The manifestation „Bodulska balada“ is being organised with the aim to revive our deserted islands. The music project, that is going to be held traditionally every year, has the goal to present the «island-inspired» musical style, that has been started by bands like »Šo! mazgoon«, Gego and Kopito; it is an event that is bringing the youth back on our islands, at least once a year, i.e. to the event «Bodulska balada“.
A VERY SPECIAL AND TYPICAL «ISLAND» MUSICAL STYLE
„Bodulska balada“ offers a great opportunity for entertainers from all across Croatia to meet and to sing and make music about our islands. Bands and singers will try to express, in an individual way, what the islands mean to them and to present the influence they make on them – even though it is no obligatory motto! The songs don't have to be sung on the island dialect; the songs may be created independently, with instruments typical for pop, rock and folclore music.
NO COMPETITION
The event „Bodulska balada“ is no competition, which gives the manifestation a friendly atmosphere – this year, as well as every following «Evening of island-inspired sounds».
We are assuming the fact that music and singing meant life in its origin meaning to the people on our islands; it has been maintained during centuries. Our islands are «emptier» with every year. The «Evening of island-inspired sounds» - «Bodulska balada», that took place on the 25th of July 2008 for the first time in the legendary bay «Fingac» on the island Zlarin, has been organised with the purpose of reviving our islands through music and singing. Thanks to its engaged and very good organisation, as well as the the participation of very famous persons from the Croatian Scene, the event «Bodulska balada» has become famous outside the borders of the County Šibenik-Knin. Zlarin i a place that has got a manifestation widening the touristic offer, like the towns of Zagreb, Opatija, Požega, Split and Krapina. So, besides being famous for its coralls, Zlarin is now famous due to the event «Bodulska balada» (a large number of foreign tourists, many well-known persons from the social, political and music scene, journalists, actors, etc). This year, the event «Bodulska balada» starts a little bit earlier (July 17th, 2009) and ends on July 24th, 2009.
The event this year is also enriched by the presence of many national and international artists, who will do their work of art on our islands – they will afterwards donate those works of art to the organisation of «Bodulska balada».
A speciality is for sure the fact, that all songs are being performed live on stage, and that the event is no competition, making the whole evening even more «enjoyable»! The «Evening of island-inspired sounds Bodulska balada» invites all to join us on the island Zlarin to enjoy the atmosphere the island is offering itself, and to experience the island-inspired, very special music style...and don't forget the sea, the sun, the beautiful bays...
THE CORAL ISLAND
Coral hunting is mentioned for the first time in the 13th century, and already in 1412, the inhabitants of Zlarin were known as famous coral hunters. The unprocessed corals were being sold to Italy. The year 1955 has brought the best coral exploitation (475 kg). This amount has been sold to Italy as well, to a minimal price – a fact that minimized the number of professional coral hunters. The profession itself is very hard and demanding, for the corals are exploited form a depth of nearly 130m, often ending deadly for the diver. Zlarin has also a coral centre called «Zlarinka».
Because of the nearby mainland, Zlarin is one of the most attractive islands of the Šibenik archipelago. Zlarin was mentioned in written documents in the 14th century for the first time. But due to found object from the Neolithic Age, we can for sure say that Zlarin is much older. The first settlers are mentioned in the 13th century. The oldest church on the island is «Gospa od Rašelja». In the 18th century, the new church «Velika Gospa» was built on the ruins of that old church.
