Croatian Folk Music: An Adventure Off the Beaten Path

[Iberostar Hotels & Resorts]

by Nelly Huang

Croatia: a land of more than a thousand islands, splattered off the beautiful Adriatic coastline in Eastern Europe. Located at the crossroads of the Balkans and the Mediterranean, this European country is chock-full of intriguing history, Mediterranean cuisine and Slavic cultural heritage.

On a recent visit to the Dalmatian coast of Croatia, I decided to delve deeper into an unconventional side of the country. I ditched the crowds on the beach, left the tourist trail behind me and headed deep into the world of music.

Journey into Dalmatian Folk Music

Stretching from the island of Rab to the Bay of Kotor, Dalmatia occupies the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. Folk music in this region is strongly influenced by the Mediterranean and often resembles the music in Italy, Spain and Portugal. It is usually characterized by slow, free rhythm and soothing beats that remind us of the ocean. Dalmatian folk music has inspired many new forms of music and numerous modern artists have incorporated elements of it into their pop songs.

One good example is Oliver Dragojević, an extremely popular singer in Croatia, whose music is strongly influenced by Dalmatian folklore. He first emerged into the music scene in the 1970s during the Split Festival, an annual music event that is still held in Croatia today. He then released many popular hits that featured elements of folk, including ‘Galeb I ja’, a popular Dalmatian anthem. But today, there is much less presence of domestic folk music in Dalmatia due to globalization.

Folk Music Festival

With the aim of conserving traditions, a special annual festival of Dalmatian singing is held in Omiš each year. TheFestival of the Dalmatian Klapas has now grown into a cultural institution of importance and Croats from all over the country gather here for the event. It is held from the end of May to the end of July each year. Omiš is a town located just 16 miles from Split, Croatia’s second largest city. The Riviera here is stunning especially at night, stretching for miles along pebbled beaches, bays and steep cliffs. If you get the chance to travel to Croatia during this time of the year, be sure to pay homage to the folk music festival in Omiš.

Photo | Tafra.stipe

[oriiginally published on our blog PassporttoIberostar.com]