Istrian Folk Music of Croatia and Antonio Smareglia Comparison

By Mariella Mladineo

Demographics of Croatia

Divided into 20 counties Population: 4,290,612; Istria County: 206,344 Ethnicities: 89.6% Croats, 4.5% Serbs, 5.9%

others and unspecified Istria County: Approximately 72% Croatian Religion: 87.8% Roman Catholic, 5.2% Athiest Land mass: 21,851 sq mi Bordered by Bosnia, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary,

Montenegro, Herzegovina and the Adriatic Sea

Demographics Continued

Istria County, which occupies the majority of the peninsula of Istria, has 277 miles of coast and numerous islands Mediterranean climate Processing industries include traditional agriculture (also

wine and olive making), sea fishing and growing, trade and transport

Highly developed branch of industry is ship-building The coastal aspect of the region influences much of the

traditional music, because they often express their appreciation of their country through lyrics

Instruments of Croatia

Many instruments found only in Croatia Rozenice or sopila- ancient type of woodwind instrument that is similar to the oboe Two types, a smaller and a larger one which produces two different sounds- thin and thick Leading voice is lower but secondary voice plays in a

low octave in order to play in cadence Diple- type of bagpipe, uses two reeds Both very common to unique sound of Istrian music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWJ7fWBq8ZI&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIRpsBBfJ-w

Istrian Scale

This untuned scale is unique to the Istrian region Hexatonic (6 notes) Consists of E-F-G-Ab-Bb-Cb http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/3/36/Istrian_mode_on_C.

mid Example of rozenice music (2 pieces for two different sizes)

Dance Music

Famous type of dance called the balun Partners step to the rhythm and spin around Played with many different traditional instruments, as well as the accordian

Singing

Klapa- Croatian a capella singing in groups of usually men

Utilizes voices of tenor, bass, and baritone Celebrated the ideas of love, homeland, and sea Rhythm not as important http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=nG2bO22Z06c&feature=related

Antonio Smareglia

Born in Pula, Istria County, Croatia on May 5, 1854 to an Italian father and Croatian mother

Influenced by music from a very young age- his mother sang him Croatian lullabies and his father played in a brass band

Antonio Smareglia His family sent him to the Polytechnic school in Vienna, Austria

(then the capital of the Hapsburg Empire) where he fully realized his interest in music

Later traveled to Milan, Italy, where he studied privately under the instruction of conductor and lecturer Franco Faccio

Accepted into the Conservatory of Milan where he met Arrigo Boito and began composing Italian operas

Married Maria (Jetti) Polla and had 5 children, who all inspired him greatly through love

Lost his sight later at age 46 due to an unsuccessful operation, but continued his work by dictating to one of his sons or friends Died in the seaside town of Grado, Italy, on April 15, 1929 His birthplace in Pula now contains a memorial room for the Italian

composer

His Work

Ten of Smeraglia's operas are available, some were not kept recorded

The coast was a repeated theme in his life, and inspired what he claims to be his best work- Oceana (1903) His most famous opera was Nozze istriane, or “Istrian

Wedding” (1895) Introductions to Acts 1, 2, and 3 of Nozze istriane-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_SSpxxOMAg

Similarities to Croatian/Istrian Music

Beginning similar to klapa music, slow and loose rhythm, no precise beat, similar dramatic stylistic qualities

Both klapa music and the opera involve tenor, bass, baritone voices

0:58-1:10- comparable to Istrian scale (3:00-3:10 in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4MMVAl7fFo), somewhat dissonant, two-toned and in thirds

3:554:18- Similar to certain balun dance music, upbeat lively rhythm, bright melody, major tonality (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyE4vKxNsbc)

Overall just as the opera score has a variety of shifts in style, Istria County has several different types of music

Both in honor of the Istrian land of Croatia

Differences

Instruments unique to Croatia, such as the rozenice and the diple, are utilized

Traditional dancing is involved Much folk music made for Istrian scale Sung in Croatian Performed mostly at local status, shorter songs Nozze istriane is written for an orchestra Operatic singing within the rest of the opera tells a story, no

dancing Istrian scale not official in score Sung in Italian Performed/conducted often on a stage, 3 acts

Works Cited

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia#Geography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istria_County http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1450-

9814/2007/1450-98140707185M.pdf http://www.escape.hr/skpu/index.php?opereen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klapa http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istrian_scale http://www.smrikve.com/istria/books/smrikve/

istrian-music/