1. Istrian Folk Music of Croatia and Antonio Smareglia Comparison
By Mariella Mladineo
Istrian Folk Music of Croatia and Antonio Smareglia Comparison

2. Demographics of Croatia
Divided into 20 counties
Population: 4,290,612; Istria County: 206,344
Ethnicities: 89.6% Croats, 4.5% Serbs, 5.9% others and unspecified
Istria County: Approximately 72% Croatian
Religion: 87.8% Roman Catholic, 5.2% Athiest
Land mass: 21,851 sq mi
Bordered by Bosnia, Serbia, Slovenia, Hungary, Montenegro, Herzegovina and the Adriatic Sea

3. Demographics Continued
Istria County, which occupies the majority of the
peninsula of Istria, has 277 miles of coast and
numerous islands
Mediterranean climate
Processing industries include traditional agriculture (also wine and olive making), sea fishing and growing, trade and transport
Highly developed branch of industry is ship-building
The coastal aspect of the region influences much of the traditional music, because they often express their
appreciation of their country through lyrics

5. Instruments of Croatia
Many instruments found only in Croatia
Rozenice or sopila- ancient type of woodwind
instrument that is similar to the oboe
Two types, a smaller and a larger one which
produces two different sounds- thin and thick
Leading voice is lower but secondary voice plays in a low octave in order to play in cadence
Diple- type of bagpipe, uses two reeds
Both very common to unique sound of Istrian music

7. Istrian Scale This untuned scale is unique to the Istrian region
Hexatonic (6 notes)
Consists of E-F-G-Ab-Bb-Cb
Example of rozenice music (2 pieces for two different sizes)

8. Dance Music Famous type of dance called the balun
Partners step to the rhythm and spin around
Played with many different traditional
instruments, as well as the accordian

9. Singing Klapa- Croatian a capella singing in groups of usually men
Utilizes voices of tenor, bass, and baritone
Celebrated the ideas of love, homeland, and sea
Rhythm not as important

10. Antonio Smareglia
Born in Pula, Istria County, Croatia on May 5, 1854 to an Italian father and Croatian mother
Influenced by music from a very young age- his mother sang him Croatian lullabies and his father played in a brass band

11. Antonio Smareglia
His family sent him to the Polytechnic school in Vienna, Austria (then the capital of the Hapsburg Empire) where he fully realized his interest in music
Later traveled to Milan, Italy, where he studied privately under the instruction of conductor and lecturer Franco Faccio
Accepted into the Conservatory of Milan where he met Arrigo Boito and began composing Italian operas
Married Maria (Jetti) Polla and had 5 children, who all inspired him greatly through love
Lost his sight later at age 46 due to an unsuccessful operation, but
continued his work by dictating to one of his sons or friends
Died in the seaside town of Grado, Italy, on April 15, 1929
His birthplace in Pula now contains a memorial room for the Italian composer

12. His Work
Ten of Smeraglia's operas are available, some were not kept recorded
The coast was a repeated theme in his life, and
inspired what he claims to be his best work- Oceana (1903)
His most famous opera was Nozze istriane, or “Istrian Wedding” (1895)
Introductions to Acts
1, 2, and 3 of Nozze istriane-

13. Similarities to Croatian/Istrian Music
Beginning similar to klapa music, slow and loose rhythm, no precise beat, similar dramatic stylistic qualities
Both klapa music and the opera involve tenor, bass, baritone voices
0:58-1:10- comparable to Istrian scale (3:00-3:10 in this video somewhat dissonant, two-toned and in thirds
3:554:18- Similar to certain balun dance music, upbeat lively rhythm, bright melody, major tonality (
Overall just as the opera score has a variety of shifts in style, Istria County has several different types of music
Both in honor of the Istrian land of Croatia

14. Differences
Instruments unique to Croatia, such as the rozenice and the diple, are utilized
Traditional dancing is involved
Much folk music made for Istrian scale
Sung in Croatian
Performed mostly at local status, shorter songs
Nozze istriane is written for an orchestra
Operatic singing within the rest of the opera tells a story, no dancing
Istrian scale not official in score
Sung in Italian
Performed/conducted often on a stage, 3 acts

15. Works Cited http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croatia#Geography