Learn more about this new special program on your sound alternative.
The Balkanization of the American Nation (a somewhat adapted name of a song by J.U.F.) is a show designed to showcase folk music from the Balkans and surrounding areas and cultures. What are you going to expect? Well, I’ll tell you. You can expect a lot of Balkan brass. Balkan brass can kinda be thought of as a marching band on crystal meth and typically, although not specifically, is found in Macedonia and Serbia. We are also going to delve into the world of the tambura, clarinet, accordion, hurdy gurdy and balalakia of the surrounding region in places like Hungary and maybe even Turkey.
Beyond the geography of folk music in the Balkans, I am also going to go into two distinct music cultures that reside within this region: Rom gypsy (a distinct race and culture) and the eastern European Jewish culture that resides after hundreds of years of diaspora. With the Rom, the music will mainly be derived from the eastern European style of powerful singing, strong violin, lightning fast guitar soloing, accordion and clarinets. However, I’m also going to travel up to the beautiful music of the Russian Rom and their distinct style of gypsy music and and the use of the 7-string Russian guitar. Since most Rom gitanos live in Spain, it would be worthwhile to briefly go into the world of el contaor, bailaor y tocaor and the powerful music of flamenco. For the Jewish music, it is going to be my favorite style of music: klezmer. Wedding songs, dance songs, laments, etc. will be played. I will also briefly go into the world of the Sefardí and their beautiful tradition of song.
Beyond the simply folk-ness of this all, contemporary music that utilize but not specialize in the roots of this music will be played intermittently throughout the semester.
I look forward to playing you all my favorite styles of music and hope you can tune in! Here are some samples of stuff I will play during the semester:
by zachary graham
tune in to the balkanization of the american nation every thursday night from 8 to 9 p.m.