the sense of all our efforts,“ the experienced bandmaster reflects.

Bohuslav Krzyžanek