Music on the Market in Post-Socialist Croatia: a Case of Klapa Singing
Music on the Market in Post-Socialist Croatia: a Case of Klapa Singing

Summary/Abstract: The intention of this paper is to indicate a specific case of “work” and its transformation of the informal into a formal, but precarious, form of work. It is a case of klapa singing, which in the period of socialism was exclusively an amateur, non-profit activity where the singers sang exclusively for personal pleasure. Even when there was material compensation, it was symbolic and belonged to a type of work and income known as occasional additional earnings. Economic changes in post-socialism, the collapse of industries in coastal Croatia, where the largest number of klapas operate, the loss of jobs, and especially the latest economic crisis, forced many amateur klapas singers to use their singing skills as a basic asset for personal and family survival. They still enjoy their singing, but now their free time becomes working time, which is conditioned by a professional attitude towards singing duties. singing out of “necessity”, no matter how much it is based on talent and love for music, becomes a useful skill, a new but unstable occupation that enables them to live a decent life. In doing so, they participate in the market model of specialized musical events, such as funerals, weddings, summer festivals, various public performances, celebrations and parties of private companies or local government bodies, etc., which are professionally organized and profitable. The case study of klapa singing served as an example of the growing tendency to connect the traditional musical phenomenon as the cultural capital with economic capital.

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