EU arts

European anthem The European anthem is based on the prelude to "The Ode to Joy", 4th movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Due to the large number of languages in Europe, it is an instrumental version only with the original German lyrics having no official status. The anthem was announced on 19 January 1972 by the Council of Europe.

European dances

A folk costume is not to be admired statically, but seen on people chained in a specific dance. The round dance, or hora, speaks about the grace and richness of the dancer and his costume, in search of perfection. No wonder that tourists, when going abroad, so much enjoy learning some movements of the traditional dances of the people visited.

Greek dances The Syrtos is considered the national dance of Greece. It is danced by all Greeks everywhere in one form or another. Dancers are in a broken circle with hands joined at shoulder height with elbows bent and down. The hands are not pushed forward, but are comfortably back by the shoulders. Accordingly, the dance begins with slower, smoother actions, gradually transforming into faster, vivid ones, often including hops and leaps.

Romanian dances Hora is a type of circle dance originating in the Balkans but now found in a number of countries, most of which use slightly different spellings. The original meaning of the Greek word may have been 'circle' and this dance can be found in Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Turkey.

Irish dances Irish performance dancing is traditionally referred to as stepdance. Irish stepdance, popularized in 1994 by the world-famous show "Riverdance," is notable for its rapid leg movements, body and arms being kept largely stationary.

Spanish dances Flamenco is a Spanish musical genre with origins in Andalusia and a term that refers both to a musical genre, known for its intricate rapid passages, and a dance genre characterized by its audible footwork

Traditional European Music

Folk music of England Folk music of England is a type of traditionally based music, often contrasted with courtly, classical and later commercial music, for which evidence exists from the later medieval period. It has been preserved and transmitted orally, through print and later through recordings. The term is used to refer to English traditional music and music composed, or delivered, in a traditional style. English folk music has produced or contributed to several important musical genres, including sea shanties, jigs, hornpipes and dance music, such as that used for Morris dancing. It can be seen as having distinct regional and local variations in content and style, particularly in areas more removed from the cultural and political centres of the English state, as in Northumbria, or the West Country.

German folk music Germany has many unique regions with their own folk traditions of music and dance. In both East and West Germany, folk songs are very popular. Bavarian folk music is likely the most well-known outside of Germany.

Spanish folk music Spain's autonomous regions have their own distinctive folk traditions. Flamenco is an Andalusian traditional folk music. It consists of three forms: the song (cante), the dance (baile) and the guitar (guitarra).

Folk music of Romania Folk music is the oldest form of Romanian musical creation, characterized by great vitality; it is the defining source of the cultured musical creation, both religious and lay. In the conservation of folk music an important role has been played by an enduring audience for the folk music in Romania. The most common folk instruments are: the violin, the cobza, the taragot, the saxophone, the pipes.