Gypsy brass band sounds with traditional Bulgarian polyphonies, an electric guitar and traditional percussion with a hint of rock all set against a backdrop of a bewitching string orchestra and a male choir.

Goran Bregovic was born in Sarajevo from a Serbian mother and Croatian father. As a teen Bregovic picked up the guitar and formed his first group, The White Button. For fifteen years his band toured mercilessly throughout the Eastern countries.

When the 1980s rolled around Bregovic decided to take some time off and compose music for Emir Kusturica’s film Time of the Gypsies, which was a great success. He continued to work with Kusturica on his next film Arizona Dream starring Johnny Depp, Jerry Lewis and Faye Dunaway. He continued to work on film scores all the way up to 2005 where the mega-hit film Borat featured many samples of Bregovic’s music. In fact, the film features more of his music than the soundtrack.

Bregovic’s latest band, Goran Bregovic and His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra, was formed in 1998. Composed of a brass band, bagpipes, a string ensemble, a male choir in tuxedos and traditional Bulgarian and Roma singers, the Wedding and Funeral Orchestra is an intriguing mix of traditional and modern.

Goran Bregovic and His Wedding and Funeral Orchestra come to The Moore Theatre on Tuesday, June 23 at 8pm. Tickets are $28 to $60, not including fees. With music that instinctively makes a body want to dance, be sure not to miss one of the most internationally known modern composers of the Balkans.