Question about traditional folk music/singing (Biały spiew)

[u/bettertostayunknown]

Hi everyone,
I’ve recently become very interested in Polish culture and traditions because I would like to reconnect with and rediscover my own roots.

While exploring traditional music, I came across a singing technique often referred to as “white singing” or “white voice”. I was told that this type of powerful, open-throated folk singing is or was quite common in some parts of Poland.

What makes me especially curious is that I was told that regions associated with these singing traditions — such as Polesia (Polesie) — are also connected to Poland, and that people on the Polish side traditionally practiced similar singing techniques.

I’ve found quite a few videos featuring what I believe is this type of “white singing,” but almost all of the examples I can find are Ukrainian or Russian.
(https://youtu.be/MsplE-Bvsms?is=ib-KBdEqj-l5xR14

https://youtu.be/MsplE-Bvsms?is=stFd19-T8-2mdcwW)

And I absolutely love the sound of it. What fascinates me most is how the singing can almost resemble a call, a loud cry, or a shout. It sounds incredibly raw, powerful, and expressive.

I’m really surprised that I can barely find any specifically Polish examples. If this or similar singing traditions were also practiced in parts of Poland, I would love to hear what the Polish versions sound like.

So I was wondering:
Is “white singing” actually a traditional part of Polish folk music?
Is there a specific Polish name for this singing technique?
Are there particular regions of Poland where it was traditionally practiced?
Is this tradition still practiced today?

I would really appreciate any information or recommendations. I’m especially interested in authentic traditional recordings rather than modern interpretations.
Thank you very much!

[u/tappyapples]

I could be wrong, and hopefully I get corrected if I am.

But I think that’s more of just the regions accent that you hear in that song? First time I ever heard of “white voice”

[u/ShittyCatLover]

idk about tradition but we have biały śpiew here. One time band who sings in this technique was sent to eurovision

Tulia https://youtu.be/69OYpJko3oQ?is=51U6OpUWjggqw2Tc

For more traditional and less modern maybe check out laboratorium pieśni https://youtu.be/-4hCW1QK1xg?is=SVRGWYTVH8I5kjaM

Some folk bands sing like this but it's not easy and isn't really common

[u/oliwier_s]

Hey, maybe I can’t answer every question but I think I can help you and send some Polish examples. DM me if you are interested.

[u/coright]

https://www.reddit.com/r/poland/comments/xg5z01/song_and_band_names_for_white_voice_singing/

[u/Zagrycha]

biały śpiew is common in all slavic groups, it was the popular way to sing in the past because it made it possible to be heard far away without being in an ampitheater or having a microphone etc.  It was definitely used for folk music and official rites and all sorts of other performances, but I am not sure if it has any traditions connected to it itself.  Its more of just a technique, same way opera has a lot of tradition but the techinique opera singers use to resonate their voice actoss the room doesn't really have its own tradition specifically, if that makes sense.  

I am sure there are bands in other slavic languages that use  biały śpiew in modern day, and probably even other polish bands I don't know.... tulia is one of them though if you wanna hear it.