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Balkan Music

Rhythms, Melody, History and Dance Performance Music

"The majority of the region was under the control of the Ottoman Empire from 1699 until the early 20thC, and this has had a profound effect on the culture in general and traditional music in particular. " — Chris Haigh

There is no authoritative definition of Eastern European countries and Balkan countries. The United Nations has five Regional Groups, of which one is the Eastern European Group, and this group includes many of the nations which are frequently defined as Balkan: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Modlava, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.

* mark Balkan Countries. Loosely: the southeast region of Europe. Some lists include Greece and the European side of Turkey as Balkan.

Albania*
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Bosnia and Herzegovina *
Bulgaria*
Croatia*
Czech Republic
Estonia
Georgia
Greece
Hungary
Latavia
Luthuania
Macedonia*
Moldavia*
Montenaegro*
Poland
Romania, including Transylvania*
Russian Federation
Serbia*
Slovakia
Slovenia
Turkey (European side)
Ukraine

Timeline

References

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Albanian Music

2/4

Ajsino Oro
- Radio Rumeli concert. Looks and sounds like a tabla is the percussion instrument.
- Shane Gilliland and friend in a lovely lyrical version.546
- Folk dance to recorded music.

Macedonian Music

7/8 [3-2-2]

Javano, Jovanke
- Tose Proeski and Bilja Krstic. Music starts at 1:02.
- Bilja Krstic Orchestra, heavily adapted, heavily syncopated, electronic music, female voice.
- Perpetuum Jazzile does a closely-harmonized version. Pickup beat on 3.
- Vlatko Stefanovski does a rock-n-roll version. 1-4-6 pulse.
- 17 Hippies does a nice lyrical version, clarinet lead. Pickup beat on 3.
- EthnoTrip with female vocalist and goofy video featuring hats. Nice background fiddle.
- Nigel Kennedy and Kroke Band, violin duet and accordian. Pulse 1-4-6.
- Selimova - Zelceski duet does a traditional version with close harmony.
- Vlatko Stefovski does a version with spanish guitar. The actual song kicks in at about 2:45.
- Traditional version with lyrics.
Makedonsko Devojce (Like a Macedonian Maiden)
- Kaolina Goceva live female vocals and instruments.
- Ezerki live concert. Emphasis on 1 and 4. Pickup beat on 3: 1-3-4-6.
- Lyrics: the usual praise for a pretty girl.

Serbian Music

2/4

Opa Cupa
- Saban Bajramovic, fast and harddriving with vocals.
- Allegro Band does a jazzed up version with great visuals.
- Brass Menazeri.

4/4

Ederlezi: this is the Romani name for the Bulgarian, Macedonian and Serbian Feast of Saint George, celebrated May 6.
- Vaska Jankovaska.
- Goran Bregovic orchestra recorded with vocals and instruments.
- Besa Kokedhima vocals, in concert with orchestra.
- Goran Bregovic female vocals, instrumental concert with plenty of um-pah.

7/8 [3-2-2]

Ajde Jano
- Rock n Roll version by Rok Ko Fol.
- Recorded female chorus.
- Recorded music.
- Live concert by Teija Niku and Grupa Balkan.
- Live concert with instruments and mixed voices.
- Violins with musical backup.

REFERENCES

Maura Enright, Additive Meters: Count, Internalize, Enjoy!

Gundula Gruen, Gypsy Fiddle Collection.

Haugh, Chris; Balkan Fiddle. FiddlingAround.co.uk. Web.

Aleksandar Aca Sisic was the most notable Serbian violinist and promoter of Serbian folk music.

World Atlas map of Balkan Peninsula States shows Europe with individual countries identified, and then the Balkan Peninsula within it.

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Last update: 2018.01.07
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