Macedonian and Balkan Folk Music

Izvoren Ensemble

You should not think of the transcriptions as the last word on what's recorded, either melodically or re: ornamentation; I sometimes combined versions of melodies into one, or had to guess at some of the ornaments. Transcriptions are formatted so that 2-page transcriptions can be 3-hole-punched as facing pages. Tamubura chords formatted as X #,# indicate the chord followed by the suggested frets, drone string first, then melody. For a complete explanation of the tambura notation, transcriptions, tablature, fingering, strumming, and ornaments, please see Macedonian Folk Songs for Voice and Tambura Volume 1 and Volume 2. There is also a key available of the kaval ornaments I use for these transcriptions.

Please note that for some recordings still available for purchase, I have intentionally degraded the quality of the mp3 file associated with it, as well as edited the file. For more specific questions, feel free to ask me via the contact form.

Iroquois Springs and Balkanalia 2011 students: Here's my transcription of the tapan solo for Janino, along with the audio at 100% and 50% (each looped three times). The 18 is split 7 = 11. I'm very interested in hearing if this kind of transcription is useful to anyone and suggestions for improving it. Notes with x-noteheads are played very lightly, and rolls are indicated by the tremolo bars on the stem. Have fun!

  • B = Boom (loud)
  • b = boom (soft, light)
  • T = Tak (loud)
  • t = ta (soft, light)
  • S = slow (3 counts)
  • q = quick (2 counts)

Janino tapan solo transcription (pdf)

Janino tapan solo audio 100% (mp3)

Janino tapan solo audio 50% (mp3)


Name Entire
Piece		 Kaval Tambura Gajda mp3 Real
Audio		 Midi
Baba Ǵurǵa (7) Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Baba Ǵurǵa (11) Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Bufčansko Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Deverovo Oro (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Dimčevsko Oro (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Gradovečko Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Janino Oro (Stefce) (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Kavalsko Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Kupi Ludo (Devetorka) Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Marino Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Nevestinsko Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Odeno Yes No No No No No No
Ovčepolska Potrčulka Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Ovčepolsko Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Pirinsko Za Ramo Oro (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Posednica Oro (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Ratevka Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes
Sitna Lisa Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Snošti Ti Dojdov Na Gosti (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Strumino Oro (rev. 2011-08) Yes No No No Yes No No
Zelenikovka Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes
Žensko Pušteno Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes