Kad zapivan ja u ranu zoru – Tinj, HR

KUD "Sidraga" Tinj

Josip Jurjević, Željko Ivić – Lead Voice (prvi glas)
Krešimir Erlić, Mile Čirjak, Petar Erlić, Šime Erlić, Krešimir Vrkić – Second Voice (pratnja)

Lyrics (ENG)

When I sing at the break of dawn
The song echoes back from Biograd na Moru

Saint Pascal and Saint John
Pray for us, Tinjančani

My girl, let me unbutton your shirt
So I can see if your heart beats the same as mine

Lyrics (HR)

Kad zapivan ja u ranu zoru
Odjekuje Biograd na Moru

Sveti Paško i sveti Ivane
Mol‘te Boga za nas, Tinjančane

Daj de meni, mala moja
Da raskopčam prsa tvoja
Da ja čujem srce tvoje da li kuca ko i moje

KUD “Sidraga” Tinj is a band from the village of Tinj in the Ravni Kotari region. It was founded in 2008 with a mission to preserve local traditions and popularize culture. The group includes members of different generations - from the youngest to seniors. The group's repertoire includes both male and female songs, deeply rooted in the traditions of the Dinaric musical zone. You can also hear echoes of seaside melodies and the spirit of the sea in their songs, which gives their music a unique character.

Tinj is a village in the Ravni Kotari region of Croatia, inhabited by the Catholic Croats. It is located between Biograd na Moru and Benkovac, about 30 km inland from Zadar. This area is full of vineyards, olive groves, and almond and fig trees. Most inhabitants run farms. The folk tradition of Tinj was influenced by two main areas: the Dinaric region where ojkanje, na bas singing, and shepherd’s songs can be found, and the Adriatic coastal areas with such themes as sea and sailor’s life; also, the typical melisma of the Tinj singers is common in the Adriatic area.

Ravni Kotari is a region in northern Dalmatia, Croatia, stretching between Zadar and the Krka River. It is an area with an unusually rich history and tradition combining many cultures. The fertile plains located here have been conducive to settlement and agriculture for centuries, making Ravni Kotari a place where Slavic, Venetian, and Ottoman influences mingled. The region is known for its strong folk traditions, expressed mainly through music, dances, and crafts. Traditional music includes distinctive ojkanje songs and kolo dancing, performed during festivals and events. These art forms not only provide entertainment, but also express identity and belonging to a region that has gone through various political and cultural transformations over the centuries.

“Kad zapivan ja u ranu zoru” is a traditional man song from Ravni Kotari sung in “na bas” style. It is characterized by two-part harmony. It is practiced across the Balkans with different regional variants. It is based on intervals of a third, quart, and fifth. The lyrics describe everyday life of the community and are strongly associated with the local identity.

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About us – Balkan Polyphony is a field research project that collects traditional music from the Balkan area. We are not interested in any ideologies, we don’t take sides in any historical conflicts. What interests us is traditional culture and its musical intricacies.

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Our Partner: Narodni muzej Zadar, Etnološki odjel (National Museum Zadar, Ethnological Department)