Bećarac is a vocal, i.e. vocal-instrumental song popular in the region of Slavonia, Baranja and Syrmia. It has a joyful and cheerful text, commonly abundant with allegory and metaphors. Its name originates from the Turkish word bekar, (Croatian: bećar) denoting a young bachelor, single man, lola, bekrija, prone to a hedonistic lifestyle and who enjoys eating, drinking and the company of women. Such songs were sung most commonly at weddings and other events when people gathered to celebrate.
Theme
Bećarac is a decasyllable song, mostly with a love or metaphorical erotic theme, which praises the singer’s virtues, such as appearance, abilities, wealth and ridicules unlike-minded people and rivals.
Performance
Usually two or more lead singers strive to out-sing each other, accompanied by group singing and the music of folk instruments, early on gajde (bagpipes) and tamburica samica, later on tambura ensembles or mixed ensembles composed of a violin, accordion and tamburas. Bećarac is usually performed in the way that one singer sings the first verse, or a part of the verse which forms a thesis, and other singers join in. The second verse is usually a humorous antithesis to the first verse and is sung by all singers. The verses are usually impromptu improvisations, describing the individuals present during the performance, events and context in which the performance takes place. Singers with good diction and a strong voice, which know the repertoire of old and new decasyllabic couplets and are resourceful and fast in forming new couplets are especially esteemed. In contrast to other traditional Slavonian decasyllabic songs (wedding, carnival, and other songs), performed without instrumental accompaniment, bećarac is performed with instrumental accompaniment, only exceptionally without it, i.e. when there are no instrument players present.
Cultural component
As a traditional vocal and vocal-instrumental song and integral part of the traditional culture of Slavonia, Baranja and Syrmia, bećarac was preserved on the social and musical scene with the help of the organized work of amateur folklore and music associations and ensembles, folklore and musical-folklore events (pageants, meetings, seminars, festivals), partially with the aid of pop musicians and discography. These activities are supported by the society at a national, regional, county and local level.