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Balkan music

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The music of Southeastern Europe or Balkan music is a type of music distinct from others in Europe. This is mainly because it was influenced by traditional music of the Southeastern European ethnic groups and mutual music influences of this ethnic groups in the period of Ottoman Empire. The music is sometimes characterised by complex rhythm.

The music of the Slavic countries of southeastern Europe is quite significantly different from that the music of Eastern Europe, which includes the Slavic states of the former USSR. The latter was much more influenced by the common eastern Slavic culture, notably by Kievan Rus and more recently the USSR.

Neighboring musical influences

Byzantine medieval music

Byzantine traditional music is associated with the medieval sacred chant of Christian Churches following the Constantinopolitan rite. 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 of St. Romanos the Melodos (sixth century). Heirmoi in syllabic style are gathered in the Heirmologion, a bulky volume which first appeared in the middle of the tenth century and contains over a thousand model troparia arranged into an oktoechos (the eight-mode musical system).

Ottoman music

Main articles: Ottoman music

Dimitrie Cantemir was a composer of Ottoman music. Many musical instruments were introduced to the Balkans during the time of Ottoman control, but many Ottoman instruments were borrowed from the locals.

"Balkan" is a Turkish word which means sharp mountains. As this the influence of Mehter and Turkish rhythms and melodies can be seen in Balkan Music. In the 19th century in imitation of the Turkish military bands which replaced the Mehterhane 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.

Pre-modern Balkan music

Traditional Serbian music

The medieval era in Serbia traditional music. During the Nemanjic dynasty, musicians played an important role in the royal court, and were known as sviralnici, glumci and praskavnici. Other rulers known for the musical patronage included Stefan Dušan, Stefan Lazarević, and Đurađ Branković. Medieval musical instruments included horns, trumpets, lutes, psalteries, drums and cymbals. Traditional folk instruments include various kinds of bagpipes (Gaida), drums (tapan, dajre), woodwind (diple, zurla, kaval, ocarina), strings (oud, sargija, lyra, tamburitza) and gusle.

Derivatives and offshoots

Progressive Balkan folk

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.

Gypsy punk

Pioneered by American indie band Gogol Bordello, gypsy punk combines the energy of classic punk rock with elements of and instruments from Eastern European folk.

Music per country

Notable artists

 Albania

 Bulgaria

 Bosnia and Herzegovina


 Croatia

  • Đorđe Novković
  • Željen Klašterka
  • Tonči Huljić
  • Zrinko Tutić
  • Davor Tolja
  • Petar Grašo
  • Zdenko Runjić
  • Andrej Babić
  • Ivan Mikulić
  • Franjo Valentić
  • Boris Novković
  • Dado Topić

 North Macedonia

 Montenegro

  • Boban Rajović
  • Dado Polumenta
  • Sako Polumenta
  • Vlado Georgiev
  • Sergej Ćetković
  • Bojan Marović
  • Vlatko Stefanovski

 Serbia

 Turkey

 Romania

  • Mircea Baniciu
  • Viorel Gavrila
  • Marcel Dragomir
  • Adrian Enescu
  • Horia Moculescu
  • Adrian Romcescu
  • Anton Suteu
  • Marius Teicu
  • Mircea Vintila

Musical groups elsewhere

See also

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