This is a film that poses a mystery about the origin of a song and also exposes the divisions between the various countries in the Balkans. It turns out that the origin of the song was discovered by Dick Crum, a noted Balkan music and dance ethnologist. He discovered that it was published in a Turkish opera and he had the conductor's score which he gave to the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. Sadly, the score was lost, and Dick is now deceased. He personally related this information to me.
The origin in a composed opera makes perfect sense. At one time Turkey owned or influenced many of the Balkan countries. The Turkish culture and music spread to them, and there was some flow back to Turkey. Each region then personalized the song, especially after they became independent. However, we do not know if the melody was originally folk, or composed for the opera.
Classical music has many examples of folk melodies with unknown origin being borrowed by composers. The reverse also happens where a composed melody is embraced as being folk. An example of this is Dvorak's New World Symphony where the big melody became the "cowboy" hymn "Going Home". So, there is still more mystery!
The origin in a composed opera makes perfect sense. At one time Turkey owned or influenced many of the Balkan countries. The Turkish culture and music spread to them, and there was some flow back to Turkey. Each region then personalized the song, especially after they became independent. However, we do not know if the melody was originally folk, or composed for the opera.
Classical music has many examples of folk melodies with unknown origin being borrowed by composers. The reverse also happens where a composed melody is embraced as being folk. An example of this is Dvorak's New World Symphony where the big melody became the "cowboy" hymn "Going Home". So, there is still more mystery!