Serbian Music

Serbian music is a blend of the Balkans and the Turkish music that existed in the days of yore as it was heavily influenced by the cultures that ruled over it and with the mix of people that existed in the country. As the Byzantine Empire ruled over Serbia, courtly music was very much in demand. Musicians were known as glumci, sviralnici and praskavinci.
Beyond court music, church music has been documented to the medieval era. The music was mostly Osmoglasnik, which were a collection of songs dedicated to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Instruments that were used included trumpets, lutes, horns, psalteries, cymbals and drums. Folk music was well differentiated and this is depicted with the instruments used like the flutes, bagpipes, diple, gulse and tamburita. With the entry of the Turks in the 15th century instruments like tapan, kaval and zurle were introduced.
In classical music there was Stevan Mokreanjac who stood out as a distinguished musicologist. He was the first person to document folk music and researched on them. He was made director of the first Serbian School of Music, he was also one of the founders of the Union of Singing Societies. Among most of the work he created the songs of wreath are remembered till date.
Josp Slenzinger was the musician prior to him that created the Prince’s band that played only folk song. It was in this time that the choirs in German and Italian were founded. Serbian language choirs were written from 1831-1865. Some famous poets of the classical era were Stevan Hristic, Stanislav Binicki, Isidor Bajic and Josif Marinkovic.
With music comes dance and the dance of Serbia is very peculiar as there is no movement from waist upwards. The 2 beat music called kolo danced in a circle was played on the accordian. Frula and tamburica were also used as instruments.
The epic poets sung were normally played on the one string fiddle. The poets were mostly worded on the common lives or the wars that happened. In the modern world epic ballads now constitute of celebrities and current events.
Ethnic Serbians that immigrated to America carried their traditions and music there. They have formed music groups in Canada and America that perform in many areas with the kolo ensemble. Novokomponova was the outcome of urbanization. The turbo-flock of the 1990s had folk and novokomponova as its basis for the new music that was composed. Turbo-flock rose higher and gained popularity in the 1990s when Yugoslavia broke up, it then became more of a nationalist music base.
In today’s scene there is pop, rock, hip hop everything that you can ever expect out of music. Infact Serbian music has developed to such an extent that there are numerous metal bands today. It outnumbers bands in the neighbouring country too. The Stone is one band that has been critically acclaimed for its music as it includes the folk lore beats and lyrics that are traditionally imbibed in the roots of Serbia. It has won recognition in Germany, Norway, Sweden and France too.