2. • The music of Croatia, like the
divisions of the country itself,
has two major influences:
Central European, present in
central and northern parts of
the country including Slavonia,
and Mediterranean, present in
coastal regions of Dalmatia
and Istria.
3. • In Croatia both pop and rock are
popular, as well as pop music
influenced by Dalmatian or
Slavonian folk elements.
• Since the mid-20th century,
schlager and chanson-inspired
music have formed the backbone
of the Croatian popular music.
Dalmatia
Slavonia
4. Klapa
• The klapa music is a form of a
cappella singing that first
appeared in littoral Croatia during
the middle of the 19th century.[3]
The word klapa is derived from a
word in slang Italian spoken in
Trieste at the time. It refers to "a
group of people" and the singing
style traces its roots to liturgical
church singing. The motifs in
general celebrate love, wine
(grapes), country (homeland) and
sea. The main elements of the
music are harmony and melody,
with rhythm very rarely being very
important.
5. A klapa group consists of a first tenor,
a second tenor, a baritone, and a
bass. It is possible to double all the
voices apart from the first tenor.
Although klapa is a cappella music, on
occasion it is possible to add a gentle
guitar and a mandolin.
Klapa singing has become
increasingly popular in littoral Croatia.
Many young people from Dalmatia
treasure klapa and sing it regularly
when going out eating/drinking.
7. Tamburitza
• The main themes of tamburitza songs
are the common themes of love and
happy village life. Tamburitza music is
primarily associated with the northern,
Pannonian part of the country. It is
sometimes said that the first sextet of
tambura players was formed by Pajo
Kolarić of Osijek in 1847. In the 1971
was formed one of the most famous and
long lasting tamburitza ensembles
Slavonski Bećari led by the legend of
tamburitza music Antun Nikolić Tuca.
8. • Traditional tamburitza
ensembles are still
commonplace, but more
professional groups have
formed in the last few decades.
These include Zlatni dukati and
Ex Panonia, the first such
groups, Zdenac, Slavonske
Lole, Berde Band and the
modernized rock and roll-
influenced Gazde.
10. Pop Music
• The pop music of Croatia
generally resembles the canzone
music of Italy, while including
elements of the native traditional
music. Croatian record
companies produce a lot of
material each year, if only to
populate the numerous music
festivals. Of special note is the
Split Festival which usually
produces the most popular
summer hits.
11. • Seasoned pop singers in
Croatia include: Meri Cetinić,
Mišo Kovač, Ivo Robić, Vice
Vukov, Milan Bačić, Arsen
Dedić, Zdenka Vučković,
Darko Domjan, Tereza
Kesovija, Gabi Novak, Ivica
Šerfezi, Oliver Dragojević,
Tomislav Ivčić, Doris Dragović,
Radojka Šverko, Maja
Blagdan, and many others.
Also, the groups Magazin and
Grupa 777 have had
sustained careers.
14. Rock
• There are several rather popular and
long-lasting mainstream rock acts like
Parni Valjak, Prljavo Kazalište, Crvena
Jabuka, Atomsko Sklonište,Tutti Frutti
Band, Daleka Obala, Đavoli, Stijene,
More, Osmi putnik, Metak etc. They
originated in the 1970s and 1980s, and
for the better part of their career
resorted to a more mellow, mainstream
pop-rock sound. Of some note is also
the Sarajevo school of pop rock which
influenced many of these bands, and
which also included singers like Željko
Bebek who later worked in Croatia.
