Klapa singing is an ancient tradition of multipart singing from the southern Croatian regions.
Originally from Dalmatia, Croatia, klapa music is a form of Cappella singing that celebrates love, wine (grapes), country (homeland), and the sea.
Due to its homophonic / unison singing technique with polyphonic elements, klapa is unique among traditional songs because it can bring pure joy to the listener. Consequently, klapa groups often gathered from their windows with the intention of impressing girls looking by. Only a few of these beauties were able to resist the charms of klapa because it doesn't use loud notes or strong beats, but rather sings in harmony that no one indifferently listens to.
Generally, cappella songs are never about sadness. Even if the klapa reflects on days past, it is a sentiment of lofty sentiment, often extolling the values and ideals of generations past. The main characteristics of this culture are multipart singing, cappella homophonic singing, oral tradition, and simple music-making. In groups of several singers, the first tenor leads the singing, followed by several tenors, baritones, and basses.
It begins when the singers stand in a tight semicircle, followed by the first tenor, who starts to sing first, and the others follow. Achieving the best blend of voices is the most important part of singing. As far as technical aspects are concerned, klapa singers express their mood using open guttural, nasal, and falsetto singing. In general, singers sing in the high tessitura, usually in a high tessitura.
Another feature of klapa is that they sing freely, without the need for notation. The songs usually treat topics such as love, life situations, and the environment in which they live. Bearers and practitioners are amateurs who have inherited the tradition from their predecessors. For example, knowledge is shared orally through klapa.
The festival klapa is organized more formally and focused on performances and presentations. Moreover, young singers gain experience by listening to recordings and watching performances. Klapa singing is regarded as a central marker of their musical identity, which incorporates respect for diversity, creativity, and communication.
In recent years, there has been increasing interest in female vocal groups, but, generally, male and female vocal groups do not mix. The klapa tradition is still continuing with new songs and festivals being held. The Festival of the Dalmatian Klapa, which takes place every summer at Omis, is the best-known Klapa music festival today.
References
(https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/klapa-multipart-singing-of-dalmatia-southern-croatia-00746) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klapa) (https://croatia.hr/en-gb/unesco/klapa-multipart-singing-of-dalmatia-southern-croatia)