Top Brass from Balkans

Featuring Gucha . Suknjica . Kolo . Bregovic . Serbia . Trumpet . Trumpet Parade . Balkan Brass Band

guca.rs : The village of gucha in the Dragacevo district, peaceful and colorful part of western Serbia , has gained world fame owing to its Assembly of Trumpet Players, the largest trumpet event on the planet. The love of the people of Dragacevo for music, especially for the trumpet, began in the rule of Prince Milos Obrenovic, who ordered the formation of the first military band in 1831

Boban i Marko Markovic Orkestar : The quintessential brass Balkan band, originating from Vladicin Han, Southern Serbia, once again captures the mantle of leading band of Serbia (a title for which they have remained crowned since the late 80’s). Their music, performed by a twelve-piece strong band, is wholly defined by their own gypsy lineage whilst giving a knowing nod towards other musical and cultural backgrounds closely related to that of the Romani’s.

Sandy Lopicic : Then, out of nowhere, came the Sandy Lopicic Orkestar (SLO) and, in Graz, cultivated the next fever virus (Balkeizmi II sive Morbus Lopitschitschiensis) – a guaranteed resistant strain, but one which had what was necessary to gratifyingly confuse expectations, i.e., to broaden people’s minds.

The RootsWorld : Throughout the Balkans, an enduring legacy of Ottoman military occupation is indigenized brass band music. In the former Yugoslavia, the House of Culture in Guca, Serbia, inaugurated the annual Dragacevo brass festival in 1961. After Tito’s death and Yugoslavia’s dissolution, the archive suffered the effects of a decade of war, until musicologist Ilija Stankovic returned from exile to rehabilitate what he could.

Center for culture, sport and tourism of the municipality of Lucani “Dragacevo” in Guca : The first Trumpet Festival was held on 14th October 1961 in Guca. It was held on the day of the Shroud of the Holy Mother in the churchyard during the last traditional festival that took place here. Young boys and girls thought that this festival gave them a chance for the last meeting. The organizers of the Trumpet Festival believed that, this way, they would have audience for their programme as well. The day was sunny and warm. The interest of the people exceeded all expectations of organizers.

Fanfare Ciocarlia : A band of speed demons, laughing their way across the roughest musical terrain. They rave, they roar, they rage! Wherever and whenever Fanfare Ciocarlia blow their cheeks, nobody stands still – no matter how cool they pretend to be! Their instruments, bearing the marks of the previous decades, have lost their shine and gained their own patina.

mikkel hornnes : Originally started by the father of the legend Bakija Bakic, the brass orchestra is now led by his nephew, Nenad Mladenovic. They won the price as the best orchestra in Guca 2005. Trumpeter Ekrem Mamutovic won ‘first trumpet’ in 2007 – watch video from the competition.

Mahala Rai Banda : Shaped in the Gypsy ghettos (Mahala) around Bucharest, Mahala Rai Banda (literally Noble Band from the Ghetto), combines a surprising array of trends and styles. Combining Romanian violins & accordions with a brass section consisting of army brass band veterans and a rocking rhythm section, they’re the rising band from the Balkans.