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Balkan music is a type of music found in theBalkan region of southeasternEurope. In its broadest sense, it encompasses a variety of music styles across the countries ofAlbania,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria,Croatia,Greece,Hungary,Kosovo,Moldova,Montenegro,North Macedonia,Romania,Serbia andSlovenia,[1] as well as inEuropean Turkey. The music is characterised by complex rhythm. Famous bands in Balkan music includeTaraf de Haïdouks,Fanfare Ciocărlia, andNo Smoking Orchestra.
Byzantine music (Greek: Βυζαντινή Μουσική) is associated with the medieval sacred chant of Christian Churches following the Constantinopolitan rite. Its modal system is based on the ancient Greek models. The development of large scale hymnographic forms begins in the fifth century with the rise of the kontakion, a long and elaborate metrical sermon, which finds its acme in the work ofRomanos the Melodist (sixth century). Heirmoi in syllabic style are gathered in theIrmologion, a bulky volume which first appeared in the middle of the tenth century and contains over a thousand model troparia arranged into anoctoechos (the eight-mode musical system) and the whole system of Byzantine music which is closely related to themusic of ancient Greece.
Greek folk music includes Demotika,Cretan andNisiotika,Pontian,Laiko andRebetiko. Greek music developed around the Balkans as a synthesis of elements of the music of the various areas of the Greek mainland and the Greek islands, with Greek Orthodox ecclesiastical chant, and a reference tomusic of Crete and Byzantine music. The music of the Aegean Islands, are known forNisiótika songs; Greek characteristics vary widely. Crete has a well knownfolk dance tradition; it includes swift dances likepentozalis. Most of the Greek folk songs are accompanied byGreek musical instruments like:lira,clarinet,guitar,violin and sometimesmandolin. Greek folk dances includeKalamatianos,Syrtos andSousta.
Dimitrie Cantemir was a composer ofOttoman music.Many musical instruments were introduced to the Balkans during the time of Ottoman control, but many Ottoman instruments were borrowed by the locals.
"Balkan" is a Turkish word which means sharp mountains. As this the influence ofMehter and Turkish rhythms and melodies can be seen in Balkan Music. In the 19th century in imitation of the Turkish military bands which replaced themehterhâne formations of Janissary Turks beginning in 1828. Apparently, as in Turkey, they dethroned the ancient traditional oboe (zurna, zurla, or mizmar) and double-membraned drum ensembles.
Traditional folk instruments inBulgarian music include various kinds ofbagpipes (gaida andkaba gaida);drums (tapan);tarambuka;bells;daire;clapper;zilmasha;praportsi.Woodwinddiple:zurla;kaval;duduk;dvoyanka;ocarina;accordion.String instruments:gadulka;tambura;fiddle;mandolin;guitar andgusle.
During the Nemanjic dynasty, musicians played an important role in the royal court, and were known assviralnici,glumci andpraskavnici. Other rulers known for the musical patronage includedStefan Dušan,Stefan Lazarević, andĐurađ Branković. Medieval musical instruments includedhorns,trumpets,lutes,psalteries andcymbals.
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Fanfare Ciocărlia got many fans in Europe with their powerful brass sound appealing torock andrave fans as well as theworld music audience. In 1997 Ernst and Neumann took Fanfare Ciocărlia intoBucharest's StudioElectrecord to record their debut album. The album,Radio Pascani, was released on theBerlin record label Piranha Musik in 1998 and proved an instant success. Another popular band in Romania wasTaraf de Haïdouks.[2]
Progressive Balkan folk has seen rise in many western countries, particularly the United States. It has had its greatest success with progressive communities across the country. Younger American generations are discovering the possibilities of this genre and are bringing it to small clubs and festivals across the US.
The upbeat, dramatic tone of the music has also attracted a following in the Tribal Fusion bellydance community. Tribal Fusion does not claim to emulate traditional dances, costume or music styles strictly, but it does draw inspiration from Balkan traditions.
Bay Area, CA band Inspector Gadje plays mainly traditional and contemporary balkan dance tunes, but because of the varied background of its musicians, elements of jazz and experimental music can be heard.
Brooklyn-basedSlavic Soul Party! is a virtuoso ensemble of brass musicians that infuse traditional balkan rhythms and beats with jazz, soul, funk and the energy of dance pop.
British based bandSam and the Womp have rooted their music in the Balkan funk style to create a modern feel along with catchy and energetic rhythm.
Oakland, CA based artistBalkan Bump mixes Eastern European diasporic music with Electronic Music and Hip Hop.
Another popular exploration has been between Balkan music and other styles around the Mediterranean likeFlamenco,Jazz andMiddle-Eastern music. Vancouver-based actIvan Tucakov and Tambura Rasa explores this style and beyond.
Traditional Balkan music mixed with modern, electronic beats: this genre first appeared in the Berlin underground scene in the mid-1990s. The term was coined by Berlin DJ Robert Soko, whose BalkanBeats monthly parties still continue nowadays. It then spread to the European and world scene, to become an established genre nowadays.[3]
