Velebite i te tvoje stine – Tinj, HR

KUD "Sidraga" Tinj

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

Lyrics (HR)

Velebite i te tvoje stine
Ogledalo naše domovine

Evo lola, primorski’ sinova
I bećara od Ravni’ Kotara

Oj, curice bosonoga
Kako možeš bez onoga
Kako možeš bez onoga
Lole garavoga

Selo Tinju, masline te diče
U proliće bajamovo cviće

Oj ridu ridu ridu
Upecala mala ribu
Upecala dva šarana
Od jutra do dana

Lyrics (ENG)

Velebit, you and your rocks
Are our homeland’s mirror

Here come the boys, the sons of Primorje
Here come the bachelors from Ravni Kotari

Oh, barefoot girl
How can you live without
How can you live without that dark-haired boy

Oh, Tinj, olives are your pride
In spring, your pride is a flowering almond

Oj ridu ridu ridu
A girl caught a fish
She caught two carps
From morning to afternoon

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.

“Velebite i te tvoje stine” 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)