Balkan Mondays Online

The Balkans are home to a multiplicity of ethnicities and cultures, and enormously rich in music. This is especially true in Nizo’s homeland (now called the Republic of North Macedonia) where music knows no borders.

Musicians in Macedonia master huge repertoires and a great diversity of distinct styles. Many of these masters are Roma, a people who have always been known for their musical skills.

We are thrilled by the opportunity to learn from Nizo, a Macedonian-Rom, a multi-instrumentalist versed in multiple distinct musical styles, a member of the celebrated Kočani Orkestar, a great teacher ... and, as we know now that he and his family are in Montreal for the winter, a great person.

Nizo will teach tunes which might be played at a Roma wedding in his own mahala, his home neighborhood. These will include:

• a Bulgarian-Roma čoček

• a slow Serbian sevdah

• a Macedonian čoček, composed by Nizo, influenced by Albanian tallava and other Roma genres

• a Turkish-Roma song

We will learn the elements of traditional Roma style, ornamentation, improvisations, and more,

All levels and instruments welcome.

Instruction will be in English, with translators online to help with French and other languages..

We will learn by ear.

Audio recordings and chord charts of the tunes Nizo has selected to teach will be available to participants in advance of the classes.

Register

Can$60 per participant for all 4 classes, or Can$20 per class

1. Fill out and submit the form below

2. Pay via Interac e-transfer (to admin@balkanfestmontreal.org) or PayPal

3. You will then receive a confirmation email with a link to your Zoom meetings.