Sevdalinka
Sevdalinka is a traditional genre of folk music originating from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In many cases, sevdalinka is called simply sevdah.
Sevdalinka is the national music of Bosniaks, but it is popular across the former Yugoslav region, especially in Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Its roots reach back to the age of Ottoman Empire rule on the Balkan peninsula, but the actual composers of many sevdalinkas are unknown.
In musical sense, sevdalinka is charactericized by a slow or moderate tempo and rich harmony, leaving a melancholic feeling with the listener. Sevdalinka songs are very elaborate, emotionally charged and are traditionally sung with passion and fervor. The singer will often impose the rhythm and tempo of the song, both of which can vary throughout the song. It is usually sung with a single male vocal, although female vocals are not uncommon. Usually, it is played by a small orchestra containing accordion (the most prominent), violin, nylon-string guitars and/or other string instruments (occasionally), flute or clarinet (occasionally), upright bass, snare drum, although in the past traditional instruments such as the saz were used as well. In between the verses, an accordion or violin solo can almost always be heard. Its lyrics are ballads, usually devoted to falling in love or to unfortunate love -- the origin of the name is a Turkish word sevda meaning "passion" or "lovesickness".
Performers
The most prominent performers (singers) of sevdalinka in the 20th century are Zaim Imamović, Himzo Polovina, Safet Isović, Nedžad Salković, Silvana Armenulić, Zehra Deović, Nada Mamula, Hanka Paldum, Beba Selimović and Emina Zečaj.
Although sevdalinka is an essential part of Bosniak tradition, it is also popular among (and authored by) some Serbs; Nedeljko Bilkić, for example. The poems "Emina" and "Hasanagin sevdah" by Bosnian Serb poet Aleksa Šantić are used as the lyrics for two of the most famous sevdalinkas. Sevdalinka was also part of the basis for a 20th century genre called novokomponovana narodna muzika ("newly-composed folk music"), which mixed various folk influences from the Balkan region.
Although sang mainly by traditional Bosnian singers, sevdalinka has made its way to many "mainstream" musicians. Sevdalinkas were re-recorded by Josipa Lisac (she recorded Safet Isović song "Omer Beže"), Bijelo Dugme ("Da zna zora"), Ibrica Jusić (he recorded a whole album of sevdalinkas in 2003 named "Amanet"), Jadranka Stojaković and Zdravko Čolić or taken as a basis for few songs by Johnny Štulić (his band Azra was named after a verse from a sevdalinka song).
In 1990s a band called Mostar Sevdah Reunion was assembled in Mostar and in early 2000s they became widely popular on world music scene receiving high awards and introducing many people outside Bosnia to sevdalinka.
Origins
The origins of sevdalinka are not known for certain, though it is known to date from sometime after the arrival of the Turks in medieval Bosnia. The word itself comes from the Arabic word sevdah (meaning ecstasy, desire or love), which at one point was used by doctors to describe black gall, a substance purported to control human feelings and emotions [1]. That word was brought to Bosnia by Turks and today it is also a Bosnian word meaning love, caressing, longing (for loved one), and which are main themes of sevdalinka lyrics. Thus the habit of people of Bosnia to use evenly words "sevdalinka" and "sevdah" for this genre of folk music, although word "sevdah" can also be used in other meanings.