Music of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Like the surrounding Balkan 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 of ethnic Bosniak, Croat, Serb, Greek , Roma (Gypsy), Turkish, Hungarian and Macedonian influences.
History
During its period as a part of Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina was covered in state-supported amateur musical ensembles called Cultural-Artistic Societies (Kulturno-Um(j)etnička Društva, KUDs) which played Bosnian root music and released a few recordings on local labels.
Traditional music
Sevdalinka
Main article: Sevdalinka
Bosnia and Herzegovina has probably retained the most marked Turkish influence that can be seen in the popular urban music called sevdalinka. It is a kind of emotional folk song, typically led by a vocalist accompnied by the accordion along with snare drums, upright bass, guitars, clarinets or violins. Sevdalinka is a mixture of Turkish and Bosnian music, especially Muslim religious melodies called ilahije alongside Jewish songs like "Kad ja pođoh na Benbašu", the unofficial anthem of the city of Sarajevo. Sevdalinkas are traditionally performed with a saz, a Turkish string instrument. Though not as common as it once was, traditional sevdalinka singers like Kadir Kurtagić, Emina Ahmedhodžić, Hasim Muharemović and Muhamed Mesanović-Hamić are still popular to the extent that their recordings are available.
More modern performers like Safet Isović, Himzo Polovina, Zaim Imamović and Hanka Paldum have used non-native instruments, including the accordion, clarinet, violin and guitar, to some derision from purists.
This kind of music is known to been existed when the Ottomans arrived.
Sadly, nowadays the young generation doesn't listen to these kinds of songs, which is the first music of Bosnian, but rather listen to rap and pop music.The most important performer of the sevdah music nowadays is Mostar Sevdah Reunion
Ilahije i Kaside (Religious Songs)
Ilahije are religious songs that came after or before sevdalinkas. These songs usually deal with religion, but some of them tell tales of how two lovers (male and female) come together.
Some ilahije singers are Aziz Alili, Burhan Šaban and Mensur Malkić also known as 3 Hafisa.
Izvorna bosanska muzika
Main article: izvorna bosanska muzika
izvorna bosanska muzika (Bosnian roots music) came from the Drina valley and Kalesija. It is usually performed by singers with two violinists and a šargija player. These bands first appeared around World War I and became popular in the 1960s. This is the third oldest music following after the sevdalinka and ilahija. Now it is the most popular form of music in Bosnia only.
Rural folk traditions in Bosnia include the shouted, polyphonic ganga and ravne pjesme (flat song) styles, as well as instruments like a droneless bagpipe, wooden flute and sargija.
Urban Bosnian music has a much more pronounced Turkish musical influence, using the saz and melismatic singing. The gusle, an instrument found throughout the Balkans, is also used to accompany ancient epic poems. There are also Bosnian folk songs in Ladino, derived from the area's Jewish population.
Modern folk
"Modern" folk (referred to as "novokomponovana narodna muzika" ("newcomposed music") for a while, although the term went out of use in favor of simply "narodna" or "folk"). It is based on various influences, including sevdalinka and music of Serbia, Turkey and Republic of Macedonia, often with incorporated elements of pop music. During the time of former Yugoslavia, 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. "Turbo folk" as phenomenon mostly originated in Serbia, but has also left the influence in modern folk of Bosnia.
See also:
Classical music
Main article: Bosnian classical music
Bosnian composers of European classical music include Edin Dino Zonić, Mirsad (Giga) Jelesković, Ališer Sijarić, Igor Karača, and Goran Bregović.
Pop/Rock music
Main article: Bosnian Pop/Rock
Rock music has been very popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the mid-20th century. Popular and influential rock bands and artists have included Indexi, Bijelo dugme, Divlje jagode, Plavi orkestar, Crvena jabuka, Zabranjeno pušenje, Kamen na Kamen and others from the Sarajevo school of pop rock.
Electronic music
Main article: Bosnian electronic/dance music
Bosnian electronic/dance music has also been very popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the mid-20th century. Popular producers and artists include Adi Lukovac (Adi Lukovac & The Ornaments), Mirza (Mizi) Čaušević (Mental Escape), Dr Mladen Milicevic and Axa. Such producers and artists are responsible for various styles of electronic music such as drum'n'bass, trance music, breakbeat and industrial.
New generation of electronic music producers in Bosnia includes names such as mentalEscape, DJ Mika, Narcis Jr. aka Monophonic, Cycle Six, Chipi and many more.
See also:
Hip hop
Main article: Bosnian hip hop
Hip hop musicis new to Bosnia and Herzegovina, but became very popular throughout the urban public with the famous rapper Edo Maajka, who is the most popular rapper in Bosnia-Herzegovina and most famous throughout the rest of the former Yugoslavia.
See also:
References
- Burton, Kim. "Sad Songs of Sarajevo". 2000. In Broughton, Simon and Ellingham, Mark with McConnachie, James and Duane, Orla (Ed.). "World Music Volume 1: Africa, Europe and the Middle East", pp 31-35. Rough Guides Ltd, Penguin Books. ISBN 1-85828-636-0.