Traditional Macedonian Music
The folk music of Macedonia--a country situated in the Balkan region of Europe-- carries within its notes a rich history of tradition, blending musical elements of both east and west. Traditional Macedonian music is the product of centuries of a variety of cultures, and is still performed to this day with ancient as well as more recently introduced modern instruments.
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History
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The history of traditional Macedonian music hearkens back to the time of the Byzantine empire, according to the Macedonian Cultural and Information Centre. Once the eastern Roman empire, the Byzantine empire--with its heart in Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul--contributed a rich history of choral church music. However, Macedonia fell under Turkish domination for nearly 500 years, states the Balkan Music History Page, and the culture of the Turks also heavily influenced the region's music.
Geography
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Macedonia is a small country situated in the Balkans in eastern Europe, bordered by countries such as Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia and Greece. Because of Macedonia's particular geographical location, as well as the shifting dominance of European and Turkish power, the music of the country is a fusion of eastern drone-based sounds spiced with the western influence of harmonic scales.
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Features
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The musical instruments that contribute to Macedonian folk music's distinctive sound are varied and colorful. Older, more traditional instruments such as the gaida (Macedonia's bagpipe), kaval (a type of flute), tapan (a double-headed bass drum) and tambura (a long-necked variation of the lute) were eventually mixed with more contemporary instruments such as the guitar and accordion, states the Balkan Music History Page. The result is a lively, exotic sound seasoned by the history and populace of the Macedonian region.
Timing
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An important aspect of traditional Macedonian music, points out the Balkan Music History Page, is the timing used in the music. A time signature such as 4/4 is common in modern music, and the two numbers respectively indicate that there are four beats per measure, with the beat on each of four quarter notes (imagine a standard "one-two-three-four, one-two-three-four" rhythm). Macedonian folk music incorporates many less conventional timings, such as 7/8, 11/8, 5/8, and 13/8. Most commonly used in traditional Macedonian music is the 7/8 timing, where there are seven beats per measure, with the eighth note (half of a quarter note) receiving the beat.
Significance
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A significant aspect of traditional Macedonian music is its lasting impact on the people and community of Macedonia. Macedonian folk music has never been a sit-back-and-listen spectator's activity; on the contrary, the music was--and is still--strongly linked with community dancing, in which participation by non-musicians is a long-held tradition. The unique tradition of Macedonian music, both instrumental and choral, is one of unity, which brings people who live, work and love together closer to each other within the shimmering notes of the music itself.
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