Mirjana Lausevic and Tim Eriksen--Balkan Singing Workshop--Traditional Bosnian Polyphony

Workshop in Traditional Bosnian Polyphony, led by Minja, will generally focus on a capella songs from the villages of the Olympic mountain Bjelasnica, several miles from Sarajevo. Singing in this region is known as some of the starkest and most beautiful in all the Balkans. Detailed instruction in elements of vocal style such as tuning, ornaments and voice production is combined with attention to cultural context, the meaning of the texts and the singing itself to the singers. While most songs are traditionally performed by groups of three or four women, there are songs for larger groups of men and women together as well as a separate male repertoire. The workshop is open to anyone, regardless of experience.The workshop is offered at no charge although a collection will be taken to help defer the expenses. Mirjana Lausevic and Tim Eriksen perform a wide variety of Bosnian and American music in traditional and popular styles. Now married with two children, their introduction was musical, when studying at Wesleyan University they fell in love with each other?s singing. Minja soon enlisted Tim?s help to form the band Zabe I Babe, literally ?Frogs and Grandmothers.? Formed shortly after the outbreak of war in Minja?s native Bosnia, the band?s ?apples and oranges? repertoire was intended to reflect some of the musical wealth and diversity of this region, depicted in the West as barbaric and backward, ruled by ?ethnic hatred? and ?ancient conflicts.? Along with their musical collaboration, Tim and Minja continue their long work together in ethnomusicological research on music and politics in Bosnia and, more recently, on a music ethnography project, ?A World in Two Cities,? documenting some of the incredible musical and cultural diversity of urban Minnesota. They appear together with their son Luka as Sacred Harp singers in the Miramax film ?Cold Mountain,? for which Tim was a musical advisor and performer. See also the other Tim Eriksen Shaped Note workshop and concert on March 19th on this website.