Balkan music

Ok! I have some relatives in Kavala (but I have never been there!)

I hear it's a wonderful city, have you ever visited? It's so close to Bulgaria after all.

About Balkan music, I'm not sure there's such a thing in modern days. Unless you mean traditional songs, the modern ones are just pop music (at least most of them)

I'll post something I would say back in the military history forum, that in fact the Baituska (that's at least how it sounds in greek) is a traditional Bulgarian dance adopted by Thracians (People living in Thrace). Perhaps you didn't have this in mind when you talked about common music themes but I think my example has its value as its not modern but quite old. At some time during the last 10+ centuries the Greeks of southern Bulgaria borrowed Baituska.

As this thread is called Balkan music, another examble is the tsamikos dance, which was originally albanian, but is used in a huge amount of traditional Greek songs.

By the way Yianni, where is your girlfriend from? I had two classmates from some villages from Florina who also had spoken of elder people that identified themselves as Bulgarians. Of course our 'education' system has worked well, and all young people from there have a very strong Greek identity. Ah, also note that these people now shouldn't be called Bulgarians but 'Macedonians'

You know if there are slavic speakers in the way between Thessaloniki and Veroia? I travel every day there (from Thessaloniki, because I'm from this year a student of a department of engineers of Horotaxia kai anaptyxi (say that in english)that belongs to the A.p.th) and I've noticed that there are Cyrillic inscriptions! I know that in Giannitsa there used to be many Bulgarians, but in Veroia not.

Xristar, I cannot possibly remember the name now (and she's not near to remind me  at the moment

It's a small mountain village, nearly deserted now. Somewhere north of Ptolemais. Population was mixed.

Bulgarian, no one in his right mind can deny this. Population in the Balkans, after the Ottomans withdrawal, was mixed. Even after the exchanges of population, many chose to remain in their lands and got assimilated to the majority around them. Some because of political pressure, others simply by intermarriage. Do you happen to have any info about the Greeks in southern Bulgaria? Are there any left today or they have all left/assimilated?

The area north of Ptolemaida is the core of the Slavic element of Greece, actually.

These people abandoned their villages when the army was approaching back in 1949, as they had tried to autonomize Macedonia and had participated strongly in the Communist side (in the last battle at Grammos and Vitsi, more than half of the Communists were Slavics). I know that from my grandfather. He told me, when they entered the marked villages on the map (Vevi and the villages around, the fate of these villages would be greysome at least), they found them totally empty, abandoned in hurry, with the plates on the tables, the wardrobes full etc.

Yes I have visited.Realy very beautiful city.In Bulgaria his brother is Turnovo(their architecture is similar).

Three more Turkish songs from the Balkans:

http://www.4shared.com/account/file.jsp?id=560023&sId=ab uMbsp54E

http://www.4shared.com/account/file.jsp?id=130520&sId=ab uMbsp54E

http://www.4shared.com/account/file.jsp?id=130516&sId=ab uMbsp54E

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, although it is popular across the former Yugoslavia, especially in Serbia and Montenegro and  Macedonia. Its roots reach back to the age of Ottoman Empire, 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 sevdah meaning "passion" or "lovesickness".

Originally posted by Mila The definitive BALKAN song! BALKAN GIRL! I'll bold what suits me... I'm fantastic and romantic, always horny, never cruel I'm your Balkan girl I am sexy, i am smart, I could always break your heart Find a blackmail for my mind, cathcing moments in my time I'm not happy when I think, but I'm happy when I drink I like to walk on heaven's side I'm your wretch and I'm your bride I'm your Balkan Balkan girl Half a woman, half a fool When you start me, I may bite Like the dog defend his rights I could die for stupid things Something turns me to hard dreams Too much brain to get insane But we could have a special game I love children when they sleep Too much noise make me scream, make me nrvous, make me sad I just want you in my bed Desire kills me, come on, be my slave... http://media.putfile.com/Balkan-Girl

Turkish March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!! Mozart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!1