Ojkanje

Ojkanje is a tradition of polyphonic folk singing in Croatia, characteristic for the regions of the Dalmatian hinterland, Velebit, Lika, Kordun, and Karlovac. As described in The Harvard Dictionary of Music: "The ojkanje is a particular style of singing melisma with a sharp and prolonged shaking of the voice on the syllables oj or hoj."^[1] According to experts, ojkanje is the remain of pre-Slavic Balkan singing from the area of ancient Dalmatia (today's Dalmatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro), adopted and preserved by Croats.^[2] Narrative songs are accompanied with the gusle.^[1]

In 2010, it was inscribed as Ojkanje singing in UNESCOs List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

Geographical extent

In Croatia, it is found in the regions of the Dalmatian hinterland, Velebit, Lika, Kordun, and Karlovac.^[3] Due to migration throughout history, ojkanje can also be found in western Bosnia and Herzegovina and Vojvodina in Serbia.

Description

The singing style is marked by a distinctive voice-shaking technique where the singer utilizes an archaic form of singing from the throat.^[3] Ojkanje has been described as "free beat singing" that is created deep in the throat, steeped in the tradition of various local communities, and can be divided into two main groups: individual singing or group singing.^[3] Lyrics usually cover topics such as love, social or local issues, and politics.^[3]

• Solo singing, also known as "travel singing" (putničko, kiridžijsko) or "solitary singing" (samačko) has several different variants depending on the region. One example from the Konavle region is the ustresalica, a shaking type of singing which has died out amongst the community. In Lika, the rozganje type of singing was popular, and is currently kept alive by local folklore groups in the Karlovac region.^[3]
• Two-part singing can be performed by men or women with two or more people. It is prevalent in the area of the Croatian coast and the Dalmatian hinterland . In group singing, the song lasts as long as the lead singer can hold their breath.^[3] The name ojkalica, which is the name used for this type of singing in the area in the hinterland of Šibenik and the villages of Vrlika and Kijevo.^[3] Further along the Dalmatian hinterland there are various traditional vocal styles of Ojkanje singing. In Ravni Kotari and Bukovica, the local style of singing is called orzenje (the Serbian Orthodox population calls it orcenje, orcanje or groktanje). Furthermore, when performed by men, the singing is known as treskavica, or starovinsko ("old-style") today, and when performed by women it is known as vojkavica.^[3] Treskavica is also used in the hinterlands of Trogir and Kaštela, but is called grgešanje in Grebaštica, a village north of Primošten. In northern Poljice the locals continue to perform the kiridžijsko style of singing.^[3]

History

Ojkanje singing originated in its form in the Dinaric region.

Ivan Lovrić (1756—1777) mentions ojkanje as part of Morlach culture.^[4]

In the beginning of the 20th century, the Croatian Peasant Party began organizing folklore festivals which focused on rural traditions through their charitable wing. Traditional dancing, music, regional costumes were the main focus, especially in the 1920s and 1930s, with Ojkanje singing being an important addition.^[5]

In 2008, ojkanje singing was nominated by the Croatian Ministry of Culture for inscription on the UNESCO Urgent Safeguarding list.^[6] 2010, it was inscribed in UNESCOs List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding as representative of Croatia.^[7]

Modern day

Over the years, Ojkanje singing was passed down from generations, with singers learning directly from their accomplished predecessors. However, the last century has seen significant changes in the traditional rural life, with modern ways overtaking certain traditional practices, resulting in younger generations not continuing the Ojkanje singing.^[3]

Many folklore groups have been performing to keep Ojkanje singing alive.^[8] Examples include "KUD Petrova Gora - Kordun" Beograd,^[9] and "KUD Kordun - Inđija",^[10] formed by Ethnic Serbs from the Kordun region of Croatia, but now perform throughout Serbia. A prominent group, "KUD Promina" from Oklaj was formed by five locals from the area to preserve and perform their region's local Ojkanje singing,^[11] and they appeared in the video on UNESCO's website. Other cultural groups (KUDs) noted by UNESCO that are active in preserving Ojkanje are "Sveta Magareta" from Velika Jelsa near Karlovac, "Gacka" from Ličko Lešće, "Radovin" from Radovin, "Sveti Nikola Tavelic" from Lišane Ostrovičke, and notable people from Srijane (near Trilj) and Kokorici (near Vrgorac). There are numerous festivals and cultural events throughout Croatia and Serbia that display Ojkanje singing to the public.^[12] The village of Prigrevica in Sombor, Serbia, and other places in Vojvodina settled by Military Frontiersmen has the musical tradition of Ojkanje.

See also

• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists
• Klapa, a capella style from maritime Dalmatia

References

External links

• UNESCO Culture Sector. "Ojkanje singing". UNESCO. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
• Croatian Ministry of Culture (2008). "Ojkanje singing: Nomination for inscription on the Urgent Safeguarding list". unesco (at Youtube). Retrieved 8 November 2010.
• Lotina, Radmila (16 December 2010). "Divno čudo deseteračkog ojkanja". Dnevnik (in Serbian).