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Bećarac



Bećarac is a popular humorous genre of folk music in eastern Croatia.

This song is deeply rooted in the cultures of Slavonia, and Croatia, and eventually spread into southern Hungary as well as the Vojvodina region of Serbia. The word is derived from becar (Turkish: bekâr), which means "bachelor, reveler, or carouser." Becarci is often lascivious, ironic, or teasing, and is usually sung by male groups in villages.

Communication between its performers is essential: the lead singers compete by exchanging vocal lines and imitating, combining, and emulating dasyllabic verses and shaping the melody -- all with the accompaniment of a cast of singers and tambura groups.

In addition to conveying community values, the music also enables singers to express feelings and thoughts that might be inappropriate in other contexts. Lead singers must be able to sing both powerfully and fluently, know many old and new couplets, and be adept, quick, and clever in selecting and combing them.

The couplets in Becarac are sung to the same music, played either by a tamburitza orchestra or by a choir every time. The choir leader sings the first verse, which is repeated in the choir of gathered men. The second verse consists of a humorous antithesis, repeated also by the choir (but often punctuated by laughter).

Bećarci are often performed as a drinking song at the peak of a party after people have been sufficiently warmed up by wine and music. Becarci can last for an indefinite period of time. The lyrics are often made up on the fly or improvised, and the best ones are spread and reused for subsequent parties.

Currently, men and women share the role of tradition bearers almost equally. Throughout eastern Croatia, the Becarac continues to be part of everyday life – whether performed in fully informal settings, or in contemporary festive occasions. Aside from particularities introduced by lead singers, Becarac also includes many other sub-types. Hence, Becarac is a remarkably vivid, dynamic genre that is recreated in each performance.

In 2017, a museum dedicated to becarac is opened in Pleternica, Croatia. The concept of the museum was described as a contemporary museum, which would emphasize the traditional heritage of Becarac in a modern setting. Since becarac is an important part of Croatia's intangible cultural heritage, the European Union provided 85% of the funds for the museum project, expecting it to have a positive impact on the town and the region as well.


References

(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/bearac-singing-and-playing-from-eastern-croatia-00358) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Be%C4%87arac)


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