Balkan Sheet Music

Jasmina

Posted by Mike Gordon on Jul 20, 2018 in 9/8, Balkan Sheet Music | 0 comments

Written by the Rom singer Saban Bajramovic in the late ’70s or early ’80s, this song is about a bridegroom who can’t sleep on the last night before his wedding and is looking forward to dancing the cocek with his beautiful bride, Jasmina.

View high-resolution PDF

View high-resolution PDF

I bavlal purdela

Posted by Mike Gordon on Jul 17, 2018 in 4/4, Balkan Sheet Music | 0 comments

This song by the late legendary Serbian Rom singer Saban Bajramovic asks, “I waited for you to come to me, girl, why didn’t you?” We’ve seen many versions of the Romani lyrics and trust these. We play the song in maqsum rhythm for the dance jeni jol.

Usti, usti baba

Posted by Mike Gordon on Jul 13, 2018 in 2/4, Balkan Sheet Music | 0 comments

A Macedonian Rom song in cocek rhythm, sung by Esma Redzepova and Usnija Jasarova. “Get up, father, the drums are beating, they’re coming for my sister!”

Krivo horo

Posted by Mike Gordon on Jul 10, 2018 in 11/8, Balkan Sheet Music | 0 comments

I wrote this pseudo-Bulgarian instrumental to accompany the 11/8 dance called gankino or kopanica. We’ve never recorded it, so no audio or video is available.

Pena

Posted by Mike Gordon on Jul 6, 2018 in 9/8, Balkan Sheet Music | 0 comments

This song by the great Rom singer Saban Bajramovic is sometimes called Duj Duj. We play it as a 9/8 cocek.

Draganin cocek

Posted by Mike Gordon on Jul 3, 2018 in 2/4, Balkan Sheet Music | 0 comments

A fun little brass band dance instrumental. Add a vamp at the beginning if you like.