Vincent H Petrini-Poli <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>This may not be the best of times, but my research brought me to the music
>of Stevan Mokranjac, a Serb composer b.  1856 d.  1914, presumably known
>for his 'Song Wreaths' - his most famous work.
>
>Does any one on the list know of this composer? Any CD reference for his
>music would be appreciated.
>
>Any other know Serb composer will be of interest.

If I may say so, I think that it is a good time.  At least some of Serbia's
composers belong to the group of people who opposed all wars launched in
the name of the nation, and they have desperately hoped for support during
the darkest times.  I want to believe that the world won't let this country
be rebuilt only in dark stones.  This, of course, is not a pro-Serb
statement, I happen to have more Croatian, Slovenian or Albanian friends,
but I am thinking of persons and human matters here -- do we or don't we
wish that cultural and human values of tolerance and open-mindedness have
a living voice in the years to come, in Serbia like everywhere else.  Well,
just a thought.

As regards Serbian music, I am no specialist, because recordings are so
hard to find.  Some of the Rukoveti you mentioned (choral cycles) have
been available on LPs.  By the way, they seem to anticipate Kodaly's and
Bartok's work on folk traditions, and are by no means limited to Serbia or
even the (then non-existent) former Yugoslavia.  The only Mokranjac CD I
have ever read about is: "Grande liturgie orthodoxe serbe", a CD which
includes that Liturgy and the Requiem, performed by the Belgrade RTV Choir
conducted by Mladen Jagust, one of the best-known Serbian conductors (at
least, he was 30 years ago).  I never managed to find it in record stores
here, but the reference is JADE JACD.021 (distirbuted by Harmonia Mundi),
1991, DDD.  If you ever find it, I'd be glad to hear about it!

Currently the main source for CDs of Serbian music (mostly of the 20th
century) is the Yugoslav Music Information Centre, actually the MIC of
the Composers Union.  I doubt that any postal service is still safely
operating, but you may try the e-mail: [log in to unmask] .  If the Centre
is not closed these days, they should be replying quickly.  Maybe you shall
prefer to wait for clearer times, but if they can, they shall certainly
provide you with at least information.

They have published some CDs devoted to major composers such as Stevan
Hristic (the 4 suites from the ballet "Legend of Ohrid", superb music
which could become a classic some day) or Ljubica Maric.  Besides,
their musicology magazine New Sound, with national and international
contributions, is sold together with anthological CDs.  I think that the
CDs can be ordered independently, but the magazine gives a good background
and an idea of what musicians try to do to reinstore or keep links with the
musical world at large.  The music ranges from Late Romanticism (of a very
individual kind, see Miloje Milojevic) to post-modernism and some
electronic music.

Please let me know if you need other information or addresses, for the
Yugoslav MIC, but also for other Central and Eastern European countries.
Most Centres lack staff and funding, but they could give you some advice
and possibly recordings.

I hope this helps,

Thanh-Tam Le
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