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THE MUSIC'S HISTORY............
The Balkanatics get their main inspiration from the Brass bands that can be found in various parts of the Balkan region. Fans of Emir Kusterica films will be familiar with the sound of some styles found in the Serbian and Macedonian regions. Apart from developing our own compositions and band 'sound' we are constantly studying the rich traditions from the region, developing a large repertoire of the traditional musics and traditional ways of performing it so that we can perform 'authentically' at weddings and festivals when required.
Most of the Balkan region was part of the (Turkish) Ottoman empire for approximately five centuries and the cultural influence was enormous. Traditional Turkish/Anatolian instruments, particularly the Zurna (traditional oboe) and Davul (large bass drum) were very popular and when the Ottoman janissaries' Mehter orchestras were disbanded in the 1820s many master musicians began providing their services for outdoor social functions such as weddings, fairs, wrestling competitions and village dances. With the introduction into the region of more modern western instruments in the 19th century such as trumpets, tubas and saxophones/clarinets and the popularity of the new Turkish military brass bands (which had replaced the older Mehter ensembles) coupled with musicians returning from military service after world war one, it wasn't long before the zurna/davul groups began to be replaced (though they still very much exist to this day in some regions). There are also influences from the Austro-Hungarian and Russian military brass bands particularly in Romania although interestingly it was the Ottoman Mehter military bands that initially inspired the European States to adopt their own versions of the military band.
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here is a common misconception that Balkan brass bands are all 'Gypsy' (Romany). Different ethnic groups in the region play brass band music in various styles to accompany the dances popular in their communities such as the Serbian 'kolo' or Vlach styles in the Zajecar area. It is very important to recognise though, that the Rom musicians have had an enormous influence on the development of this music and stronger Ottoman influences can be heard in their playing. They are almost exclusively the specialists of the zurna/davul music in the region (zurna musicians often double on clarinet – which is in turn closely related to the saxophone). Application of these playing techniques and scales to the brass band and woodwind instruments has created a unique ‘oriental’ sound. The further south you get in the Balkans the more you here the Ottoman influence with quarter tone tunings often employed and odd metre rhythms more usual. Because of their social situation the Rom musicians have had to learn styles popular with all the varied ethnic/religious groups and therefore have an extensive repertoire from all areas of society as well as their own - such as rural songs, dance music, popular urban songs, Indian and Turkish film music and party political songs.