Chapter 9: Europe

About

Chapter 9 introduces the music and associated cultural activities from Europe, including the countries of Greece, Spain, Russia, Scotland, Ireland, Hungary and Bulgaria. After a brief discussion regarding art versus folk music in Europe, the musical sites focus on folk styles prominent throughout the region. Several instruments are discussed, including the Russianbalalaika and domra, Scottish and Irish bagpipes, Hungarian tekerölant (hurdy gurdy), as well as the cimbalom (a type of zither) and more mainstream instruments, such as guitar (Flamenco) and accordion. The vocal traditions of Greek Orthodox (Byzantine) chant and Bulgarian choral singing complement the instrumental discussions.

Key Terms

  • Accordion
  • Bagpipes
  • Balalaika
  • Bellows
  • Bodhran
  • Bones
  • Byzantine chant
  • Cantaora
  • Cante
  • Celtic
  • Chanter
  • Chastushki
  • Cimbalom
  • Citera
  • Concertina
  • Czardas
  • Domra
  • Duda
  • Duende
  • Echos
  • Fiesta
  • Flamenco
  • Friction Drum
  • Gaelic
  • Gaida
  • Gardon
  • Gig
  • Highland pipes
  • Hosszú furulya
  • Hurdy Gurdy (also Tekerölant)
  • Jaleo
  • Juerga
  • Kilt
  • Melodeon
  • Mixolydian
  • Ossian
  • Palillos (also Pitos)
  • Palmas
  • Pibroch
  • Regulators
  • Spoons
  • Symphonia
  • Tin whistle
  • Uilleann pipes (also Union pipes)
  • Waulking song

Flashcards

Practice Quiz

Audio Examples

9.1

Greece: Byzantine chant. “Come, Faithful,” from Byzantine Hymns of Christmas, Society for the Dissemination of National Music, SDNM 101, n.d. Used by permission.

9.2

Spain: Flamenco. “Alegrias” performed by Carlos Lomas and Pepe De Malaga, from the recording entitled Andalusian Flamenco Song and Dance, Lyrichord LYRCD 7388, n.d. Used by permission, Multicultural Media Inc.

9.3

Russia: Balalaika. “Yablochka,” from Eastern European Folk Heritage Concert: St. Nicholas Balalaika Orchestra, Private issue, 2003. Courtesy of St. Nicholas Balalaika Orchestra.

9.4

Scotland: Highland bagpipes by the City of Glasgow Police Pipe Band, "The Royal Scots Polka" and "The Black Watch Polka" from All the Best from  Scotland/ 35 Great Favorites, vol. 2,  CLUC CD 77, n.d.

9.5

Ireland: Uilleann bagpipes (“Piob Uilleann”), Ireland. "The Lilies of the Field" and "The Fairhaired Boy," private studio recording by Eliot Grasso, 2011.  Used by permission

9.6

Hungary: Hurdy gurdy.  Medley of traditional tunes performed by Sean Folson, Ft. Bragg, CA, 2003 (private studio recording). Used by permission.

9.7

Georgia: Georgian Choral Singing "Makruli" by Georgian Voices.  From Songs of Survival: Traditional Music of Georgia, TSCD935D, courtesy of Topic Records, Ltd., (p) (c) 2007. Used by permission. Recording by Michael Church.

Video Links

For more world music videos, visit the  World Music YouTube Channel .

Eva la Yerbabuena Flamenco Baile
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR2DhXaLmF4
Russian Quartet
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uID__f83dz4
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgwRitTgU4
Bagpipes – Ohio Highland Games Scottish Festival 2007
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoA58I6t2fs
Lone Piper at Thiepval Cemetary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC3NrmZ2fb0
Seamus Ennis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF3fW4Nox9U
Béla Szerényi Tekerő Teaching Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=Il4dSINLglw

Audio Book

Coming soon...

On Your Own Time

Links and further resources

Greece


Website:
The Divine Music Project
http://www.stanthonysmonastery.org/music/Index.html
Website:
Learn Byzantine Chant
https://www.goarch.org/-/chant-resources?inheritRedirect=true
Book:
Jeffery, Peter. The Study of Medieval Chant: Paths & Bridges, East & West. Rochester, NY: Boydell Press, 2002.
https://boydellandbrewer.com/the-study-of-medieval-chant-hb.html

Spain


Book:
Leblon, Bernard (trans. Sinéad ní Shuinéar). Gypsies and Flamenco: The emergence of the art of flamenco in Andalusia. Hertfordshire, UK: University of Hertfordshire, 2003.
http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/our-structure/subsidiary-companies/uh-press/romani-studies/gypsiesand-flamenco.cfm
Website:
Paco Peña
http://www.pacopena.com/
Popular Artists from Spain:
Gipsy Kings (France)
Paco de Lucia
Camaron de Isla
Ojos de Brujo

Russia


Book:
Prokhorov, Vadim. Russian Folk Songs: Musical Genres and History. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, 2002.
https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780810841277
Website:
Los Angeles Balalaika Orchestra
http://www.russianstrings.com/
Popular Artists from Russia:
Dmitri Hvorostovsky
Dima Bilan
Alla Pugacheva
Mikhail Shufutinsky

Scotland & Ireland


Audio:
The Bagpipe. Lyrichord: LRYCD 7327, 1994.
http://lyrichord.com/thebagpipe-variousartists.aspx
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-bagpipe/id49307197
Book:
Cannon, Roderick. The Highland Bagpipe and its Music. Edinburgh: Birlinn Press, 2008.
https://www.newsouthbooks.com.au/books/the-highland-bagpipe-and-its-music/
Book:
Spillane, Davy, and Tommy Walsh. Uilleann Pipe Tutor. Pacific, MO: Walton's Mfg., 1997.
https://www.waltonsirishmusic.com/uilleann-pipe-tutor.html
Website:
Uilleann Obsession
http://www.uilleannobsession.com/
Website:
The Universe of Bagpipes
http://hotpipes.com
Popular Artists from Scotland & Ireland:
The Chieftans
Clannad
Altan
Gaelic Storm
The Pogues
Flogging Molly (American)

Hungary


Website:
Gurdypedia
http://www.gurdypedia.com
Book:
Muskett, Doreen. The Hudry Gurdy Method. Muskett Music, 1998.
http://www.hurdygurdymethod.co.uk/
Website:
Hungarian Hurdy Gurdy Maker
http://www.folkinstrument.hu
Website:
Drehleier Musik (German-language site)
http://www.drehleier-musik.de      
Audio:
Vasson, Henri. Hurdy Gurdy Music. Smithsonian-Folkways: FW08747, 1976. (French Hurdy Gurdy)
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hurdy-gurdy-music/id279016462
Popular Artists from Hungary:
P. Mobil
Bikini
Dopeman

Bulgaria


Book:
Rice, Timothy. May It Fill Your Soul: Experiencing Bulgarian Music. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1994.
http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/M/bo3633856.html
Book:
Buchanan, Donna. Performing Democracy: Bulgarian Music and Musicians in Transition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005.
http://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo3641153.html
Audio:
Le Mystére des Voix Bulgares. Nonesuch: 79165, 1987.
http://www.nonesuch.com/artists/le-mystere-des-voix-bulgares
http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/id151627271
Website:
The Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices
http://themysteryofthebulgarianvoices.com/
Popular Artists from Bulgaria:
Elitsa Todorova
Emil Dimitrov
Miro (Miroslav Kostadinov)
Esem