Croatia - Traditional Music of Today

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Politically and culturally, the Balkans are very much a crossroads: Europe's Eastern hinterland and Asia's Western. We need hardly be reminded of the political consequences for its peoples, nor go very far back into history to look for upheaval. This compilation of traditional folk music from Croatia, a country which only achieved independent nationhood in 1992 - and, of course, at great cost - suggests that its geographical position has created a musical heritage of equal turmoil. For while all the music here is powerful and emotional stuff, it is incredibly diverse: droning laments played solo on the bagpipe-like shawm, shanty-like polkas played on the accordion, spine-tingling pieces sung by male choirs that recall both Greek Orthodox church music and Jewish canting, female groups that remind this writer of the acclaimed Bulgarian Voices series, great whirling dances played by fiddle orchestras. The overall effect of this collection is a little overwhelming; like experiencing a country's entire musical heritage in one hour-long sightseeing tour. But the gems along the way make the giddying ride well worth the fare.