The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TAMBURITZA IS THE FOLK MUSIC OF THE AREA NOW KNOWN AS
YUGOSLAVIA. THE TAMBURITZA ORCHESTRA IS COMPOSED OF FIVE
STRING INSTRUMENTS CALLED THE PRIMA, BRACH, CHELO,
BUGARIJA, AND BASS. THE PRIMA IS EQUIVALENT TO THE SOPRANO AND
ALTO VOICES OF A CHOIR. ALONG WITH THE PRIMA, THE BRACH
PLAYS MELODY AND HARMONY, BUT IT HAS A DEEPER SOUND EQUIVALENT
TO THE TENOR AND BASS VOICES. THE CHELO PLAYS A COUNTER-
MELODY, AND THE BUGARIA AND BASS COMPRISE THE RHYTHM SECTION.
IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, SEVERAL ORCHESTRAS HAVE
BEEN ORGANIZED, ESPECIALLY AMONG THE YOUTH. MOST OF THE
CHILDREN'S GROUPS BELONG TO THE CROATIAN FRATERNAL UNION
JUNIOR CULTURAL FEDERATION. THE FEDERATION HOLDS YEARLY
FESTIVALS IN WHICH ALL OF THE ORCHESTRAS MEET AND PERFORM
TOGETHER. ADULT GROUPS HOLD YEARLY EXTRAVAGANZAS FOR THE
SAME PURPOSE.

Where learned: ILLINOIS ; CHICAGO

Date learned: 00001977CA