Čoček

Čoček (Albanian çyçek/qyqek, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian čoček/чочек, pronounced "cho'-chek"; compare Macedonian чочек, Bulgarian кючек (kyuchek or kyutchek)) is a musical genre and dance that emerged in the Balkans during the early 19th century. It features prominently in the repertoire of many Romani brass bands.

Čoček originated from Ottoman military bands, which at that time were scattered across the region, mostly throughout Serbia, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia and Romania. That led to the eventual segmentation and wide range of ethnic sub-styles in čoček. Čoček was handed down through the generations, preserved mostly by Roma ("Gypsy") minorities, and was largely practiced at village weddings and banquets.

Čoček is especially popular among the Muslim Rom and Albanian populations of Kosovo and Metohia, South Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia. When Tanec first came to America in 1956, they performed čoček as a Muslim woman’s dance, "Ќupurlika" from Titov Veles.

The kyuchek, as a common musical form in the Balkans (primarily Bulgaria and Macedonia), is typically a dance with a 9/8 time signature; two variant forms have the beats divided 2-2-2-3 and 2-2-3-2. (This latter meter is sometimes referred to as "gypsy 9".) Roma musicians living in areas of the former Yugoslavia have broadened the form to include variations in 4/4 and 7/8.