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Czechs play Balkan

Publication at Faculty of Humanities |
2014

Abstract

My paper is summary of my master thesis which dealt with the Czech community of musicians who play so-called "Balkan music". The peculiarity of the field is that the researched people do not have any obvious links to the Balkan peninsula (they are not migrants, nor do they speak any of the local languages).

The emphasis is put on their stereotypical notion about Balkans. The content of the music works they produce and the way how are performed are considered as the key moments how the musicians express their feelings and visions about Balkan.

The most of the thesis originates from my personal experience with the "Balkan music" in the Czech environment and from my participation in the Džezvica band. This band is also utilized as an reference model of the "western idea" about the Balkan.

The work comprises of both theoretical part denoting the stereotypization and balkanism and the field research carried out during years 2010-2012 in Prague.