How Balkan Music Influenced Indie Rock
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Balkan music has had a significant influence on indie rock, with bands like Beirut and Gogol Bordello incorporating Balkan sounds and influences into their music. In this blog post, we explore how Balkan music has influenced indie rock and the bands that have been influenced by it.
The Origins of Balkan Music
Balkan music is a style of music that comes from the Balkan region of southeastern Europe. The music is influenced by traditional music from the Byzantine Empire, as well as music from the Ottoman Empire. Balkan music has also been influenced by music from Central Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.
The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire was one of the largest empires in history, ruling over much of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa for centuries. The empire’s influence can still be felt today in many aspects of Balkan culture, including music.
Balkan music has always been a mix of different cultures and influences. During the Ottoman Empire, music from Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, and other parts of the empire was brought together and enjoyed by all. This cross-cultural mixing continued even after the empire fell, and Balkan music continued to evolve.
In the 20th century, Balkan music became increasingly popular in the West. American and British jazz musicians began incorporating Balkan elements into their own work, and Western pop stars like David Bowie and Brian Eno drew inspiration from Balkan music for their own hits.
More recently, Balkan music has had a significant impact on indie rock. American indie rock band Vampire Weekend built their sound around Romanian folk music, while British band Mumford & Sons have incorporated Serbian folk influences into their work. Even mainstream pop artists like Beyonce and Rihanna have been known to sample Balkan beats in their songs.
The influence of Balkan music can be heard all around the world today. It’s a unique sound that is sure to continue to inspire musicians for years to come.
The Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, and its music is some of the oldest in Europe. It is characterized by complex harmonies and modal tunes, often with a melancholic feel. The most famous Byzantine musician was the Empress Theodora, who was an accomplished singer and composer. Balkan music shares many similarities with Byzantine music, and it is thought that the two traditions influenced each other over the centuries.
The Spread of Balkan Music
The Balkan region has always been a melting pot of cultures, and its music is no exception. Balkan music has been influenced by Turkish, Roma, Jewish, and Greek music, to name a few. In recent years, Balkan music has found its way into the indie rock scene.
The Ottoman Empire
During the Ottoman Empire, the music of the Balkans was greatly influenced by Turkish music. The Ottomans brought with them many instruments and musical styles from Persia and Central Asia, which had a profound impact on the music of the Balkans. Instruments such as the rebab, ney, and oud were introduced, and certain melodies and modes began to be used more often. Turkish instrumentation and compositional techniques soon became an integral part of Balkan music.
The Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the easternmost territory of the Roman Empire. It existed from 330 A.D. to 1453 A.D., when it fell to the Ottoman Turks. The Byzantine Empire was located in what is now Turkey, Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Herzegovina.
Byzantine music is characterized by complex rhythms and intricate melodic lines. It often features a chromatic scale, which is a scale with twelve notes that are each a half step apart. Chromatic scales are not common in Western music, but they are found in many other types of music from around the world.
The Byzantine Empire was also home to a type of singing called hagiopanic chant. This style of singing was used in religious ceremonies and featured long, drawn-out notes sung on one pitch. Hagiopanic chant is still used in some Orthodox churches today.
During the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire was one of the most powerful empires in the world. However, by the 1400s, it had lost much of its territory to the Ottoman Turks. In 1453, Constantinople (the capital of the Byzantine Empire) fell to the Ottomans, and the empire came to an end.
Despite its demise, the influence of the Byzantine Empire can still be heard in some types of music today. For example, many indie rock bands have been influenced by Balkan music (music from the Balkans), which includes elements of Byzantine music.
The Influence of Balkan Music on Indie Rock
Over the past few decades, the music of the Balkans has had a significant influence on indie rock bands. The fast-paced, energetic rhythms and catchy melodies are irresistible to many indie rockers, who have incorporated these elements into their own music. As a result, Balkan-influenced indie rock has become its own distinct genre, with a growing number of fans all over the world.
The Velvet Underground
The Velvet Underground was an American rock band, active between 1964 and 1973, formed in New York City by Lou Reed, John Cale, Sterling Morrison, and Moe Tucker. The band’s music was characterized by its stoicism, tension, and intensity, often eschewing melody and traditional song structure in favor of a more abstract poetic approach. The Velvet Underground developed a unique sonic identity that distinguished them from their contemporaries, with a sound that wasInitialized on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. This sound—a highly distorted electric guitar backed by minimalist drone—would prove to be one of the most enduring sonic signatures in rock music.
Sonic Youth
Sonic Youth is an American rock band from New York City, formed in 1981. The band is considered to be a pivotal force in the development of alternative rock and noise rock. They were also one of the first bands to be associated with the indie rock movement.
Balkan music has had a significant influence on Sonic Youth’s sound, particularly on their early albums. The band’s use of atonality and drones was inspired by the work of Bulgarian composer Filip Kutev, while their interest in free jazz was influenced by the work of saxophonist Ornette Coleman. Sonic Youth’s use of unconventional time signatures and extended improvisation were also heavily influenced by Balkan music.
Pavement
Pavement was an American indie rock band that was formed in Stockton, California in 1989. The band consisted of Stephen Malkmus (vocals and guitar), Scott Kannberg (guitar and vocals), Mark Ibold (bass), Steve West (drums), and Bob Nastanovich (percussion).
Pavement’s musical style was influenced by a number of genres, including classic rock, hip hop, punk rock, and indie rock. However, the band was particularly influenced by Balkan music. Balkan music is a genre of music that originated in the Balkans, a region located in southeastern Europe.
Balkan music is characterized by complex rhythms, unusual time signatures, and a heavily ornamented melody. Pavement incorporated these elements into their own music, creating a unique sound that was unlike anything else being made at the time.
Pavement’s influence can be heard on numerous indie rock bands that have followed in their wake, including Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand, and Vampire Weekend. So next time you’re jamming out to your favorite indie rock band, remember to thank Pavement for helping to pioneer the sound!
