Like the surroundingBalkan countries,Bosnia and Herzegovina has had a turbulent past marked by frequent foreign invasions and occupation. As a result,Bosnian music is now a mixture ofSlavic,Turkish,Central European,Mediterranean, and other influences.[1]
During its period as a part ofYugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina was covered in state-supported amateur musical ensembles called Cultural-Artistic Societies (Kulturno-Umjetnička Društva, KUDs) which played Bosnian root music and released a few recordings on local labels.
Rural folk traditions in Bosnia and Herzegovina include the shouted,polyphonicganga and "ravne pjesme" (flat song) styles, as well as instruments like a dronelessbagpipe, woodenflute andšargija. Thegusle, an instrument found throughout theBalkans, is also used to accompany ancientSlavicepicpoems. There are also Bosnian folk songs in theLadino language, derived from the area's Jewish population.
Bosnian roots music came fromMiddle Bosnia,Posavina, theDrina valley andKalesija. It is usually performed by singers with two violinists and ašargija player. These bands first appeared aroundWorld War I and became popular in the 1960s. This is the third oldest music following after thesevdalinka and ilahija. Self-taught people, mostly in two or three members of the different choices of old instruments, mostly in the violin, sacking,saz, drums, flutes (zurle) or wooden flute, as others have already called, the original performers of Bosnian music that can not be written notes, transmitted by ear from generation to generation, family is usually hereditary. It is thought to be brought from Persia-Kalesi tribe that settled in the area of present Sprecanski valleys and hence probably the name Kalesija. In this part of Bosnia it is the most common. Again, it became the leader of First World War onwards, as well as 60 years in the field Sprecanski doline. This kind of music was enjoyed by all three peoples in Bosnia, Bosniaks, Croats and Serbs, and it contributed a lot to reconcile people socializing, entertainment and other organizations through festivala. In Kalesija it's maintained each year with the Bosnian Festival Original music.
Studio Kemix firm Dzemal Dzihanovic fromŽivinice together with his artists brought this kind of music to perfection at the end 20th century. With its entirely new form of modernity, it is most common in theTuzla Canton and the cradle of this music cityŽivinice was named Bosnian town of original music. Songs are performed preferably in adiphthong, the first and second voice which is a special secret performance of this music and some performers sing in troglasju as they do Kalesijski triple that was recorded in 1968, as the first written record of the tone on the album, along with Higurashi no naku.
Probably the most distinctive and identifiably Bosnian of music,[2][3][4][5][6]Sevdalinka is a kind of emotional, melancholic folk song that often describes sad subjects such as love and loss, the death of a dear person or heartbreak. Sevdalinkas were traditionally performed with asaz, a Turkishstring instrument, which was later replaced by the accordion. However the more modern arrangement, to the derision of some purists, is typically a vocalist accompanied by theaccordion along withsnare drums,upright bass,guitars,clarinets andviolins. Sevdalinkas are unique to Bosnia and Herzegovina. They arose in Ottoman Bosnia as urban Bosnian music with often oriental and sometimes Sefardi influences. Examples are "Kad ja pođoh na Benbašu", the unofficial anthem of the city ofSarajevo, and "Kraj Tanana Sadrvana". Though not as common as it once was, traditional Sevdalinka singers like Kadir Kurtagić,Emina Ahmedhodžić, Hašim Muharemović and Muhamed Mešanović-Hamić are still popular to the extent that their recordings are available.
More modern performersBeba Selimović,Zehra Deović,Silvana Armenulić,Safet Isović,Himzo Polovina,Zaim Imamović andHanka Paldum have used non-native instruments, including theaccordion,clarinet,violin andguitar.[7]
Ilahije (Anasheed) are religious songs that came after or before sevdalinkas.[8] These songs usually deal with religion, but some of them tell tales of how two lovers (male and female) come together.
"Modern" folk was referred to as "novokomponovana narodna muzika" ("newly composed folk music") for a while, although the term went out of use in favor of simply "narodna" or "folk". It is based on various influences, sevdah stories with music ofSerbia and/orTurkey often with incorporated elements ofpop music. During the time ofYugoslavia, the genre developed jointly in Bosnia and Serbia, and performers from both sides of today's borders still enjoy certain popularity on the other side.
Bosnian composers ofEuropean classical music includeNihad Hrustanbegovic,Dino Zonić, Mirsad (Giga) Jelešković,Ališer Sijarić, Igor Karača,Dino Rešidbegović, Hanan Hadžajlić,Anđelka Bego-Šimunić, etc.
Bosnian composers offilm scores includeSaša Lošić andNihad Hrustanbegovic
Rock music has been very popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the mid-20th century. Popular and influential rock bands and artists have includedIndexi,Bijelo dugme,Divlje jagode,Plavi orkestar,Crvena jabuka,Zabranjeno pušenje,Hari Mata Hari ,(Rezonansa), (Cod) and others from theSarajevo school of pop rock
Heavy metal music is fairly underground within the musical scene in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In the mid '80s, two metal bands were formed in capital Sarajevo:Bombarder and Parasite from whichD.throne emerged as next generation in 1991. One of the pioneer thrash metal bandsMonolit was founded in Mostar also during the '80s. Modern extreme metal scene originate from city ofTuzla.
Some notable acts include:
Bosnian electronic/dance music has also been very popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the mid-20th century. Popular producers and artists includeAdi Lukovac (Adi Lukovac & The Ornaments),Mirza (Mizi) Čaušević (mentalEscape), DrMladen Milicevic, Dr. Igor Karača, Dr.Dino Rešidbegović, Dr. Hanan Hadžajlić, Axa, Basheskia, Meldeen (trance metal), Vuneny, Velahavle,Billain,Fa11out anddZihan & Kamien. Such producers and artists are responsible for various styles ofelectronic music such asdrum and bass/neurofunk,trance music,breakbeat andindustrial.
New generation of electronic music producers in Bosnia includes names such as Arnej, Siniša Tamamović, Mladen Tomić, Mr Inessential, DJ Mika, Narcis Jr. aka Monophonic/Mashala, Cycle Six, Chipi,Nadix,LudDogg, Demia E.Clash and many more.
Hip hop music is new to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but became very popular throughout the urban public with the famous rapperEdo Maajka, who is the most popular rapper in Bosnia-Herzegovina and most famous throughout the rest of the former Yugoslavia.
Lately, Bosnian world music scene (mostly Balkan influenced music) is growing bigger. Some of the bands are:
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