Description
Like much of the Mediterranean, Dalmatia has become a globally sought-after tourist destination over the past century. Along with its sun, sea, wine, and olives, it offers the distinctive sound of Dalmatian klapa – a traditional vocal ensemble deeply rooted in the region. The klapa repertoire reflects a range of influences, e.g. Italian canzone, church music, the brass band tradition, non-tempered musical expressions of the Dinaric Highlands, and traditional urban canons from former Yugoslav republics. This stylistic diversity highlights an extensive network of trade, migration, and cultural exchange typical of regions bridging the mainland and the “wide world”.
Using klapa – Dalmatia’s representative musical expression – as lens for understanding, I aim to offer a broader perspective on how music evolves in region with pronounced regional identity, rich cultural exchange network, and strategic political position. Drawing from my dissertation that combines economic and historical (ethno)musicology, this paper focuses on the repertoire of Yugoslav 78 RPM gramophone records (1926–1960) that spread with the rise of radio as the primary medium for disseminating the sound of the “new” Dalmatia present today. The transition from “old” to “new” Dalmatian sound involves changes in choice of musical instruments, vocal arrangements, and musical genres. I place these changes within the socio-political context of the turbulent 20th century, considering the commercial success of Yugoslav record labels and the state’s role in shaping Dalmatian music as part of political and tourism strategies.
Yugoslav efforts to create a “new” Dalmatian sound through records, radio and festivals also served to construct a regional identity tied to the Mediterranean “Southern myth” emphasizing themes of romance, passion, and musical superiority. Once identified, I challenge the prevailing stereotypes by contrasting them with the harsh realities of life on Dalmatia’s rocky landscape, marked by war, political conflict, disease, and mass migrations across the Atlantic.
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