Croatian harmony singing

Subject: Croatian harmony singing
From: CET
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 06:11 PM

This is something I've been wondering about since the fall of 1996 when I was staying overnight in a hotel in Zagreb. A goup of men who were sitting around a table began to sing. I had never heard anything like it. The effect was beautiful but spine chilling at the same time. Several of these guys could have sung the classical repertoire on any concert stage in the world, but the harmonies were unlike anything from North America or western Europe.

My assistant at the Canadian contingent headquarters was a Croatian woman. She told me this style of male voice singing was particularly associated with (if I recall correctly) the coastal areas of Croatia, and that it was called something that sounded to me like "klappe".

I had some misgivings about my enthusiasm for this music because folk music has been used for evil purposes in the former Yugoslavia, as it was in Nazi Germany. However, I think it would be wrong to let the Devil spoil good music.

My challenge for the world of Mudcat, therefore, is this. Does anyone know anything about traditional Croatian male voice singing, and in particular does anyone know where I might find recordings?

Edmund

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 07:08 PM

Hardi's mom has an old LP, and yes, it's WONDERFUL! I'll ask her about the style (She had Croat forebears and Serb forebears, so family stuff is always pretty interesting)-- and I'll be gald to make you a tape copy if she still has the LP. Maybe there are liner notes. I'm going there next week, but won't be online from there-- once I leave next Sunday for Chicago, I'll be offline till the end of the month till I arrive back in the Puder World.

~Susan

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: CET
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 08:14 PM

Thanks Susan.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 10:52 PM

My pleasure! Hope you get other answerws too!

~S~

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: katlaughing
Date: 29 Jun 03 - 11:53 PM

There's a lot of info at this site - it's very interesting looking, thanks! KLAPA

a bit more, HERE

kat

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 04:27 AM

I wonder if it's anything like the polyphonic men's singing from Sardinia (and Corfu maybe?) - THAT'S spine-tinglingly different - AND available on CD too ...

Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: M.Ted
Date: 30 Jun 03 - 08:58 PM

Try these guys--Navalia, they are the genuine article, and, for those who are curious, they offer a couple of RealAudio samples. To answer Rich-joy, no, this is nothing like that Sardinian stuff--the Croatian ensembles (really Dalmatian) sound a bit like the old time glee clubs--as it has been explained to me, the Dalmatian Coast was tied very closely, politically and in trade, to the Italian city-state of Venice and the music tradition, harmonies and all, is rooted in Italian music.

The harmonies are similar to those in other Serbo-Croatian men's singing (such as you would hear in a Tamburitza band, for example), are very melifluous and have a profound nostalgic quality, (even for people who have no memories of twilight at harvest time in the old village on the island of Pag)--

I understand that in the last number of years, quite a number of ensembles have been formed to sing in this wonderful old style--mercifully, the folks who do it seem to be only interested in the music, and not in advancing a nationalist or ethnic agenda, as sometimes happened in the past.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: LadyJean
Date: 01 Jul 03 - 12:05 AM

Do you know the Duqesne University Tamburitzans?
They perform Eastern European folk songs and dances. The songs are, indeed haunting. If the Tammies come to town, go and see them. If you want to know more about Croatian men's singing, get in touch with them. I'm betting they have a web site.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 02 Jul 03 - 06:58 PM

At the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) festival at Moelln last year the Croatians brought Klapa Cambi, a fabulous male voice choir. The best half hour was when the festival was over: most of the choir gathered round an outdoor restaurant table and started singing, just like that. It was magic! I think they sold more CDs right after that impromptu gig than during the whole festival!

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: CET
Date: 04 Jul 03 - 10:43 PM

Thank you so much, everybody. Listening to Klapa Cambi brought me back to that hotel in Zagreb, although I don't think it was the same group.

I think there is some similarity to Corsican singing. At least for me it touches some of the same nerves.

Now, to see if I can actually obtain some of these CDs.

Edmund

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 05 Jul 03 - 12:33 AM

I went to the Navalia site, as recommended by M. Ted. It is truly beautiful music.

Thanks M. Ted!

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Jul 03 - 12:45 AM

Susanne, thanks for the link! Beautiful!!

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: lady penelope
Date: 05 Jul 03 - 03:44 PM

I did a vocal course in Bulgarian singing the other year and the teacher explained how in various regions the church banned singing that wasn't specifically to do with the church. But a lot of the traditional tunes got used for the clerical songs. The harmonies that you hear in a lot of clerical music come from slavic roots.

It's good stuff.!

TTFN Lady P.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: M.Ted
Date: 07 Jul 03 - 07:27 PM

Bulgaria was part of the Ottoman Empire til about 1870--the Turks had interesting ways of punishing their subjects, though-- there are places where dancing was done silently, since both singing and instrumental dance music were outlawed--

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Jack Campin
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 09:46 PM

The areas where klapa singing is most popular are along the Dalmatian coast. That was mostly under the control of the Venetians, then the Italians and then the Austro-Hungarian Empire. None of which had a downer on secular music comparable to what Orthodoxy has.

Somewhere I've got a recording of a women's klapa group. As M.Ted said, it's a lively tradition.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Alice
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 10:44 PM

Klapa, women's group singing at the monastery in Hvar, Croatia. A short video clip on You tube.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MoQysoYWyA

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Alice
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 10:47 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9r2LV6PjlU

Male quartet singing Klapa music in Split, Croatia in Diocletian's Palace.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Alice
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 10:49 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pauCZX5GT-E

Beautiful recording of four men singing Croatian klapa harmony. I really like this one.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Alice
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 11:03 PM

Video promoting a number of different Klapa groups, male and female.
Sound samples.
Klape More, Mirakul, Teuta, Čežnja, Neverin

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Ebbie
Date: 20 Dec 09 - 11:10 PM

Whjat wonderful voices. That one solo voice is mesmerising. I had to go back a number of times for that one note!

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: open mike
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 03:08 AM

is this similar to the music sung by this women's group>
www.kitka.org/
KITKA is a women's vocal ensemble that blends a contemporary sensibility with specialized vocal techniques from Eastern Europe

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: pattyClink
Date: 21 Dec 09 - 11:56 PM

Just want to recommend a wonderful documentary movie called "Wie Luft Zum Atmen" (Like Air to Breathe) which looks at the lives and music of people in Georgia (Russia), particularly harmony groups, one male, one female. The music is awesome but so are their stories. See it if you can ever get your hands on a copy.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: David C. Carter
Date: 22 Dec 09 - 05:56 AM

I first heard this music from my father in law.My wife took me to the family home in Croatia for our first Christmas together.
All the men from the surrounding villages would come and sit round the table and sing;They do it every year.I,ve had to leave the room a couple of times, overcome with emotion.
Some of these groups have played here at UNESCO(Paris)and they engage in conversation freely.Whenever they are in town,we go see them.

David

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: bradfordian
Date: 24 Dec 09 - 06:01 AM

mp3 available sample HERE Two actually and it looks like they change them weekly.

Subject: RE: Croatian harmony singing
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Jan 10 - 11:10 AM

Something much tougher and closer to the Sardinian style is ganga.

http://www.ganga.hr/

Not an easy site to navigate but here are some samples from Hercegovina:

http://www.ganga.hr/html/belevarija.html