Music Influenced by East and West
The culture of Croatia has roots in a long history: the Croatian people have been inhabiting the area for fourteen centuries, but there are important remnants of the earlier periods still preserved in the country.
The music of Croatia, like the country itself, has three major influences: the influence of the Mediterranean especially present in the coastal areas, of the Balkans especially in the mountainous, continental parts, and of central Europe in the central and northern parts of the country.
If you are not familiar with regions of Croatia, visit Taste of Croatia featuring video clips of different parts of Croatia and 16 traditional recipes.
Songs and Dances from Croatia (Across the Drava River)
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The music of Croatia is rich and diverse. The Zagreb Folk Dance Ensemble provides the colorful harmonics, chord progressions and unusual rhythmic structure of the melodies for which this region is known. Each stringed instrument: brac, bugarija, bisnerica and berde, adds its own unique ornamentation to this wonderful regional folk music. The musical vibrations and waves make me want to dance and improvise a kolo across the dance floor.
Klapa - Traditional a Cappella Singing
Sensation of Dalmatia and Mediterrane
The klapa music is a form of a cappella singing. The word klapa translates as "a group of people" and traces its roots to litoral church singing. The motifs in general celebrate love, wine (grapes), country (homeland) and sea. Main elements of the music are harmony and melody, with rhythm very rarely being very important.A klapa group consists of a first tenor, a second tenor, a baritone, and a bass. It is possibe to double all the voices apart from the first tenor. Although klapa is a capella music, on occasion it is possible to add a gentle guitar and a mandolin (instrument similar in appearance and sound to tamburitzas).
Klapa tradition is still very much alive, with new songs composed and festivals held. Many young people from Dalmatia treasure klapa and sing it regularly when going out eating/drinking. It is not unusual to hear amateura sing klapa music on the streets in the evenings over some food and wine.
It is usually composed of up to a dozen male singers singing very harmonic tunes. In recent times, female vocal groups have been quite popular, but in general male and female groups do not mix.
Songs Of Croatia: Klapa Singing from the Dalmatian Coast
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Tamburitza - Traditional String Instrument
Instrument that became popular worldwide
Tamburitza (tamburica, diminutive of tambura) music is a form of folk music that involves these and related string instruments. It became increasingly popular in the 1800s, and small bands began to form, paralleling similar developments in Russia, Italy and the Ukraine.The main themes of tamburitza songs are the common themes of love and happy village life. Tamburitza music is primarily associated with the northern, Pannonian part of the country. It is sometimes said that the first sextet of tambura players was formed by Pajo Kolaric of Osijek in 1847.
Traditional tamburitza ensembles are still commonplace, but more professional groups have formed in the last few decades. These include Zlatni dukati and Ex Panonia, the first such groups, Zdenac, Slavonske Lole, Berde Band and the modernized rock and roll-influenced Gazde.
Folk Music From Croatia
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'Good Croatian folklore music is very difficult to find in America. And this album by Veritas is extremely accurate to the original tombura music I remember as a child.'
'Great CD, played it over and over. Kept the toes tapping.Best tumbura music.'
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Gusle - Different Kind of Music!
The gusle music is played on this traditional string instrument. It is primarily rooted in the Croatian epic poetry with emphasis on important historical or patriotic events. It is the traditional instrument of inland Dalmatia and of Herzegovina, the part of Bosnia and Herzegovina with predominant Croatian population.Gusle players are known for glorifying outlaws such as hajduks or uskoks of the long gone Turkish reign or exalting the recent heroes of the Croatian War of Independence. Andrija Kacic Miosic, a famous 18th century author, had also composed verses in form of the traditional folk poetry (deseterac, ten verses). His book Razgovor ugodni naroda slovinskog became Croatian folk Bible which inspired numerous gusle players ever since.
As for contemporary gusle players in Croatia, one person that particularly stands out is Mile Krajina. Krajina is a prolific folk poet and gusle player who gained cult status among some conservative groups. There are also several other prominent Croatian gusle players who often perform at various folk-festivals throughout Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
More about Croatia
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Places in Croatia UNESCO Marked as World Heritage
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Croatia, although rather small country, has it all - plains, mountains, lakes, sea. And very welcoming people, I may add! This is rare country in many ways and here is one of it: You may go hiking early in the morning, refresh yourself in Adriatic se...
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Old City Dubrovnik
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Situated in the south part of Croatian coastline, Dubrovnik is place that should be added on your 'must-see list'! The walls of Dubrovnik girdle a perfectly preserved complex of public and private, sacral and secular buildings representing all perio...
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Taste of Croatia
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If you have been to Croatia than you know what I'm going to say! If not, let me tell you: We, Croats, love to eat!!! We also love to organize parties and gatherings on almost every occasion. Tasting of numerous Croatian food specialties and quality...
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Like it?
Tell me what you think of Croatian traditional music by itself and mixed with modern music.....
This lens can be found at The Isle of Squid
HorseAndPony wrote...
Great lens. When I was growing up I danced with the Duquesne Jr. Tamburitzans near Pittsburgh, PA. I loved it and have so many great memories.
Posted November 02, 2009
ChapelHillFiddler wrote...
Of COURSE I love this lens. I have the Bulgarian form of the gusle, a gadulka my bandmate Ken built for me. The music we play on it is cheerier than your clips! I love Croatian singing and I love Croatian embroidery and I wish I could visit.
Posted August 21, 2009
ajgodinho wrote...
This is a really nice lens you put together - great to get to know a little about Croatian music. I love to travel and hopefully will get a chance to visit Croatia some day!
Posted August 20, 2009
Home-Interior-Designer wrote...
I'm very much a fan of music from your area of Europe. For many years I've listened to some fantastic Eastern European groups and this lens has introduced me to even more! Great lens and thank you.
Posted July 03, 2009
JanTUB wrote...
Love a Capelle, I am a singer so I really appreciate the harmonies. lovely to hear different music. Thanks for showing us. 5* and a fave!
Posted June 29, 2009
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Little bit more about Craotian culture:
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Professor Balthazar
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Professor Balthazar was born 1967 and the day he was born he was already 60 years old (or close to that)! How is it possible? Easy - he was animated character that was created in Zagreb film studio, Croatia! I don't know have you heard of this carto...
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Josip Broz Tito
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This article is about a charismatic man who kept Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Monte Negro united in one strong country - Yugoslavia for more than 40 years. Many people from former Yugoslav Republic will argue about his good influ...
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