Instrumental Slovak and Native American wood flute. With this anniversary version of Native Slovak we have updated the processing, mix and mastering of the original songs.

Native Slovak is a collection of solo flute songs that captures the purity of both Slovakian and Native American Style Courting Flutes. As a self taught musician David Martinka draws on nature, life and his inner-self to create his songs. With a long family history of music and love for the Native American Flute, David Martinka is the first bridge to the courting, healing, and peaceful side of both the Native American Style Courting Flutes and the Native Slovakian Courting Flutes in this landmark recording Native Slovak!

The Fujaras and Koncovka that were used in the recording are over tone fipple flutes. Since there is little knowledge here in the USA about them people typically try to reference them to the didgeridoo. There are two main song styles of the Fujaras, Walachian and Rural. Walachian style of playing is to use the Fujara while shepherding sheep. The shepherd would us the Fujara to calm the sheep while they nibble grass and traveled the hill sides. The Rural style of playing is more done in the evenings at parties, gatherings or to serenade love songs to the women you love. Both of these styles of playing were used on recording Native Slovak.

All songs Written, Performed, Mixed and Mastered by - David Martinka Photo by - Fae Laume Photography - Amanda Scott, Owner

2009 JPF MUSIC AWARDS NOMINATION FOR SOLO INSTRUMENTAL SONG: TWO BUCKS, BILLY AND MIKE

American Slovak blends the beautiful melodies of David Martinka's Fujaras with wonderful sounds of nature. David Martinka is a 5th generation musician who successfully blends the beautiful sounds of handmade flutes from his native Slovakian roots and his love for the Native American flute into songs that are healing, meditative, loving and spiritual. The result is a step back into a time when the flute was used, to heal the soul and to bring peace to people’s hearts. David is honored to carry on the Martinka family tradition of music.

LEGENDS OF TIME II: Inner Peace is a group of contemporary solo melodies played through the Wood flute of the Great Lakes Indigenous people. Enjoy the meditative, relaxing and spiritual feel of these melodies as they weave through your heart to bring you to your own sense of inner peace. LEGENDS OF TIME II: Inner Peace reflects the need for calm and healing in one’s life.

From Dan, Robert and DAM: We as people all stand at the center of our world and our lives are influenced by our environment. We are connected to everything on the earth and must take time to keep ourselves strong to better serve. From everyone connected with this project our hope is for these melodies to help in reaching your “Inner Peace”.

Our vision for this project was to honor our relatives who have crossed over and begun their new journey. The memories and stories about them have made them “Legends of Time”. This new version better serves the purpose and vision of Dan DeClark, Robert Waino, Ed Zajdlik, Elaine Zajdlik, Mike Zajdlik and David Martinka. “Legends of Time” the debut recording of David Martinka was first released in 2005. In 2006 “Legends of Time” received a ISMA Award Nomination for best Native Spirit Recording.

From Robert, Dan and DAM We did not want the vision to be lost. With the negative energy that others brought to the project now out of our lives, it only made sense to do the same with this project.

“SPIRIT OF DOGMAN COUNTRY” captures the haunting and suspenseful novels by Frank Holes Jr. and adds a mystical musical dimension to the legendary Dogman of Michigan. The album conjures up moments from the Dogman’s adventures and brings the listener into the world of the Michigan Dogman. As a reader of the Frank Holes Jr. novel series about the Michigan Dogman, David demonstrates his expansive aptitude by illustrating these novels with picturesque sounds of the wild Dogman roaming the north woods of Michigan.

“SPIRIT OF DOGMAN COUNTRY” features musical instruments like the Fujara, a Slovak courting flute and David Martinka’s hand crafted American wood flutes as well many other world instruments to create a sound that makes you feel as though you are part of the Dogman adventure yourself. Known for meditative, healing and loving solo wood flute music David Martinka brings a haunting and mystical dimension to his music with “SPIRIT OF DOGMAN COUNTRY”.

A natural combination of a beautiful thunder storm and a variety of song birds is fused with the majestic sound of the Native American flute. "Storm Song" shares this vision of David Martinka and Dan Haviland.

The thunder storm and song birds were recorded at the same time due to the distance of the storm in relation to the song birds. The birds felt safe to feed knowing the storm was going to miss their location. A small time shift was placed in one of the storm tracks to help the thunder carry from left to right. This was how the storm sounded during the recording which also added more of the same song birds.

We began this project in 2005, shortly after the release of "Sweetgrass Wind" by Dan Haviland and "Legends of Time" by David Martinka. Over the years we felt the timing of this release must reflect where we are in our lives. We are very honored and excited to finally bring "Storm Song" to you. Dan/David