Selyani (the villagers) has been working and growing together since 1969 striving to keep its identity as an independent self-sustaining Macedonian folklore group.

Members of the group, who are mainly of Macedonian descent, have researched their folklore among the oldest members of their community in Toronto, some of whom have been in Canada since 1895. Much of this knowledge has been incorporated in their repertoire, particularly the songs and customs. Some of these older people have been involved with Selyani at the World Conference of Ethnomusicologists as the University of Toronto in 1972.

Selyani is well known from its performances at the Mariposa Folk Festivals, the University of Toronto, York University, the Stratford Festival, Festival for Women and the Arts, Harbour Front and In Praise of Hands. Selyani was one of the ten groups chosen to represent the Province of Ontario for one week at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal. Selyani entered three competitions in the Llangolien Interational Musical Eisteddfod in Llangollen, Wales. Thirty-five countries took part in the competitions and over 100,000 visitors attended. Selyani presented traditional folk songs and dances of Macedonia and was proud to have placed second in the Folk Song competition, third in the Fok Instrument competition and fifth in the Folk Dance competition.

An interested and active membership provides a milieu for the development of activities within a group. This has led Selyani to the learning of folk instruments and traditional singing styles, the performance of folk dances and songs, as well as the research of customs, songs and costuming.

In the presentation of this album Selyani hopes to preserve and share Macedonian folk culture.

SELYANI:
Kathy Allman, Christine Alousis, Jim Alousis, Mary Dimitriou, Ghris German, Donna German, Christine Hristovski, June Kirkou, Dennis Marangoa, Tasha Michael, Angelo Minas, Mary Minas, Dena Nicoloff, Jim Nicoloff, Kathy Nicoloff, Lenna Pandoff, Tom Papagiannis, Timothy Rice, Dianne Vasileff.

VOCAL GROUP:
Kathy Allman, Christine Alousis, Donna German, Christine Hristovski, June Kirkou, Tasha Michael, Mary Minas, Dena Nicoloff

INSTRUMENTALISTS:
June Kirkou - tambura, tapan
Angelo Minas - accordion, tapan
Dena Nicoloff - tambura
Jim Nicoloff - kaval
Tom Papagiannis - kaval
Timothy Rice - gaida, clarinet, tapan