Issue No. 35
Musicologist Speaks
Leon Stefanija – A CONVERSATION WITH MARIJA BERGAMO
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Studies
Sonja Marinković – WORK AND CREATION OF VUČKOVIĆ AND RAJIČIĆ.
FACING THE CHALLENGES OF SOCIAL ART
Abstract:
On the occasion of the hundredth birthday anniversary of the youngest representatives of the Prague group of Serbian composers, Vojislav Vučković (1910–1942) and
Stanojlo Rajičić (1910–2000), the search for the answer to the question of taking a stand
towards that developmental phase of their creative path which concerns the so-called turning point from the pre-war expressionism towards socialistic realism becomes increasingly
important. First, because the historical distance can now be considered sufficient for making relevant judgments; and second, because that phase in their work was important for
general development of Serbian music of the time. And finally, because their attitude towards the questions of engaged and social art gives fundamentally important answers,
which have relevant theoretical and artistic meanings.
Keywords: Prague group, Vojislav Vučković, Stanojlo Rajičić, turning point, socialistic realism, engaged and social art.
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Sanja Radinović – SUGGESTIONS FOR TRANSCRIBING EXOTIC MELODIES. A cornerstone in the Babel tower of
ethnomusicological methodology
Abstract:
The occasion for the first targeted discourse on Hornbostel’s and Abraham’s Vorschläge für die Transkription exotischer Melodien in Serbia is the hundredth anniversary of its
publishing in Germany. Its groundbreaking significance for the development of ethnomusicological methodology, confirmed time and again in the works of foreign colleagues, is
not only historical, because the launched methodological guidelines are still actually used
by some schools of ethnomusicology, while elsewhere their impressive traces are clearly
recognized. This report focuses at the basic starting points of the text, its destiny during
the great methodological turnarounds after the Second World War, and its influence on the
ethnomusicological methodology in Serbia.
Keywords: Erich M. von Hornbostel, Otto Abraham, transcription, notation, ‘exotic melodies’, methodological guidelines, ethnomusicological methodology, ethnomusicology in
Serbia.
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Mirjana Veselinović-Hofman – MUSICAL NOTATION:
THE MORE OR THE LESS THAN SOUND
Abstract:
In this paper I will focus on the issue of the relationship between notation and
sound, in terms of the question whether and in which cases notation includes or might
include the more or the less of what can be heard during an interpretation of a score. The
examination will be based upon the ontological implications arising from the difference
between two main tendencies in the development of musical notation. The first of these
tendencies points to a centuries-long course of increasing precision in score-writing, including the range of comprehensive information, such as extensive legends, extra-musical
descriptions, detailed instructions for performers, etc. The other tendency, which has come
into being from the second half of the twentieth century, is directed towards a decreasing
exactness in score-shaping, which resulted in an indeterminacy implied by graphical notation, ‘notes of action’ or verbal scores. In contrast with the previously underlined tendency,
which is based on object-sign relations, this one relies on the mechanism of associations.
Consequently, the first tendency indirectly unravels its ‘trust’ in meticulous notation as the
ontological ‘place’ of a piece of music; the second shifts this ontology towards the sounding itself, that is, towards the phenomenal level.
Keywords:
score, graphical notation, music graphic, notes of action, verbal scores, indeterminacy, C. Debussy, G. Ligeti, S. Hofman, Z. Erić, V. Tošić.
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New Works
Valentina Radoman – CONTEMPORARY ALCHEMY.
ARHAIČNA SCENA BY DUŠAN RADIĆ
Abstract: The composition Arhaična scena [Archaic Scene] had its premiere on 23rd October
2009 in Belgrade, in the Ilija Milosavljević Kolarac Memorial Hall, within the opening of
the Belgrade Philharmonic’s 2009/2010 concert season. The orchestra was conducted by
Uroš Lajovic. The work is a part of the opera Julijan Otpadnik (2004). The musical language
used evokes the spirit of Byzantine music.
Keywords: modernism, Neoclassical, simulation, national, Byzantium.
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Ksenija Stevanovic – The String Quartet out of nowhere By Branka Popović
Abstract:
In this paper the recent piece by Branka Popović, out of nowhere for string quartet
(2004) has been analyzed. The survey of the compositional procedure led to a musicological interpretation of the piece, revealing author’s predilection for drawing a meta-narrative
structure from limited sound/thematic nucleus. This process resembles making of relief
incisions in sound, a sort of sound sculpting gesture within a ‘conventional’ medium such
as string quartet.
Keywords:
Branka Popović, out of nowhere, string quartet, melodic relief, materialization,
adding, contemporary music, Serbian music, Guildhall.
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Interpretations
Antonio Baldassarre – ‘THEY PLAY MORE LIKE ANGELS THAN MEN’.
THE QUATUOR DE FLONZALEY AND CONSIDERATIONS
ON ITS PERFORMANCE STYLE
Abstract: The Quatuor de Flonzaley, founded in 1903, is considered one of the first professional string quartet ensembles in the modern sense of the word. The ensemble’s public
performances and its recordings were extremely successful and received enthusiastic reviews. Its specific performance style became exemplary for other early 20th century string
quartet ensembles. The paper provides insights into the history of the Quatuor de Flonzaley and its socio-cultural context, considerations about aspects of current performance studies
and an analysis of the ensemble’s specific and trend-setting performance style.
Keywords: Quatuor de Flonzaley, performance studies, string quartet performance style,
string quartet (ensemble).
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Reviews
Marija Masnikosa – SVESNI I NESVESNI POKRETAČI
STVARALAŠTVA
MODESTA MUSORGSKOG [CONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS
PRIME MOVERS OF MODEST MUSSORGSKY’S
CREATIVE WORKS]
by Dragana Jeremić-Molnar
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Dragana Stojanović-Novičić – TEMATSKI POTENCIJALI
LEKSIKOGRAFSKIH JEDINICA
O MUZIČKIM INSTITUCIJAMA:
ZBORNIK RADOVA
[THEMATIC POSSIBILITIES
IN LEXICOGRAPHIC UNITS
ON MUSICAL INSTITUTIONS:
COLLECTION OF PAPERS]
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CD Reviews
Snežana Nikolajević – POETSKE NITI
[POETIC THREADS].
Double compact-disc with vocal and
vocal-instrumental works of
Rajko Maksimović, PGP RTS
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Defended Theses
Selena Rakočević – TRADICIONALNA IGRA I MUZIKA ZA IGRU SRBA U BANATU U
SVETLU UZAJAMNIH UTICAJA
[TRADITIONAL DANCE AND
DANCE MUSIC OF SERBS IN BANAT IN THE LIGHT OF MUTUAL
INFLUENCES]
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