Cat No. JM68671
Price £56.60
Composer: Mario Burki
Category: TEST PIECES (Major Works)

THE COUNTRYAND ITS MUSIC
Macedonia is situated in the centre of the Balkan Peninsula and was the most southern republic in the former Yugoslav Federation. Its neighbours are Serbia in the north, Bulgaria, in the east, Greece in the south, and Albania in the west The State of Macedonia lies in the northwestern half of the ancient kingdom of Macedonia. Macedonia’s history stretches back for thousands of years. Archeological finds discovered in the Petralona cave on the Halkidiki Peninsula, have proven human existence in that region as far back as the Paleolithic Period. This northern region of ancient Greece was at its peak in 300 BC, during the reigns of Philip II and his son Alexander the Great. Their contribution to the history of humankind is immense and the expansion of the Greek language and its culture to the then known world has defined the course of history.

The Macedonian region is one of the richest in regards of dance and musical expression. Macedonian music is part of the musical idioms of the Greek mainland, but it also displays many interesting internal nuances, influenced by the many refugees who emigrated to Macedonia. Regular rhythms and harmonic melodies are typical for Macedonian music. However, there are many regional differences, also seen in the multitude of different regional instruments. In addition to the usual ensemble of violin, clarinet and “Laouto” (lute), we also find combinations of “Zournas” (similar to the oboe), bagpipes with drones, “Daires” (a big tambourine-like instrument), “Lyra” (a pear-shaped violin), and also drums.

THE PIECE
I have been fascinated by the music of former Yugoslavia for a while now. After extensive searches for suitable music for my compositions I came across the traditional music of Macedonia and I decided to write a piece about it. My composition Mazedonia is written in three parts. The first part is written merely in the style of how I perceive Macedonian music, whereas in the second and third parts directly quote two traditional Macedonian folk songs. In the slow middle part I quote the song ,,Jovano Jovanke”, whose lyrics translate to: Jovana, Jovanke, you sit at the Vardar, bleaching the white linen and gazing upwards. Jovana, I wait for you, to come to my house. But you mustn’t, my love, Jovana. Jovana, your mother won’t let you come to me, my love, Jovana.” And in the last part I quote the song Dunje Raike”.