Stevan Mokranjac
Stevan Stojanović Mokranjac (Serbian Cyrillic: Стеван Стојановић Мокрањац) (January 9, 1856 - 1914) is one of the most famous Serbian composers and music educators of the nineteenth century. His work was essential in bringing the spirit of Serbian unwritten folk poems into organized art.
Biography
He was born in Negotin. From the birthplace of his parents he drew the second last name Mokranjac (literally: resident of Mokranje).
He graduated from the Belgrade gymnasium, and attended the natural science and mathematics section of the Belgrade higher school (contemporary equivalent of a college). In 1879 he traveled to Munich where he studied music in the class of Josef Rheinberger. After a brief break, he continues to study in Rome in the class of Parizzoti, in 1884. Returning to Serbia in 1884 he briefly becomes the conductor of the Kornelije Stanković choir of Belgrade.
From 1885 to 1887 he studies music in Leipzig, Germany. Upon his return to Serbia in 1887 he becomes the conductor for the Belgrade singing society (Belgrade Choir). From 1887 to 1900 he teaches music at the Belgrade gymnasium, and in 1901 transfers to Bogoslovija (Belgrade Divinity College) where he teaches church singing. Together with Stanislav Binički and Cvetko Manojlović, Mokranjac founds the first independent music school in 1899 - Serbian Music School in Belgrade. He remains the director of this school until his death. Today the school bears his name. His work as a melograph bore many transcriptions of thus far unwritten folk songs.
Stevan Mokranjac died in Skopje, Macedonia (then Kingdom of Serbia), aged 58.
Every year, the town of Negotin organizes a music festival in his honor called Mokranjčevi dani (Days of Mokranjac). The town also has a Mokranjac museum.
Works
His life was highly influenced by church and folk songs, and he used these two types of music as inspiration for his work. His most famous pieces are Rukoveti (literally: Works of hand) - collections of songs and music based on motives of Serbian folk music from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia Proper, Montenegro, Kosovo and Metohija, Macedonia and Bulgaria. There are 15 Rukoveti, and the 10th one is considered the most beautiful. His other prominent folk-based works include Primorski napevi (Coastal songs), and Kozar.
A significant number of his works was made for church services. Such are the Božanstvena Liturgija Svetog Jovana Zlatoustog (The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom), from which the Heruvimska pesma (Cherubic Hymn) is most famous. Another two famous religious pieces are Tebe Boga hvalim (We praise thee, God) and Veličanje Sv. Savi (Glory to St. Sava). It is important to note, that most of his sacred music is not really original work - he wrote the choral arrangements based on traditional Serbian melodies, which are still sung in unison in churches which don't have a choir.
Other
- Statija Treća
- Tebe Pojem
- Aliluja (posle Heruvimske)
- Aliluja (posle Svjati Boze)
- Budi Imja Gospodnje
- Cherubic Hymn (Heruvimska Pesma)
- Kozar
- Mnogaja ljeta
- Molitvami Bogorodici
- Njest Svjat